You're as good as the last job done

Vikram Phadnis has had no formal training in fashion design but his creations currently adorn the wardrobes of some of the biggest names in the glamour industry. He has stores all over India including Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad and his label stocks Indian and western wear for both men and women. Today, he is one of India's leading designers and a veteran on the fashion circuit, with some of the finest fashion shows to his credit.

Few people know that I started my career as a choreographer before I became known as a fashion designer. First, I was studying to be a doctor as that was what my parents wanted. When I gave up doing medicine as I wanted to be a part of the entertainment industry, they were not too keen as they had no idea if my earnings could run a house. When I started designing for films it was very, very tough! It's like the survival of the fittest.

I got my first film break with Urmila Matondkar in Shankar's Hindustani. Most people graduate from fashion designing to be a part of the fashion designing business but it's for all the wrong reasons like money or hobnobbing with socialites. That was never the reason I got into designing. My strongest support system when I entered this line was Salman Khan. He opened up my doors. I never dreamt in this life that I would become what I am today. That is one of the lessons that I have learned today - 'Never take anything for granted. You are as good as the last job done.'

Apart from Salman, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Malaika Arora Khan and Priyanka Chopra remain my closest friends and form my support system. You need good people like them to survive for so many years. That's what the outside world doesn't know about designers. You need a great support system. Designers can create but execution is important and hence a great team is important. It's not a one-man show. We work really hard with our blood, sweat and tears and it's not all fun, glamorous and fabulous as it's made out to be. Designers don't make as much money as one thinks...

I have worked very hard to reach where I am today. Though the journey has been tough, it's been exciting too. I am an early riser. The first few hours in the morning is ME time. I plan my day, read the newspapers, and try sorting some work on emails at home. There's always a rush when I am off to work and I am always racing against time. During work, I go through creative meetings, production meetings and sit and discuss business developments. Sometimes, I have lunch meetings too, but work gets done by 7 pm. After that, I either catch up with friends over a meal or at a business dinner. I love watching TV before I sleep. The lights go off sharp at 12 midnight.

There are no best and worst things about being a designer but there's a flip side to it. Being a designer, sky is the limit. There's no desk job here, where you need to meet deadlines. You are a master of your dreams and your landscape is vast! The good part of the profession is that you don't need to hold back your creativity. The flip side is that you need to constantly re-invent yourself. Demand and supply needs to be maintained at all times and you are constantly being judged, like it or not.

I am often asked if I love working with stars. I love working with and dressing people. Stars are also normal people. Films give me a high. Whatever I am today is thanks to the film industry. Designing is tough. Period. Films have a different mindset and weddings, a different one. I love working on films because your work is for posterity, but weddings are for dressing people up for a special day so I love that too. All I know is that I love my job. I am in love with designing... I know nothing else. I can't think of a day without this...

I would like to tell aspiring designers to work and focus on designing and not on the perks like glamour and money, as they come anyway. Designing is an art, cultivate it and be true to it.