In the competitive world of fashion, model Deepak Gupta stands tall — quite literally. Once mocked for his appearance and told he would never make it, Gupta now walks on runways in fashion capitals across the world.
A video that Gupta, 20, shared on Instagram documenting his transformation quickly went viral, proving his detractors wrong in a spectacular fashion. The overwhelming support, including from Bollywood celebrities, gave him another boost, and proved that resilience and self-belief can shatter even the toughest barriers.
Today, he is not just a model but an inspiration to many, showing that those who doubt you today could be applauding you tomorrow.
In an interview with indianexpress.com, he talks about his journey.
Taking criticism with a pinch of salt
Gupta’s modelling career began unexpectedly in college. He was selected for an inter-college fashion show based primarily on his height — he stands 6 feet tall. This opportunity, however, came with unexpected backlash.
“They used to bully me a lot in college. Like, ‘Why is he in the fashion show? Why aren’t we in the fashion show? Why is he getting everything? Why are we not getting everything?’” Gupta says.
The bullying wasn’t just about opportunity — it cut deeper, targeting aspects of his identity. “They used to troll me for my skin and hair as well,” he shares.
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Just 19 years old, Gupta faced a pivotal moment that many young adults encounter: whether to internalise the criticism or use it as fuel. “A guy can take this thing, this bullying in two ways,” he explains. “Someone might think, ‘It’s okay, maybe they’re right. I can’t do this. I’m not good enough for this.’ But the other perspective is, ‘No, I will prove them wrong.’”
Gupta chose the second path.
Deepak Gupta’s modelling career began unexpectedly in college.
Going big
After leaving college, Gupta ventured into professional modelling. His first breakthrough came with Westside, a popular Indian retail brand. “I saw my pictures displayed in shopping malls and everywhere,” he remembers. “At that moment, when I saw my pictures all over Mumbai and even in Bangalore, I thought, ‘Yeah, if I can do this, then I can achieve even more.”
This early success became the catalyst for his ambition. Just three months into professional modelling in India, Gupta made the leap internationally.
The contrast between modelling in India versus internationally struck him immediately. “There is so much nepotism as well,” he says about the Indian modelling scene. “Compared to India, in places like Europe and the UK, international modelling offers much more respect. They treat you really well as a professional model, not the way it is in India.”
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A dream comes true
Gupta received confirmation to walk for Louis Vuitton, and that moment is etched in his memory. It wasn’t a call but an unexpected late-night email.
“I got the confirmation email from Louis Vuitton from my manager in Paris. It said, ‘Confirmed for Louis Vuitton.’ The call time was 8 am,” he says. “It was so random. I couldn’t believe the confirmation came just the night before at 11 pm. I saw the email and still couldn’t believe it. I zoomed in and read, ‘Oh, it’s Louis Vuitton.’ Then I jumped out of bed, called my manager, and immediately called my mom,” he adds.
The anticipation kept him awake all night. “I hadn’t slept properly. I was lying there, trying to sleep, but I kept imagining myself. ‘Oh, I’m going to walk for Louis Vuitton’. I kept thinking about what clothes I would wear, how the stage would look, how everything would turn out.”
For a young model who once faced ridicule for his dreams, this validation was the ultimate vindication.
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His first breakthrough came with Westside, a popular Indian retail brand.
A viral moment
Everything changed for Gupta after he posted his transformation video, showcasing his journey. The video, which unexpectedly went viral, garnered attention from Bollywood celebrities including Hrithik Roshan.
“My Instagram followers were around 15,000 before, and now they’ve grown to 103K. I got verified on [models.com] because of social media, and I made it to their Hot List.”
The recognition from Bollywood celebrities left him stunned. “I couldn’t believe it. I went through my comments and thought, ‘Is this for real? Is this not a fake account?”
The support has profoundly affected him. “It really means a lot to me. It gives me more strength and motivation to work harder, achieve more, and represent India on a bigger stage. This is what happens when Indians support Indians.”
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No excuses
Preparing for the Louis Vuitton show presented challenges that tested Gupta’s resolve. With his passport stuck at an embassy for a UK visa application, he faced a logistical nightmare during the Fashion Week season.
“I had to take a 12-hour overnight bus from Milan to Paris and reach the LV headquarters by 10 am,” he says. “I did that four times — travelling 12 hours by bus from Milan to Paris — just because I didn’t have my passport.”
Despite the exhausting travel schedule, there was no room for excuses. “You have to look perfect because it’s a fashion show. You can’t say, ‘I haven’t slept, so I have dark circles’ or anything like that. There are no excuses. You have to be perfect for them.”
Everything changed for Gupta after he posted his transformation video, showcasing his journey.
The price of looking perfect
The fashion industry’s rigid beauty standards demand constant vigilance, something Gupta talks about candidly. “The worst part of modelling is that you can’t eat anything. People in India love to eat everything, and they consume a lot of carbs… The Indian diet lacks protein, so if you stick to traditional Indian food, you’ll gain weight,” he says.
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Beyond diet, skincare has become a full-time job, especially in Mumbai where he lives. “You can’t go out much, and if you spend a week in Mumbai without a mask and sunscreen, your skin ends up in the worst condition.”
He has seen the extreme measures some models take. “People in the modelling industry don’t eat for a week before fashion week… I’ve seen people fainting at fashion shows just because they hadn’t eaten anything to fit into the clothes,” he says.
Gupta considers himself fortunate in this regard. “I think I’m young and I have a good metabolism. So I don’t think I’ve ever been forced to do something. I think I’m kind of lucky in this.”
Unmatched support
Like many pursuing creative careers in India, Gupta initially kept his modelling career hidden from his parents. He juggled college and modelling jobs without their knowledge for three months.
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The revelation came unexpectedly when his father spotted him on a Westside banner. “He was like, ‘He kind of looks like you, is that you?’. I stayed quiet… Then he showed me the picture, and I was like, ‘Yeah, this is me.’”
The moment turned into a valuable lesson about proving oneself before seeking validation. “You have to start by proving yourself in small ways to your parents. When they see that, they’ll push you even harder and believe in you the most. You just have to show them a little like, ‘Yeah, I can do it’, and once they see that, their support will be unmatched.”
Looking ahead
Firmly established in the international modelling scene, Gupta has set his sights on new heights. “Every year, models.com releases a Top 50 list of models. My dream this year is to make it onto that list,” he reveals.
Beyond modelling, Gupta wants to keep his options open through a methodical approach to goal-setting. “I keep a note whenever something comes to my mind, like ‘I want to do this, I want to achieve that.’ I go through those notes every month.” “Overthinking and confusion waste so much time. People keep overthinking instead of taking action. It’s better to just take an action without excessively thinking about it,” he adds.
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For aspiring models facing similar struggles, Gupta says clarity and spurring oneself help. “You just have to keep learning and finding ways to improve. Keep evolving your style, stay fit, and always give your best.” “You have to be clear about the kind of job you want in fashion. If you’re confused, you won’t be able to achieve anything.”
