Meet 19-year-old Pranav Bakshi, India's first male model with autism
With oozing confidence, a natural flair for ramp-walk, and amazing sense of fashion, 19-year-old Pranav Bakshi from Delhi is a promising supermodel-to-be. And does it even matter when we tell you that he suffers from autism? An inspiration for all, Pranav has fought social stigma and personal challenges, on his way to become India's first-ever male model with autism. Read about his journey here.
Naturally, Pranav's mother is proud of him
"It amazes me how effortlessly he catwalks on that ramp or poses for photoshoots. With no prior experience, and while combating his health conditions, he has done so much. I am super proud of him," says Pranav's mother, Anupama Bakshi.
Pranav was healthy till the time he was 2
Pranav was completely healthy until two years of birth. That was when the initial signs of autism started showing. Notably, autism is a medical condition that leads to challenges in social skills, behavior, speech as well as nonverbal communication. Overtime, Pranav's health has improved a lot. "The fighter that he is, he overcame all of it and look at him today," she said.
Here's how Pranav fell in love with modelling
Pranav's love affair with modelling dates back to 2016, when he attended a theater workshop as part of the creative therapy for individuals for special needs. "The organizers introduced him to the concept of ramp walk and he literally fell head-over-heels in love with it," admits Anupama. Anupama adds that although initially she was hesitant, she later decided to let his son pursue modelling.
Pranav fought all odds to reach where he is
When starting out, Anupama dropped hundreds of emails to various modelling agencies to get Pranav represented, but received poor response. "I did not ask them to register my son out of sympathy. I wanted everyone to take note of his inherent talent and dedication," asserts Anupama. Finally, Ninjas Model Management, an agency that has special consideration for models with stories, signed Pranav.
Even though Pranav is new, he's got amazing exposure: Ninja
"When I met him, I found him fascinating. Even though he is new to modelling, he has already got amazing exposure. He is very excited about all of this," says Ninja Singh, supermodel and founder of Ninjas Model Management firm.
Without doubt, Pranav is a true inspiration
By fighting social stigma and medical issues, and achieving success in a field as competitive as modelling, Pranav has proved that no obstacle is big enough to stop us. He is a true inspiration. We wish him all the best for all his future endeavors.
