The whole supermodel era has disappeared. All over the world, they are constantly looking for new faces.

[Pink, fluted, silk chiffon, empire waist kurta worn with Swarovski encrusted, jewel trousers.]

Mehr Rampal (Jesia, before marriage to model-turned-actor, Arjun Rampal) suddenly showed up on the ramp in Milan, for Fashion Week. Yesteryear’s supermodel set the evening on fire with her 5feet 9 inch frame, 11 years after she had quit the industry. Mehr Jesia, the professional model, no longer exists — except in this exclusive shoot for Verve

This part of my life is over.

I am truly not enjoying this. When I was a model, my happiness came from my work. Now, it comes mainly from my family.

Everyone feels I was around for so long but it was only seven years. I gave up when I was 24; that’s 11 years ago.

In those days, it was very easy to be intense. There were so few of us and so much work!

The whole supermodel era has disappeared. All over the world, they are constantly looking for new faces.

Tarun (Tahiliani) and I started our careers together. And, at that time, it was a model and designer relationship. We didn’t really care about making money or anything — we just wanted to grow together. Now, money has become a big deal in the industry and things are just not the same.

Tarun and Rohit (Khosla) are the people that I have really cared about in this industry.

I know that I can call Tarun even at 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. if I have a problem and it would not matter to him.

When I was getting married, I didn’t even have to think about who would make the wedding outfit. I knew vaguely what Tarun was making. He knew exactly what I would like to look like when I got married. All I did was go to Delhi for the day for a mulmul fitting. He even helped me with the design of my jewellery.

And, it was perfect! It had a Swarovski-encrusted blouse which I can also wear with a sari. I wore it with a skirt, pleated at the hip and draped to give a swirly kind of feeling. A tulle wrap around the shoulders completed the outfit. It was just perfect, very

classic. I couldn’t think of being in anything else.

At my wedding, I wore a diamond choker with my mangal sutra and the asho farovar that I have on always. I hadn’t planned it but many people commented on it.

Motherhood? I could not be happier in my life. I would like to touch wood about that. I am lagaoing nazar on myself, now.

Today, I do choreography for very few shows. I don’t want to get into a professional frame of mind at all.

I know what it is like to be a professional. But now that Mahikaa is two, my time is with my family.

I am blessed not to have a Parsi nose. The way I have been brought up, I have never given importance to my looks.

I never wear make-up.

Age shows you what you need to do. I have just started getting facials.

One thing I do know is that you cannot be Mehr Jesia the model, 24 hours a day.

I love simplicity. I no longer go out for parties because I have to — only when it is important for us to do so.

I am not a diplomat at all. If I don’t like somebody, he will one hundred per cent know about it.

At 35, who wants to spend evenings at nightclubs? At one time though, when we did so many shows, this was just an extended part of our day.

Madhu (Sapre), Namrata (Shirodkar), Sangeeta (Chopra), we are friends forever.

We did all the learning. We have gone through the whole evolving of the industry. We loved to go for rehearsals. We did each others’ make-up. Today, you feel that the industry has just become mechanical.

I have always been into sports. When I was young, I played badminton and swam, both at the state championship level.

I never go to the gym. I hate it.

One thing I like is slippers. I have, maybe a couple of pairs of shoes but at least ten pairs of slippers.

Open shoes are the best for us in Mumbai.

During the day I like wearing jeans and T-shirts. But, my personal style keeps changing. My micro minis have changed to longer skirts. Earlier, I wore only black and white. Now, I love wearing colours.

I have never followed fashion.

Comfort comes before style, one hundred per cent.

Tarun’s work basically just spells class. Though at some shows I feel the Punjabi in him comes out and I tell him, ‘now Tarun, enough’.

I would wear a Tarun ensemble with no jewellery or accessories.

Since I lost touch with the fashion business, I guess Tarun has become sexier.

I love driving. I can never keep a driver. If I must take one along, I make him sit behind and park for me.

This is not a catty business. At least it wasn’t when I was there. I have wonderful friends in it.