Media Profile Imam Siddique.The Renaissance Man - Asian Age , Mumbai.Take an extraordinary human being, give him an endearing personality,great sense of humor, a sparkling wit to match, an extremely versatile and photogenic face on a very learn form, a fair sprinkling of aesthetics and sensitivity, several degrees of talent, a flair for many things, unlimited Joie De Vivre and gusto for the world to see. And what do you get?The renaissance man, of the millennium. Urbane and human, witty and funny, streetwise, sensitive yet sophisticated. An eclectic combination altogether in a city like Mumbai, where nobody has either the time or the inclination to know anybody else. It is a singular distinction that eight out of ten people who really matter in society, know him, have seen him, or heard of him.A proud alumnus of Don Bosco High School at Kings Circle in Mumbai, today he isnt just an Artist, actor; anchor; columnist; curator; compere; castingdirector ;cultural events coordinator;choreographer; dancer; DVJ; Image Guru; life Coach; motivational speaker; model; mimic; poet;corporate trainer; TV host & Visionary.He is a lot more, to begin with there are not many people who are blessed with so many qualities all in one. Secondly, if there are they dont do the kind of things that Imam does. Imams career spanning over two decades is as checkered as his singularly distinct personality,the art, acting,dancing and modeling assignments began in school. He won a National Award in a poetry writing competition and was felicitated by the legendary film maker Shri V. Shantaram. He began his career as a field investigator with the Indian Market Research Bureau [IMRB]. After getting an on hands experience on the field Imam, literally pursued his passion, a career as a professional contemporary and modern dancer and model. In a true jet setting fashion, he has performed and choreographed, winning accolades, in India and abroad.In the late eighties and early nineties, when Imam was a much in demand contemporary dancer,choreographer and fashion model he went on to launch some of the most prestigious, also award winning advertising and fashion campaigns,including the launch of Monte Carlo premium designer winter wear ,Giordano,Pantaloon, De- Beers,Raymonds suiting- the complete man, Modern suiting ,Thumbs Up, Gold Spot and Ambuja Cement etc. Its incredible that people fondly something recall his work to this very day. Imam has graced the scene in a variety of avatars. facebook/album.php?aid=537924&id=803920173&l=cde20ab4e9 Imam won the National Dance Championship, held in Mumbai in 1988. From winning national level poetry and dancing competitions to modeling,Imam moved to Fashion Merchandising helping launch one of the first international fashion brands in India-Benetton. After a stint as an honorary instructor at the Sophia Polytechnic, Imam moved behind the camera as a production controller at FCB Ulka Advertising adding a lot of creative value to advertising campaigns.Realising that he was too much of a free spirit Imam moved to production and event management. In 1996, Imam created his own position as a Casting Director with one of the best advertising agencies in the world.Ammirati Puris Lintas, Lowe. Imam is of the firm belief that Talent is a gift from god and it is imperative that it be nurtured and harnessed, since it creates a healthier and more creative community and environment. His experience in successfully, resourcing, researching and eventually recruiting talents for the advertising, fashion & entertainment industry is his Unique Selling Proposition. In this industry, the human being, talent is the product and by virtue of that, relationships & emotions can make or break a deal. Imam is a pioneer in every sense of the word and has many firsts to his unparalled credits . It was he who offered Bollywoods latest Dirty Picture actress Vidya Balan her first audition for an ad and cast Preity Zinta for the famous the famous Liril Campaign, groomed and styled Shahid Kapoor. His list of past discoveries that went on to become household names is a virtual whos who Amisha Patel [ Kaho na pyaar he], Amar Upadhyay [Saas bhi kabhi bahu thi], Shonali Kulkarni [ Dil chahta hein ], Luke Kenny [Channel V & Rock on], Ruby Bhatia, Raageshwari Loomba, Hrishita Bhatt [Asoka] and last but not least Ms. Mallika Sherawat, Bollywood and soon to be Hollywoods HISSS bombshell. Imam is multi faceted and talented to boot, has the singular distinction of discovering not just Models and Commercial actors but also launched designers, stylists, makeup artists ,and photographers to name but a few. Imams protegees believe he has the Midas touch and go on to explain how only after he choreographed Ms. Mandira Bedi in her first ever stellar dance performance at The Birla Gallery for Modern Art and Jindal Art Academy on the occasion of Indian Independence, did her career really take off. As a fashion designer and stylist, Imam has groomed Ex Ms. Worlds and Ms.Universe, current Bollywood heart-throbs, Aishwarya Rai ,Sushmita Sen for a Public service film on breast cancer and Priyanka Chopra respectively also styled and groomed about 75 % of all the male and female actors faces that you see in the entertainment business today.It was Imam along with his peers, who revolutionised the nascent fashion industry, with his historical show Fashion Police for Channel [V], circa 1996. Imam believes his perseverance paid off, Indian TV today would not look as good and as glamorous, had it not been for Imam s eye for detail and his personal touch of grooming the talents. Clearly theres no devil in this angels passion to pursue excellence and demand the same of others. While motivational speakers maybe aplenty, Imam does one better as a motivational dancer. As a matter o fact Imam is the first Indian celebrity to charge clients for attending Page 3 parties...As a guest! Never one to