From Vision to Visibility

Raaz doesn’t walk into a space like he owns it — he walks like it’s his responsibility to understand it. Modeling, for him, was never about wanting to be famous. It started with a billboard. Or more accurately, the desire to be on one.

“I used to see the big ones on my way to college. I'd just stare and imagine myself there,” he recalls. “One day, I thought — what if that was me?”

It was. Years later, it is.

Beginnings in Chaos

His first show was on February 26, 2012. He remembers the date clearly, though everything else felt like a blur. “I didn’t know how to walk a ramp. I was the newcomer, thrown into the deep end.”

That trial-by-fire experience shaped him. Not because it went perfectly — but because it didn’t. “You don’t learn from the moment itself,” he says. “You learn from what it asks of you.”

And Raaz? He answers with presence. Every time.

 

Style That Speaks Without Trying

“Comfort over everything,” he says. It’s not a throwaway line — it’s a philosophy.

Raaz describes his fashion sense as simple, minimal, and grounded. He doesn’t need to be loud to be noticed. In fact, he’d rather not be. “I like to feel like myself,” he explains. “I want to be able to talk to a designer one moment and a rickshaw driver the next — without having to change how I carry myself.”

He lives in shorts when he can. Keeps things uncomplicated. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t appreciate high fashion — he just refuses to lose his sense of self in it. “Even when you go into those experimental spaces,” he says, “you bring yourself with you. You don’t leave comfort behind.”

 

On Not Having Role Models

Ask Raaz who inspires him, and his answer is immediate: “No model.”

He’s not being difficult. He’s being honest. “If I start looking up to another model, I’ll start copying them. I’ll lose what makes me different.”

That said, he admires icons from outside the runway — Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Chris Hemsworth. “Not because of what they wear, but the way they live. Their confidence. Their discipline. Their craziness.”

Raaz’s style doesn’t come from mimicry. It comes from awareness. And a refusal to be boxed in.

Discipline Over Drama

His advice for aspiring models is refreshingly blunt: don’t chase clout. “If you want this as a career — really want it — you need to be serious. You need to be dedicated. Fame isn’t enough.”

He talks about modeling like a craft. Something you respect. Something that asks something of you in return. “It’s not just about followers or exposure. You have to ask yourself: what do I actually want from this? And then build toward it.”

Raaz believes in long-game goals. And staying true even when the attention fades. “If people are going to remember you, let it be for your work.”

Storms, Shoots, and Memories That Stick

When asked to share a moment he’ll never forget, he tells a story that sounds like a film set gone wrong — or exactly right. “It was an Aarong shoot. We were on an island when a storm hit. We were in this small tent, terrified. Water started coming in.”

The shoot didn’t go as planned. But it wasn’t a failure. “We still got some amazing shots,” he says. “I think that’s what makes it memorable. Even in chaos, something beautiful came out of it.”

The memory stuck — not because of glamour, but because of survival. And resilience.

How He Prepares: Mind, Body, Mood

For shoots, Raaz keeps it practical. A day before, he checks his grooming, watches his diet, books a salon visit if needed. For live shows? He hits the gym. “It’s not about abs,” he says. “It’s about flexibility. Posture. Strength.”

But mentally, he keeps a blank slate. “I don’t overthink,” he says. “Growing up, my parents told me not to stress before exams — just do your best. I’ve carried that with me.”

Effort, to him, is everything. Perfection isn’t the goal — presence is.

Outfits That Change Everything

He doesn't have a fixed go-to look. “What I wear changes how I feel,” he says. “The outfit defines the character.”

And when he’s in a suit? “I’m the king,” he grins. “Everyone’s here to see me. The way I wear it — that’s the way it’s meant to be worn.”

For fun? Tattoo sleeves he’s never worn outside. “I don’t know when or where to wear them. But I like having them.”

And if he could swap closets with anyone fictional? “Tommy Shelby. That Peaky Blinders aesthetic — everything about it.”

 

The Arka Chapter

Raaz’s relationship with Arka isn’t built on novelty — it’s built on growth. As a more experienced model, joining a platform full of fresh energy brought something new. “I’ve learned so much from younger models,” he says. “The way they approach fashion, the way they treat social media — it’s smart. It’s evolving.”

For him, Arka offered freedom. Collaboration. A space to experiment — especially with younger designers. “It was refreshing,” he says. “The creativity, the difference in perspective. I got to see what’s next, and be a part of it.”

A Platform That Lets You Breathe

Arka isn’t just a stage — it’s a shift. “If you’ve never been to Arka,” Raaz says, “just come. Talk to these young designers, these models. Understand their thought processes.”

He sees it as a call for open-mindedness. “Fashion is evolving. It won’t stay the same forever. And it shouldn’t.”

What Arka offers is more than exposure — it’s an education. A reminder that inspiration moves in every direction, regardless of experience or age.

Legacy in Motion

When Raaz steps onto a runway now, he doesn’t overthink. Doesn’t over-plan. He walks with the awareness that he belongs there — not because he’s flawless, but because he’s real.

His journey didn’t start with fashion week or an agency. It started with wanting to see himself on a billboard. And now, over a decade later, he’s not just a face on the screen — he’s the one reminding the next generation that this is possible.

With discipline. With comfort. With the confidence to be your own model.