Malaika Arora says 'modeling was tough,' joined industry for 'quick pocket money'

Malaika Arora joined modeling at a very young age. She was selected as one of the video jockeys in the late 1990s. The turning point in her career was the track Chaiyya Chaiyya from the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Dil Se, which released in 1998. Going down memory lane, Malaika recalls the time when she entered modeling for quick money.

New Delhi: It's been over a decade since Malaika Arora joined the modeling world and it opened up new avenues for her in the Hindi film industry. With years of expertise as a model, she has judged MTV Supermodel of the Year and is all set to be the judge on the second season of the show. Malaika joined modeling at a very young age. She was selected as one of the video jockeys in the late 1990s. She then entered the modeling world, appearing in many advertisements, album songs such as Gur naal ishq mitha. The turning point in her career was the track Chaiyya Chaiyya from the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Dil Se, which released in 1998.

Going down memory lane, Malaika recalls the time when she entered modeling for quick money. "It was tough at a young age. It was very challenging. I came with no expectations. I thought it was a great opportunity to make some quick pocket money. I never realised that eventually, it will become a career."

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She added: "From then to now, that's the good thing that how the industry has changed. That's what people need to realise. We have these conversations when girls say that they want to make a career in modeling. And their parents say, 'what rubbish you are wasting your time'. I want to tell a lot of parents. 'that don't think that you can't make a career out of it'. It's a proper full-fledged career. I have made a career out of it and so have many others."

"It opens up so many various opportunities and avenues." She calls her journey "amazing" and recalls her hits and misses. "I had my fair share of ups and downs. I would never trade it for anything. Because that's what makes me the person I am," Malaika concluded.