India Models

Kelly Dorji

Mr Universe, Ahoy!

They call him Mr Universe, as if they only sat up and noticed him just now after girlfriend Lara Dutta won her title.

Fact is, Kelly Dorji’s been on and off the scene for about five years now – and slowly, steadily, he’s been making his way into our lives and onto the ramps and into our living rooms courtesy Star Buzz, his Star TV Movie show.

Keith Fernandez threw him some questions.

Birthday and star sign?

4th January, Capricorn.

Philosophy of life?

Take each day as it comes.

Definition of love?

Love is very personal.

Sex?

It’s important. It’s a part of love.

Money?

Hmmm. Money. It’s a whole lot more fun than trying to make it!

You’re Bhutanese?

Yes. I came to India to study on my own and support myself and I think I’ve carved a niche for myself.

What about being called Mr Universe, then?

It’s OK. I expected it but… your private and public life are two different things and I take it as a compliment to Lara, not as anything being said to me.Any recognition at all is a wonderful thing for her.

You’ve only come majorly into the limelight recently? Like your career’s only taken off now?

I’ve been around a lot – people who say that haven’t been watching!

How did the whole modelling thing happen, then?

Rasna Behl (the model co-ordinator) approached me when I was college. The lure was really great but then there was the whole studies thing and all that.

So I made a deal with my Mum – I would get a first class in my final exams and I would model while in college. And I did!

But you wanted to be a lawyer, right?

Yes. An environment lawyer. I was very environment conscious – I still am – but I got disillusioned slowly when I figured out the way things work.

I’m a straightforward guy, there’s lots of right and wrong and it’s difficult to adapt to all that, to the fact that a criminal could get off the hook!

But it is an individual thing.Yes. If each of us closed a tap properly or did not litter the streets, if each person had that much responsibility, things would start improving automatically.

But if you don’t have any self-respect, nothing’s going to happen. Which, I think is where our problem begins.

Favourite designers?

Nicole Farhi and DKNY, Prada’s OK.

And Indian?

Rohit Bal, J J Valaya, Hemant Trevedi. You need to feel comfortable in what you wear, I prefer more casual clothes.

On the other hand, I like a classic look, too, and I’d really like to get one of those tailored suits from London…

Is that what you’re going to pick up next time you head out?

No! They’re so expensive I hope I’ll be able to afford them one day! Usually, though, whenever I go abroad, I get the more trendy stuff.

What about film? Do you want to do any, like Lara?

I’m doing one international film for Shamin Desai, where I play an offbeat character called Arthur Felit WeeGee, who lives almost two different lives – it’s in and out of cotton clubs on the one hand, and on the other, he’s a crime photographer.

I can’t tell you too much more about it – except that it’s dark and light both and it’s going to be very deep, very much aboutthe way people actually are.

What next?

I’ve been offered a French film, Samsara, about a monk who comes out of solitude and his personal torment.

But there’s this whole sex thing, and I don’t know if I want to be in a sex scene on screen – it has to be relevant and pertain strongly to the story.

Like in Boys Don’t Cry. Hopefully, I’ll also do some photography – I’ve been dabbling in it for a bit, let’s see.

Finally, who would you like to be a muse for?

A sculptor. Any sculptor. But much as you see me prancing about and jumping around on stage, I don’t think I like to be observed. I naturally clamp up a little in that situation.

Model Kelly Dorji opens up to Keith Fernandez