sideline here / 202 cover story /
But for Mehta, life wasn’ t always like this.
The Awhatukee resident and ASU grad knew she wanted to be a model when she was just a little girl. So at the fresh age of 19, she flew off to Mumbai and had her first portfolio shot by Bollywood’ s most sought after film photographer, Dabboo Ratnani. He took a liking to her and gave her a list of agencies to submit her pictures to.
Mehta became a well-established model in the Asia-Pacific region by 2003 and soon, Bollywood approached.“ I never wanted to do films, but I was offered international roles with two of the biggest banner production houses in India, so I accepted,” she says.
Since then, she’ s traveled to more than 35 countries, written for publications like Travel & Leisure and now, continues to do modeling, commercial and on-air hosting work among other pursuits. With so many endeavors, it’ s hard to envision this is the same woman who for two years, was trapped in an abusive relationship.
As she recounts her story in graphic detail, her entire demeanor shifts. Gone is the natural glow she normally exudes; her words, now carefully chosen.
“ In the beginning, of course he was the sweetest guy, the nicest guy I met in my whole life!” It was almost a year into their relationship before he became physically violent for the first time.“ What I didn’ t see then and what I see now is the emotional and psychological abuse was constant from the beginning.”
Like any abusive relationship, eventually things escalated. One day, it was a rough wrist grab and the next, a slap. The once-amonth incidents turned to weekly and then eventually, every day. She recalls at least 40 assaults, one of which happened in public at the mall food court. Luckily, there was a Sheriff nearby, which led to his first arrest.
A week after getting engaged, Mehta found out he had been cheating on her with many women throughout their entire relationship; she reached her breaking point.
202magazine. com / JULY 2013 / 202 MAGAZINE
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