This baby doll really sizzles!

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Kyunki, in real life, she doesn''t go kabhi aar, kabhi paar. She has it, and she flaunts it. Confidence, croons Deepal Shaw, is her one-way ticket to fame. And hey, did you know she has roots in Lucknow?</span><br /><br /></div> <div align="right" style="position:relative; left: -3"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="right" border="0" width="36.1%"> <colgroup> <col width="100.0%" /> </colgroup> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:="" e6e6e6=""> <div class="Normal"><img src="/photo/921456.cms" alt="/photo/921456.cms" border="0" /></div> </td> </tr> </table></div> <div class="Normal"><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Me a tomboy</span>: Born in a joint family, I was both shy and a tomboy at the same time.I played cricket on the street with boys and got a haircut every second week till as recently as last year. Once, my grandfather shouted from the balcony: <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">''Hamesha ladkon ke saath khelti hai''.</span> One of my uncles always teased me: ''Why don''t you become the captain of the Indian women''s cricket team?''<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="" font-style:="" italic="">Banoongi mein</span><span style="" font-weight:="" bold=""> Miss India</span>: I was 8 when Sushmita Sen was crowned Miss India. Seeing her, I too wanted to win the contest, wanted people to know me. But even before that, I was always fascinated by Bollywood. At the age of 4, I''d imitate models in shampoo and soap ads in front of the mirror. In fact, I still do it with my brother around... it''s bizarre sometimes!<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Imp at school, that''s me</span>: When in class IX, I opened up... I became naughty, got into scraps. When I learnt what the word ''virgin'' meant, I asked Sanket, the boy who sat in front of me in class, ''Are you a virgin?'' He enquired what the word meant. When I told him it meant ''navigator'', he said: ''My dad''s in the navy, so he''s a virgin!'' Later, when Sanket learnt what virgin meant, he didn''t make eye-contact with me.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Basketball in hot pants</span>: Basketball became my passion at St Xavier''s College. There I was, all 5''9" of me, playing in hot pants as if my life depended on it. I was a good player, and when the boys tried to push me around, a fight would erupt. I have lots of boy friends. Somehow, I never got along well with girls.<br /><span style="" font-style:="" italic=""><script language="javascript">doweshowbellyad=0; </script></span><br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section2"><div class="Normal"><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">No stopping me</span>: When I entered the Miss India contest, all the trainers were happy with me and I felt I would make it. I was so sure of myself that I never thought of losing. So, when I failed to make it to the top 10, I had to pinch myself to believe it. I felt sad, I cried... but not for long. Deep down, I knew I''d make it to the top; nothing was going to stop me.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Chance </span><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="" font-style:="" italic="">ki baat</span>: I was spotted by music video director Shireen while shopping at a boutique and took up her <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Baby Doll</span> offer. We shot the video after six days of rehearsals and I was involved in everything from the concept to the clothes. I even threw tantrums on the sets — screaming, making observations on how I looked on the monitor. Shireen was exasperated!<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="" font-style:="" italic="">Bole toh, apun Baby Doll</span><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">:</span> After the <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Baby Doll</span> video was released, I became known overnight. Little kids, people on the street called me Baby Doll. My mother''s reaction was: <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">''Sadma de diya tumne''</span>. But I must say my family have been very supportive. Yes, there are people who didn''t think I could pull it off but bask in my glory today. Sometimes, I''m told that I''m lucky to be successful at 18, but it''s all due to hard work.<br /><span style="" font-style:="" italic=""><script language="javascript">doweshowbellyad=0; </script></span><br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section3"><div class="Normal"><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">It''s Shaw, not Shah</span>: People mistook my surname to be Shah, not Shaw, and assumed I was Gujarati. When I denied being Gujarati, they said I was disowning my lineage! My family is from Lucknow. Anyway, the only thing that counts in showbiz is the ability to deliver. That''s the one guarantee I give to my producers and directors.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">My feet are made for dancing</span>: I was born to dance before a live audience. It''s amazing when you have a crowd rooting for you. However, when I dance on stage, I wear a long skirt — it''s only three inches above my knees. I always sign autographs for my fans, and certain episodes of interaction with them have deeply touched me. Once, a couple said that I was the Indian Beyonce Knowles and would go miles ahead of her. As of now, I''m doing two music videos for a UK-based band, one of which has Beyonce in a cameo, and a movie opposite Asmit Patel.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Me a brand, some day</span>: Slowly, but surely, I''m getting to the top. Five years down the line, I see myself as a celebrity brand. Everyone has looks, but I have that all-important thing called confidence. I''m a leader, I''m a winner — my confidence helps me stand out.</div> </div>