Nayanika Chatterjee, an Indian model, began her career in 1988 and dominated the Indian fashion industry for three decades. She was a trailblazer who revolutionized the fashion industry, shattering stereotypes of fair models and emerging victorious. While she retired from couture shows in 2008, it was certainly not her last fashion appearance. Often referred to as the “Naomi Campbell of India,” Nayanika has garnered immense praise for her exceptional talent and has been favored by renowned Indian designers like Sabyasachi and Tarun Tahiliani.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Nayanika Chatterjee hails from a Bengali Brahmin family in Kolkata, with a British mother and a Kashmiri father. Unfortunately, her father passed away a few years ago. On January 4th, 2001, Nayanika tied the knot with her long-term boyfriend Gurinder Singh, a former model turned farmhouse developer. They welcomed their daughter Kiara Nyantara Singh in 2003.
In a mother-daughter interview, 14-year-old Kiara stated that Nayanika is not a typical Indian mother who resorts to physical punishment. Their bond is more akin to friendship than a traditional parent-child relationship.
CAREER
Nayanika Chatterjee’s journey in modeling commenced when a fashion choreographer discovered her and invited her to participate in a show at The Trident, Oberoi Hotels. Her exceptional performance caught the attention of Pierre Cardin, who offered her a job in Paris. However, her parents, concerned about the safety of the modeling profession, declined the offer. Nevertheless, her photographs made headlines in newspapers, leading to regular shoots and shows. In 2008, she even starred in the Bollywood film “Fashion.” Nayanika, born in the late 1960s in Kolkata, later moved to Mumbai with her family, where she completed her schooling and graduated. She pursued ceramics at the National Institute of Design and also explored studio pottery in Pondicherry.
After settling in Mumbai, Nayanika gradually began receiving better opportunities and more shoots, ultimately deciding to pursue modeling as a full-time career.
Nayanika’s career took off when she was discovered by fashion choreographer Jeannie Naoroji amidst a sea of college students, leading to her first show. Since then, she has modeled for numerous famous brands and designers, with some refusing to do a show without her. She has been an integral part of the industry for nearly three decades. In 2012, recognizing her talent for grooming, Nayanika started her own company called “Grooming by Nayanika,” where she imparts knowledge about styling, posing, table manners, and etiquette to aspiring models, including grooming Miss India finalists. Additionally, in 2021, she participated in a shoot for the newly launched digital fashion platform called “ZAARII,” working alongside Bibi Russel, which was completed in just two hours.
