Exclusive - Supermodel of The Year 2's Muna Gauchan on initial days in Mumbai: I was duped by an agency; was told, 'Don't try for acting because you have Asian look'

Muna Gauchan, who was recently evicted from the reality show, Supermodel of the Year Season 2, got candid in an interview with ETimes TV. The 25-year old spoke about her aspirations, shuffling between Nepal and India for work purposes, facing racism, and more: Read on. (All Photos - Instagram)

The elimination was quite shocking because so many people were supporting me. I am really glad that I was not only getting love and support from Nepal but India as well, and that was quite a good thing for me.

I have been interested in modelling and acting ever since I was a little girl. I was a very studious girl but I used to also get excited about photoshoots, acting and my parents wanted me to be a doctor. I did not want to leave acting and modelling, so, I thought I'll take both together. Later, I realised that you cannot take two things at the same time, and I chose acting. My family really supported my decision and I came to Mumbai. I've done a few movies too in Nepal and I am looking forward to my further projects. I don't regret leaving my medical studies at all because I am living this new experience and I am getting to learn a lot. I am really happy.

This was the first time that I ever met any of the celebrities in my life from Bollywood. When I saw Malaika ma'am for the first time, I felt like I was in a dream. From childhood, I have been watching her songs, I used to love her dance, and finally getting a chance to meet and dance with her was a real moment for me. I really enjoyed it and it was a good experience. I am really happy that Malaika ma'am really liked me. I have been watching a lot of TV commercials, Roadies, Splitsvilla since I was a little girl and I've seen Milind sir a lot on TV. He is so amazing, like almost all the girls love him. Even from Nepal, there are so many girls who love him and have a crush on him. I felt very good and he's very kind in real life.

When I was new to Mumbai, I was signed by an agency. I did not know a single person here and just came here like that. I was living in a PG and people have been so bad and rude to me. I used to feel very bad because I am a very sensitive and emotional person. I never got a single call from the agency for any work. In fact, I would keep calling them and checking if there are any auditions happening anywhere. Even when there wouldn't be any auditions, I would go just for an experience because I thought that's how I will learn and improve. I used to go for many auditions but wouldn't get any work and my savings would dry up. Then I used to go to Nepal, shoot, make money, come back to India and start hunting jobs but I never gave up. I knew that this is the struggle part and I need to be consistent about my dream. I believed in myself and started getting collaborations and I did many of them, and that's how my Instagram built up. Better agencies started approaching me, and after that I started getting bigger projects of high-end beauty and fashion labels, and it started getting better and better.

Initially, when I would go for auditions, I would get rejected. So many of them would say, 'Oh, why are you even trying for acting? You only better do modelling, don't try for acting because your look is very different, very Asian kind of look.' The comments would hurt me a lot but I would make myself understand that people will always have something to say, and if I don't believe in myself then I will get carried away by what people say. It did hurt but after reaching home, I would tell myself, 'I am going to do better.' At least, I will keep trying so that I don't regret it later. Whether I taste success or not, I shouldn't regret that I never tried. This thought made me feel very positive and then again, I would go for auditions. That was the whole experience that really made me so strong.

My family. I left medical school in between and came to Mumbai but I didn't ask for a single penny from my parents because I have been independent from the age of 16. They really trust me because I have always been a disciplined kid, the youngest and studious too. Therefore, my parents trust me a lot. I was very independent and that's why I came to Mumbai. They always gave me emotional support and would say, 'You're doing great.' It's because of them only that whatever I am today.

Yes. Earlier, I didn't have a single friend. I would go for auditions, return home, practice acting, and kept following that routine. I have made really good friends in Supermodel. There were two, three friends, who are from Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and I am happy about that.

I'm not really comfortable when it comes to reality shows but when it's Bigg Boss, I would really love to do it. Once, I want to experience this and I am a big fan of Salman Khan. So, for him, it's a big yes.

My best friend is Roshni and we always had a healthy competition. We were roommates and we never thought ill about each other or were never insecure. We used to compliment and motivate each other. So, I would want Roshni to win the show. Eksha Hangma Subba is my friend from Sikkim, who knows how to speak Nepali very well. We bonded over it and I would want her too, to win the show.

From the age of 16, I started doing modelling, beauty pageants in Nepal and even won them. But the moment I entered Mumbai, it was a different world. In Mumbai, the modelling, the acting scenario is very different. Everybody is busy doing something, everybody is so dedicated and by seeing that, one gets motivated to do much better and stay consistent. I just want to work on my acting. I've been getting very good projects and I also did 2 music videos, which have got good responses. I have also been giving a lot of auditions for the movies. So, I am hoping for the best for something productive to happen. I am just working on myself, my acting, and my dancing.

Whenever I come to Mumbai, I try my best to only speak in Hindi with my best friends. Though my Hindi isn't good, we would try speaking in it so that my fluency would improvise. Before the 2nd lockdown, I was taking Hindi diction classes, and within 2 weeks, the lockdown was implemented and my teacher went back to his town. After that, I couldn't pursue it. Now, again once I am back to Mumbai, I will take Hindi diction classes and whatever it is, I will work on it.