Although he has the charm of the boy next door that will make girls' hearts flutter, his determination, hard work and wit is worthy of hyperbole. In conversation with model and actor Abhishek Vig, represented by Babbu Models.

"I graduated in engineering before venturing into modeling and acting. Hailing from Dehradun, I shifted to Delhi in 2013 after I won talent hunt 'Road To Stardom' and pursued modeling. It's been an epic ride since and I wouldn't change it for anything! What makes me different? I feel as a model it's important to fit the industry standard but you must maintain your individuality. Looks and body structure is important but what matters most is attitude. Being positive and socially active is what makes you different!

God has been kind and I have worked on several campaigns but the ones that stand out in memory are Pepe Jeans, Sony, Idea, PVR, Dell and Pizza Hut. The best part about being a part of campaigns is that each one offers a fresh experience; the concept is always different and the visibility is really nice! After a couple of years, I shifted base to Mumbai to follow the dream — acting. I was always clear that I want to be an actor, and I have been working towards that by honing the craft in theatre. What challenges might an aspiring actor have to deal with? Hey, there are challenges in every industry; if you want to be successful, you must be ready to face all the high-pressure challenges that are a part and parcel of the glamour business. Personally, I love challenges. It is stimulating! If I were to name one, I would say, nepotism. It is commonplace in the film industry and there have been several occasions where I have experienced it.

It was not easy bagging my first feature film. I faced several rejections but one day I got the much-awaited call from a production house that they had liked my audition!! There has been no looking back since. Everyone says Mumbai is the city of dreams but to follow the dream one has to be persistent. I still remember the first day of the shoot. I was rocked by a whirlwind of emotions as the day I had always dreamt about had finally arrived… but I was nervous too. That said, it was a great learning curve and groomed me as an individual! The day I completed this film will always be memorable because it went a long way towards boosting my confidence levels. Looking forward, I am currently shooting for a web-series and I am also a part of some really insane campaigns which will be released soon!"

— JASMEEN DUGAL