Dude, they're stealing our thunder!

Are Indian models getting threatened by the influx of foreign models?
Dark skinned models have always complained that they lose work to their fairer counterparts because of the nation''s obsession with fair skin. And of late, they have even more cause for heartburn. There''s a new bane in town, and they are the foreign models. Their increasing popularity is causing a problem for not just the dark skinned models, but all desi girls,
"Look at catalogue shoots, television ads and even shows.The foreign girls are taking away work from the Indian girls, and many of them are working without business visas," fumes model Vidisha Pavate. "When I went to Paris to model, I had to get a work permit. I had to stand in long queues, answer personal questions. Half the phirangs modelling here don''t even have work visas. It''s only fair that they obtain them, since we have to do the same in their countries."
Vidisha is not the only one outraged. Says fair skinned Alicia Raut, a new entrant, who though half Russian is an Indian citizen, "They''re not aware of what to charge here, so they end up asking for less, thereby taking away our assignments."
This problem is not restricted to the women. "When I came to Mumbai, from Bhopal, around three years ago, foreigners weren''t featuring in ads," says Shahwar Ali. "Now, more than 50 per cent of fashion work features foreigners and in the next two years it could even go upto 90 per cent. Indian models will stop working unless they get a break in films!" Shahwar also believes that the foreign models are used because they charge less. "It is cheaper to fly a model down from abroad, put him up, and pay him very little — around Rs 20,000, for a big campaign — rather than use an Indian model who will charge in lakhs."
Choreographer Marc Robinson uses foreigners because he feels that they bring a change in a freshness starved industry. "Foreign models are good looking," he says. "I started using them because they were fresh. And clients specially asked for fair girls. Infact, in the next two shows that I''m doing, fair girls have been especially requested for."
Coordinators often recruit good looking phirang tourists looking for a quick buck. Of course, since they don''t have bank accounts here, they request payments in cash, which irks directors who normally pay by cheque.
But despite grouses, the trend isn''t buckling down anytime soon. In fact, modelling agencies like Elite are quick to cash in. "Earlier, we brought the models down on an assignment basis, for shoots like Raymond, Wills, Royal Challenge," reveals Sushma Puri, Director and CEO, Elite, India. "Now, we''re bringing them down for longer periods, on business visas. There is a definite demand for them."
Reshma Shetty, director of Matrix Models agrees, raising a valid point. "Foreign models need to come in through the right channels. It is important to ensure the legal aspect. For instance, we represent both Yana Gupta and Katrina Kaif, who are not Indian. But Katrina has a work visa, and Yana is married to an Indian, and has the necessary documentation."