Lakshmi Gangatkar

Laksmi Gangatkar comes from an family of advocates in Bangalore and is now getting married to a NRI doctor. She has done her engineering in textile technology and has modeled for quite a few years now. She has 5 pageant titles in her hand so far. Miss India was her 6th try at a pageant.  Here's an exclusive interview


What got you to fill in your application for the Miss India pageant?
Lakshmi Gangatkar : Well firstly it wasn't me who sent my application to Femina Miss India. it was my MOTHER !!!!
Yeah even I was surprised when I got a call from Miss India organizers.. I thought may be they got wrong number. I was in midst of my final year project that time and least wanted to be part of the pageant at that part of time

What was the experience like of being a Miss India contestant?
It was very enriching. Each day was a learning experience. some good. some bad but eventually that's what shapes a person

With an exception of Sindhura Gadde, both Amrita Thappar and Niharika Singh failed to place at their international contests. Do you think it was a bad selection of winners that year? How happy were you with the results of the contest?
Well every girl present there had that 'it' factor with out exception...but eventually what makes an ultimate Femina Miss India is the over all package. That is because it is not just about winning the glittering crown but its about representing our country internationally. And to do that the winner should have all the qualities in the right combination.. may be they lacked that. In my opinion the result certainly lacked some eligible girls. Final 10 was a total shock for all of us. It was very unexpected. The best girls were dropped out of the Top 10 !!!!

Annie Thomas, Miss India- World 1998, Shamita Singha, Miss India-Earth 2001, Shruti Sharma, Miss India-World 2002, Lakshmi Pandit (resigned Miss India-World 2004) were all unplaced contestant the first time they competed and only won their titles the 2nd time, do we see you competing for Miss India again?
I 'd love to be a part of it as I exactly know what it takes to make it over there now...but unfortunately its too late for me as I am getting married this April and moving to Florida.

Between Amrita Thappar, Sindhura Gadde and Niharika Singh whom were you most closest to?
Niharika Singh...she is a sweetheart.

If you could suggest changes to the Miss India contest, what would it be?
Firstly the contestant should be allowed to make their choice of the picture given to the media and the judges. This is a individual contest and each contestant should be allowed the rights to represent herself in the best way. Secondly I feel its important to consider the make of the individual during physical training and strict diet. For example overly underweight person to go through sudden crash diet without carbs was crazy as one looses the stamina completely. A good balanced yet controlled diet should be given to the individual contestant as per requirement. Thirdly, adequate sleep. This is something which I notice every year and even when I participated. This is a beauty pageant and girls are mostly deprived of their beauty sleep. Rigorous training is important but not so rigorous and strict that one has dark circles hanging till the mouth and body stooping to the ground.

Your fellow contestant Ira Trivedi wrote a book based on the realities of the Miss India pageant. Did you read it ? How true is the book to the Miss India pageant?
I haven't had a chance to read it yet but would certainly love to read it when I get time.

Which contestant was your closest pal during the contest?
Naiyya singh. We had a love-hate relationship during the contest because of all the stress and sharing one room but once the contest was over it was only love - love relationship.

What was your most memorable incident in the pageant ?
Each day was memorable...seriously its very difficult to tell.

If you were a judge and not a contestant at the Miss India 2005 pageant who would you pick as your winner from the other contestants?
Aushima Sawhney probably.

What has been the most disturbing incident in the pageant for you?
Oh there were couple of incidents which were very very disturbing.
First was I had given a bunch of my pictures to the organizers. Out of that the worst picture, that too a scanned picture was blown up in the media which freaked me out. Despite of repeated request to change those pictures it wasn't changed. That was my first step for failure.
Secondly during the photo shoot the make up was done so badly that made me look like some one I never was. That is when I realized that the way make up is done can either make a person look drop dead gorgeous or drop dead ugly. What really disturbed me is the fact that the make up / hair artist were not even considering my opinion and worst of all was the treat that they will screw up my make up if I try to correct it. We were paying for our portfolio here and they were happily screwing it up. Well one knows best what suits them and make up/hair artists job is to do as per what suits the person the best especially in a CONTEST.
Thirdly, the most disturbing incident which got to my nerve was during preliminary judging. The pictures that were presented to the judge was so gross that if I was in their seat I would reject it immediately.
One thing which I failed to understand here is why were worst picture put into the spotlight and good ones into the closet???? I guess these are some of the mysteries surrounding Miss India !!!!!
It was as though gears were controlled by the organizers.

How much has participating in the Miss India pageant benefited you?
Not much professionally but personally it has made me more smart and cautious.

After Miss India, you signed up with Air India. Why the sudden change in career? Generally most Miss India contestant want to enter Bollywood.
I never signed up with Air india. Its not my cup of tea. I was working with Tommy Hilfiger and then with Target as business manager.

Are you in touch with any of the other contestants from the 2005 batch?
Owing to the fact that I reside in Bangalore not much personally. Yeah in touch with some over phone and mails.

A few unplaced Miss India contestants like Tora Khasgir in 1997 and
Dipti Gujral in 2003 have competed at Gladrags Mega Model and won. Is that an option ?
As I told earlier I would love to but its going to be Mrs India (Gladrags) and not Miss India (Gladrags).

What advise would you give the current batch of Miss India contestants?
Girls watch out. Its going to be one helluva competition with one supporting u and hundreds pulling u down. Present yourself in the best light YOU want to project and be extremely confident. Never let any stress or negativity from others get into you. Focus hard and u will hit the crown in the right place.