rest on his past laurels, Imam continues to create yet another mammoth milestone in his career with his latest fashion and lifestyle reality make over show, the Sunsilk Blue Carpet on UTV-Bindass.And effortlessly continues to draw the very sophisticated and thin line between Critique & criticism on his weekly fashion & lifestyle Bollywood & Hollywood unplugged show STYLE ADDICT on UTV STARS, the official channel of Bollywood. In his capacity as National Director -Talent and Casting while still at Lintas till very recently, Imam would individually groom and guide the aspiring amateurs and wannabes as also provide them with articles and essays that he had personally written to help them along the way. That apart, he would also provide an entire listing of Advertising agencies, Ad film producers, Casting Directors, prospective clients, model coordinator etc. Thus making the lives of the middle men (coordinators and commission agents) rather difficult if not altogether impossible. Imam became their friend, philosopher and much sought after guide. He is confident of putting India right up there on the international map of art, culture, fashion, style and substance! Enough said, what about bragging rights? What is his claim to fame? Imam was one of the only five Indians to be an official Groupie with the world infamous-notorious rock band The Rolling Stones during their India tour. Why, he impressed the band with his inimitable brand of humor &Savoir-Faire so much, that he also styled the band members outfitting the legendary rock stars, in traditionalSherwanis and Nehru Bandh-Gala jackets during their India Tour. Imam has been listed as a global achievement icon in the Marquis Whos Who in the World. Why it was Imam Siddique, who was paid to stand in as Michael Jackson for the first ever Bombay Times party and thereafter for the Michael Jackson memorabilia auction for the benefit for street kids wherein he helped raise over US$ 50.000. In the year 2006, Imam Siddique also helped launch Indias premier international talent management agency. Eskimo -India. The quality of talent that Eskimo-India has provided the increasingly globalised the Indian and international advertising industry needs to be seen to believed. Imam as Creative Director India gave this global entity an Indian ethos and pathos while maintaining stringent international standards and practices of professionalism. The most recent assignment that he has left an indelible mark on by virtue of his inimitable style is the The Modern India Photo shoot for the world renowned US Stock photo agency Getty Images. gettyimages, where he was Creative Director in charge of the entire production, from casting, to styling, locations, photography etc. Never one to be co-opted and culturally subsumed by anything mainstream, least of all Bollywood, he has maintained a politically correct professional distance with the Indian film industry. As an artist who has always pushed the proverbial envelope both socially and politically, Imams latest show at the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, was eclectic to say the least. He very effortlessly integrated the three artistic disciplines of Poetry, Performance and Painting. Needless to say to garner a standing ovation from an already standing upright street audience. Imam has also won the One night stand-Slam poetry championships constantly for his thematic Vicious Valentine poems about the Big B During their India tour, Imam single handedly conducted a fund raiser for the New York Based Battery Dance Company getting the tour back on the road when the corporate sponsors pulled out. F.Y.I: During the dastardly terror attack of 26 /11/ 08 in Mumbai, it was Imam who put his life in the line of jeopardy and went on to save the precious lives of three foreign nationals, two Britons: Mr. William Pike, Ms. Kelly Doyle and a distraught French teenager Ms. Laetitia, at the Taj Palace Hotel, within hours of the attack. I am the Passer Bye....read on the girlfriends version...rajneeshnews.blogspot.in/2010/01/i-tried-to-save-my-girlfriend-from.html Please feel free to read Imams interview to Tusha Mittal of Tehelka, Indias most trusted and respected premier investigative journal and news paper. tehelka/story_main40.asp For further information, please click on the following hyperlink to William Pikes personal appeal website where he has acknowledged Imams act of bravery and timely intervention, helped in saving his life and getting him to Bombay Hospital.Scroll to the bottom of page,SAT. 09.05.09 willpikemumbaiappeal.co.uk/index.html As a matter of fact it was Imams strong and dignified rebuttal, to the despicable, inflammatory comment about Pakistani flags, that had Ms. Simi Garewal, running for cover and apologizing for the faux-pas in the national media thereafter. Interestingly Imam being the perfect Khandaani gentleman that he is, also apologized to the lady in question immediately...Not for what he had said but the way he had said it. Should you be interested to watch Imams latest fashion and lifestyle make over reality TV show, please click on the following hyperlink to access the show archives online right here on you tube: youtube/watch?v=f3jil1axt9c Imam loves engaging in a meaningful dialogue and interacting with people .In his latest efforts as an artist to draw peoples attention to the plight of the flood victims of Leh,Imam has done the most amazing promo for the Hope Trust an NDTV Lifestylefoundation, inspired by Sufi poet Mawlena Jalaluddin Rumi, wherein Imam is the Whirling Darvesh youtube/watch?v=d2wss8C9_ag&feature=related Should you have any feedback, either bouquets of compliments and congratulations or brickbats of criticiSMS, please feel free tocontact him personally on his E-mail, Face book, Twitter or cell+91.98197.73381
Posted on: Sat, 20 Sep 2014 19:30:28 +0000
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