Why Australian model alters appearance to look “more Indian”

Miss World Australia hopeful Lucinda Nicholas has admitted she alters her appearance to look “more Indian” to land more movie roles.

Former Miss World Australia hopeful Lucinda Nicholas is relieved to be back home in Australia after living in India, where Covid-19 is running rampant.

The model, who hails from Adelaide, made her mark on the Bollywood scene before her instinct told her it was time to move back and months later, the pandemic hit.

“I’m deeply saddened by the situation in India,” Nicholas said.

“I still have friends over there so I feel for the people. India is like a second home.”

Australian model and Bollywood actor Lucinda Nicholas in Melbourne. Picture: Ian Currie

Nicholas, 28, moved to India in 2013 and spent six years living in Mumbai, where she launched her acting career but she never imagined that she would make it in the industry.

She was plucked from obscurity in her late teens after winning a local beauty pageant, which paved the way for success.

“When I was 17, I was asked to do a beauty pageant and won the title of Miss World South Australia,” she said.

“I gave it a go and I ended up winning, so from that point onwards I saw modelling and acting as a real possibility.

“I began acting training but I never imagined that I would end up in Bollywood.”

Nicholas’ journey as a little-known model who got her big break in Bollywood has inspired many, including the more than 100,000 fans who follow her on Instagram.

She spent years working hard and learning to speak Hindi, which in conjunction with her talent and exotic looks caught the attention of prominent casting agents and helped her land various roles.

Australian model and Bollywood actor Lucinda Nicholas. Picture: Ian Currie

Lucinda Nicholas has opened up about working in Bollywood.

The Nontre.co ambassador began doing small gigs at first, such as TV commercials, before eventually going on to star in Bollywood productions like Guest iin London. She also had a stint on India’s answer to Big Brother — Bigg Boss.

While working in Bollywood has been mostly effortless, Nicholas, who has Middle Eastern and European ancestry, has been forced to alter her physical appearance at times to appear “more Indian” in order to land more roles.

She has portrayed characters from a variety of ethnic backgrounds including Austrian, South Indian and English.

“Sometimes I would wear brown contact lenses to make me look more Indian I guess you could say,” she said.

“A lot of foreigners become successful by really taking on the language and Indian culture. “The longer they’re there, the more they become relatable to the audience.

“That’s why India does feel like home because to be accepted and to be able to work there and live there was incredible. People think it’s so different to Australia but once you live there and you’re a part of the culture you realise how similar we all are as humans no matter what race or religion.”