Amrit Shares Her 'My India is Global' Life in Vogue India October 2020
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Rising model star Amrit is styled by Priyanka Kapadia in ‘My India is Global’, part of Vogue India’s 13th anniversary celebration. Boo George captures the modern-day Parisian, whose own interview with Divya Bala is part of a larger collection of essay from India’s fashion and cultural leaders’ voices.
It’s a given that a young woman who speaks six languages, including French; spends her free time writing poetry, painting and drawing with a particular passion for Frida Kahlo, and responded “A revolutionary” to the teenage years question of what she wanted to be in life — well that young woman is probably ‘formidable’. Bala notes that Amrit now wants to add ‘acting’ to her resume.
Amrit calmly delves into the burdens and misconceptions about her that can emanate from her participation in traditional Indian and also global culture. Vogue India writes:
“I’m very antisocial,” she divulges. “Besides my family, people don’t know if I exist. I’d go to the temple with my parents late in the evening or early in the morning and people would ask them, ‘Who is she?’” When I ask why she kept herself hidden, she explains, “I believe there are many reasons behind that. One is, when you live in India, [people] have different opinions of beauty. For example, back home, I’m [considered] the ugliest in my family. I would get this comment [from extended family members], ‘You would be more beautiful if you bleached your skin.’”
I’m quite sure that I understand the politics of Amrit’s native Punjab region, confirmed by her own commentary. For fear of being wrong, AOC will research further before expanding our own commentary. But Amrit tells you all you need to know.
Having followed this convo for a decade, my chest becomes tight, as Amrit describes her own experiences and also those of model sisters Bhumika Arora and Pooja Mor.
Amrit describes a recent challenging moment, when, following a topless (though it must be said, tasteful) shoot for Rosh Mahtani’s London-based jewellery brand, Alighieri, the backlash from some of her home-grown audience was brutal, to say the least: “‘You’re bringing shame to all of us’ or ‘You don’t deserve to be Indian’, and I’m like, ‘What gives you that right?’” she says, elaborating that members of her family had been telephoned with what can only be described as death wishes for the model. Fortunately, her parents hung up and continued being supportive of their daughter’s achievements.
“This is my life and I’m going to exist the way I can, the best way I know. I’m grateful that [other South Asian models like] Bhumika [Arora] and Pooja [Mor] paved the way for me. I had some insight that Bhumika had similar struggles, coming from Haryana, but she and Pooja stood their ground and so should I. I never allow anyone to make people like me invisible. That’s something I cannot allow.”
Read the entire interview at Vogue India.
