Models, especially beauty pageant winners, have routinely been snapped up by filmmakers in Bollywood. But never have fashion's leggy beauties had it so good, with many of them actually bagging lead roles in big- budget films.
However, whether or not they prove their mettle as well on the screen as they have on the runway only time will tell.
In the meanwhile, here's a look at some of the girls who are out to dispel any preconceived (read: negative) notions you may have of them...
NARGIS FAKHRI
The half-Pakistani and half-Czech was a participant of America's Next Top Model. She featured in an Indian swimsuit calender in 2009.
After auditioning several girls, Imtiaz finalised her as the Rockstar heroine because of her Anglo-Indian looks. The director has a thing for models.
Remember he cast Brazilian model Giselle Monteiro in Love Aaj Kal? Nargis, who has had her share of off-screen buzz after she was linked with co-star Ranbir Kapoor, considers this her big ticket to stardom.
SONALI RAUTShe is the sister of international supermodel Ujjwala Raut. Writer Tapan Ghosh will soon launch his next book that revolves around a female protagonist.
Apparently, Viveck Vaswani has heard the story and plans to direct the film for which Sonali has been approached.
She is also slated to feature in Jazz directed by Mani Shankar opposite South star Diganth.
CANDICE BOUCHER
The South African model, who has been a magazine cover girl and a Playmate, has landed a role in Azaan.
She is best remembered for her red carpet appearance at the Cannes film festival 2011 for the premiere of the Israeli film Hearat Shulayim in a dress that left nothing to imagination.
In Azaan, however, she essays a sand artiste and is not exactly indulging in a skin-fest, which she is known for.
ANGELA JONSON
Better known for her alleged affair with Ranbir Kapoor, this is yet another swimsuit model heading to Bollywood.
Apparently, Sohail Khan is considering her for his next flick thought there is nothing official about it.
LISA HAYDON
The half-Malayali, half-Australian model was selected by director David Dhawan for Rascals after he saw her snapshots in a magazine and found her to be 'striking'. She was cast after filming had begun in Thailand and a role was specially written for her.
The fact that the movie's actress Kangna Ranaut now finds herself out of favour with Sanjay Dutt (who is the film's producer as well as actor along with Ajay Devgn) and is missing from the promotions of the movie is helping Lisa as she is being touted as the heroine of the comic caper.
PIA TRIVEDI
She was one of the models who featured with Abhishek Bachchan in the popular Bluffmaster track.
However after being a VJ and numerous ramp walks, she makes her acting debut in Hum Tum Shabana. The makers felt the "gorgeous girl" obviously was perfect for the role of a model in the movie.
