KOCHI: When he left the quiet, quaint settings of his hometown in Kollam to pursue higher studies in Punjab, Shamkhan A didn’t imagine that the state, known, among other things, for its loud and exuberant cultural scene, would have such a profound impact on him. At 6’2”, Shamkhan didn’t ‘stand out’ as he so often did in Kerala. Instead, he fit right in.
Though he had enrolled in a mechanical engineering course there, he was involved in several art and cultural programmes. Then, on the suggestion of a mentor, Shamkhan took up modelling. “It just happened by sheer chance.
Until then, I hadn’t paid it any heed. Back in Kerala, my interests were in sports. I guess the freedom I had in Punjab and the opportunities that existed here expanded my perspective,” he tells .
When he began, modelling had such a bad rap in Kerala. “The Kerala society then was very conservative and families strict. I don’t think I could have become a model or a show director had I remained in Kerala.
But I’m glad that the idea that taking up modelling is ‘soft’ is fading. I’ve noticed significant shifts in the past 2-3 years. Now, more and more youngsters are seeing it as a career option and parents too are supportive,” says the 32-year-old.
Despite his early successes, Shamkhan himself didn’t believe that he could make a career out of it. Then, for him, it was only a co-curricular event. “However, this changed when I landed my first show in 2017.
Right after that, I won .