A dentist, a model, and an actor !

Model and actor Rajeev Pillai is unhappy with the fact that Mollywood does not think him suited to the industry 

Rajeev Pillai exemplifies the fact that models in Kerala are not valued in their home grounds. A regular at the Lakme Fashion Week for the last three years, Rajeev can easily pass off for as an international model and break all misconceptions about Malayali males being genetically 'unfit.' "Getting there is not much of an effort, staying there is much more difficult, it requires determination, dedication and a lot more," says Rajeev about the proverbial six pack abs. "There are enough and more gyms and trainers of high standards in Kerala. A few months are all it takes to get into shape." At the same time, maintaining an optimum level of fitness is important for a model, he points out, as designers want a lean and fit look, not a muscle man. 

All that hard work obviously paid off, for Rajeev was asked to walk the ramp for the highly acclaimed Couture Fashion Week as well. He is now a known face in the Malayalam movie industry and has played villain in movies like 'City of God' and 'London Dreams,' 'Bombay March 12' and can be seen in 'Thejabhai and Family' as well. But Rajeev says somehow the industry is reluctant to cast him, their reasoning being that he is not suited for Malayalam. "While in Mumbai, I had done courses in acting and theatre. I still prefer to act. Modelling is a career with a very short life." However, Rajeev will always have an alternative career to fall back upon, for he is a qualified dentist, quite unusual for a model and actor. 

Rajeev is not at all happy with the way the Fashion Week is conducted in Kochi. Very few models in Kerala are fit to compete with those in other cities, but at the same time, the pay for models here is pathetic, he says. The only people who made money out of the Kochi Fashion Week are those who conducted it.


Source- Times Of India