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The Czech beauty who stormed the modelling and fashion industry seven years ago is an obsessive workout buff. She is now coming out with a book on fitness, says Nutan Sehgal In the usually fickle world of modelling, she has remained one of the hottest properties and parlayed her fabulous looks to endorse big ticket products ranging from soft drinks and watches to denim and perfumes. Meet Yana Gupta. The hazel-eyed Czech beauty who stormed the modelling and fashion industry seven years ago is still the grand Czarina of Indian models. She has a long list of illustrious ad campaigns and is among the handful of models who can sell her face on the scale of a Bollywood star. But then, she is a Bollywood star in her own right. A few years ago she became Hindi films’ item girl No. 1 with her foot-tapping number Babuji Zara Dheere Chalo. And despite the fact there is more white lightning from across the seas in the shape of Tata Young (Thailand) in Dhoom, Ilene Hamman (South Africa) in Rog and Antonio Bernath (England) in Kisna, Yana remains unfazed. In Delhi recently as brand ambassador of VibroGym, an innovative healthcare product, Yana says she instantly said yes to the offer as she herself is a health ad fitness freak. "I’m very serious about my health and eat a balanced diet, drink a lot of water and I exercise every day of the week," says Yana. Such is her passion for health that she took time out from Bollywood and her modelling assignments to write a book on fitness. The book, which will be out in a month or so, has been written in a simple style that can be understood by all. "It is all about the kind of foods to eat and workouts to do to stay healthy," says Yana. Gifted singer There’s yet another side to Yana. She’s a gifted singer and is coming out with an English album for which she is the lyricist, composer, musician and singer. It has a jazz and blues flavour and will be released internationally. "Indian songs are my all-time favourites. Since I can’t understand Hindi well, I just enjoy the music," says Yana, who is also an ace scuba diver and a baseball player. Actor, singer, model, author and fitness buff. Will the real Yana please stand up. "Actually I am a bit of all," say the lady. "Frankly my heart is in fitness and modelling," says Yana, who has been the face of Lakme and Christian Dior in India and has modelled for the high profile and very risqu`E9 Kingfisher calendar. Born Yana Synkova in far away Bruno in the erstwhile Czechoslovakia, Yana today is the hottest property on the Indian modelling circuit. Back in the nineties her drop-dead looks made her a household name in Czechoslovakia where she appeared in numerous print and television advertisements. Her beauty caught the eye of some of the leading fashion designers of the West and she went on to model for global names like Calvin Klein, Victoria’s Secrets and Gucci. Spiritual journey But, that’s when fate intervened. After setting the ramp on fire from Milan to Paris, she came on a spiritual journey to India to find solace from the glitzy world of big money and modelling. She says she has found her inner self in India. She has modelled for well-known designers like Rohit Bal, Reena Dhaka, Sunil Mehra and Rocky S. Her electric presence on the catwalk can suddenly brighten up the stage making her a kind of a 'must' for any fashion show. But what is it that people find so alluring about Yana? "Perhaps it's the fact that I can carry myself well in any kind of dress," says the Czech-turned-Indian whose unconventional looks and grace make her a favourite among designers, who say that she brings an element of mystery and magic to any dress she wears. Though life’s loaded
her with goodies, yet Yana has a regret. She hasn’t got the kind of
break in films that she wanted. I get many offers but not the kind I
am looking for. But it’s okay. I’m ready to wait for my big day in
movies," says Yana enjoying every minute of the fame and
adulation she has received. — NF
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