Pranav Bakhshi becomes India’s first male model with autism: 19-year-old, Pranav Bakhshi has become the first male model with autism to walk the ramp breaking the myth that the modelling world is not for people like him. His brooding eyes, chisseled jawline, great height, and dashing looks are all the pre-requisites that one needs to be a model.
Pranav calls autism his superpower. Pranav’s bio in his official Instagram account says that autism is his superpower and he also has a nag for photography and golf. The New Delhi based model is also a hardcore fitness enthusiast and he keeps uploading his workout videos on his account.
He is determined to live his life on his own terms and is now living his modelling dreams. He wants to walk the ramp for international brands and become one of the leading male models. He has already walked for some well-known high street labels.
The 19-year-old is now with a leading Delhi-based modelling agency called Ninjas Model Management. The agency is run by Ninja Singh, who is a model herself and has modelled for leading cosmetic brands internationally. The agency has already started getting a booking request for him from various clients. In a very short span, he has become quite a pro in modelling.
“He had those looks and trait that’s needed for a model and that was enough for me to sign him up with the agency,” says Ninja. “We as a company want to prove our patriotic acumen. It is the first time in history that India will represent such diversity like nowhere else in the world. We are proud that India will invigorate fashion is a very moralistic sense,” she adds. Pranav’s role model in modelling is Spanish supermodel Jon Kortajarena. Apart from fashion, Pranav is also interested in photography and plays golf.
Pranav’s mother Anupama Bakhshi can’t be more proud of her son’s achievements. He was two when she got to know about his condition. “We were in a mall when suddenly he came up to me showing a billboard. He expressed his desire to model and I could only agree with his decision. Pranav is very well aware that he has autism and is fighting it on a day to day basis. But he is a strong man and I really want the other kids with autism to take inspiration from him and believe in themselves,” says his mother.
He has a 40 percent disability. Pranav, in addition to autism also suffers from echolalia. It is a condition where one repeats everything others say. He has severe anxiety issues and extreme obsessions. However, all of this isn’t stopping him, Pranav is adamant and won’t let anything stop him from achieving his goals.
