Vikram Raja modelling portfolio — In front of the camera

Vikram Raja as a model

Vikram Raja is a professional male model from Pondicherry, India, with more than a decade of commercial, fashion and editorial work behind him. He started modelling in 2011, had his first professional portfolio shot by celebrity photographer Karthi Srinivasan in 2014, and has since fronted over a hundred advertisements for brands across South India and the country. He is also an actor in Tamil cinema and a casting director, which gives him an unusual view of the business from both sides of the camera.

Commercial and print campaigns

The bulk of the work is commercial: print, outdoor and digital campaigns for retailers, jewellers, textile houses and consumer brands. Names on the list include Chennai Silks, NAC Jewellers, Sri Kumaran Thanga Maligai, Selvarathinam Saravana Stores, Ramraj Cotton, Manyavar and Otto, alongside national and technology brands such as Lenovo, Epson, Facebook and Zomato. Commercial briefs reward reliability: arriving prepared, hitting the look quickly and holding consistency across dozens of frames.

Fashion, lookbooks and the runway

Fashion work ranges from label lookbooks and menswear campaigns for Levi’s, Louis Philippe, Park Avenue, Indian Terrain, Celio, Basics, Max and Ethnicity to runway shows and mall events such as Providence Mall, where the demands are different again: timing, posture and a walk that sells the garment in a few seconds. His guide to runway walk basics comes straight from that experience.

Editorial and portrait

Editorial and beauty frames, from black-and-white portraiture to grooming and skincare work, depend on skin, light and expression more than wardrobe. It is why he writes so much about pre-shoot skin prep, HD makeup for camera and posing for the camera: the small disciplines that decide whether a close-up works.

Lifestyle, fitness and hospitality

Lifestyle campaigns for brands such as Bovonto, Esthell Resort, Maxivision Eye Hospital, Murugappa Group, BSA TI Cycles and Vaya ask for something more natural: a person the audience believes, caught in a real moment. Fitness and physique work sits at the other extreme, planned weeks ahead with conditioning and lighting that shapes the body.

Teaching and the casting room

Beyond his own bookings, Vikram Raja runs modelling courses for aspiring professionals and works as a casting director, auditioning new faces for advertising and film. The journal carries that knowledge for free: how to start modelling, building a portfolio that gets you booked, spotting modelling scams, and city guides for Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pondicherry and Kerala.

Frequently asked

Is Vikram Raja available for modelling assignments outside Pondicherry?

Yes. He is based in Pondicherry and works regularly in Chennai, Bangalore and across South India, and travels for campaigns elsewhere in India. Email is the quickest way to check dates.

What kind of modelling work does he take on?

Commercial and print campaigns, fashion and apparel, editorial, lookbooks, lifestyle and fitness shoots, and runway. Since 2011 he has been the face of over 100 advertisements across fashion, jewellery, lifestyle and technology.

Does Vikram Raja run modelling classes?

Yes. He runs modelling courses for aspiring professionals and, as a casting director, writes practical guides on getting started, building a portfolio and avoiding scams in the journal.

How do I book him for a campaign?

Use the contact form or email with the brand, dates, location and usage, and you will get a reply with availability and rates.

More: the Women Exclusive interview on his path from graphic design into modelling, and his Tamil film roles.