Farhana Bodi shatters ‘models don’t eat’ myth, tucks into Ragi dosa before turning showstopper on runway

Ragi dosa, high glam and zero starvation clichés at Mumbai’s Fashion Week

Last updated:
Manjusha Radhakrishnan, Entertainment, Lifestyle and Sport Editor
Dubai Bling star Farhana Bodi as show stopper at Bombay Times fashion showcase
Dubai Bling star Farhana Bodi as show stopper at Bombay Times fashion showcase

Dubai: “We’ve always had this conversation: Do models actually eat before a show?” laughs Farhana Bodi. “Yes, we do.”

And just to prove it, the Dubai Bling star is mid–ragi dosa, minutes before she hits the runway as showstopper for Vazaneh by Prbhjit Maniktala at the recently-concluded Mumbai’s Fashion Week in our latest getting ready with Gulf News video.

Forget starvation clichés, Bodi is rewriting the pre-runway rulebook, one delicious bite at a time.

“I love a good Indian breakfast. Oh my god, this ragi dosa is everything,” she says, completely unfazed by her impending runway scorcher showcase.

The model and reality star then poured herself into a striking aubergine cape layered over a fishnet skirt and a structured bustier, and finished with statement drop earrings.

And getting ready reminds her of her modeling days before reality TV came calling.

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“I just love being in India. It feels so nice to be back here,” she says with a hint of nostalgia.

Long before Dubai Bling, Bodi walked runways across India and Dubai.

“It’s bringing me back to my modelling days when I used to walk for fashion designers,” she reflects.

Now, as she returns as the showstopper, the excitement is unmistakable. “It’s going to be fun on the runway. I’m really excited.”

Raised in South Africa by Indian immigrant parents, Bodi moved to Dubai more than 15 years ago long ago. She began as a model, walking runways across India and the UAE.

Today, she is far more than just a runway regular. With millions of followers and a starring role in Netflix’s Dubai Bling, Bodi has become a global face of Dubai’s influencer economy — one that blends luxury, visibility, and personal storytelling.

Watch the full ‘Get Ready With Me’ video on Gulf News.

Manjusha Radhakrishnan
Manjusha RadhakrishnanEntertainment, Lifestyle and Sport Editor
Manjusha Radhakrishnan has been slaying entertainment news and celebrity interviews in Dubai for 18 years—and she’s just getting started. As Entertainment Editor, she covers Bollywood movie reviews, Hollywood scoops, Pakistani dramas, and world cinema. Red carpets? She’s walked them all—Europe, North America, Macau—covering IIFA (Bollywood Oscars) and Zee Cine Awards like a pro. She’s been on CNN with Becky Anderson dropping Bollywood truth bombs like Salman Khan Black Buck hunting conviction and hosted panels with directors like Bollywood’s Kabir Khan and Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh. She has also covered film festivals around the globe. Oh, and did we mention she landed the cover of Xpedition Magazine as one of the UAE’s 50 most influential icons? She was also the resident Bollywood guru on Dubai TV’s Insider Arabia and Saudi TV, where she dishes out the latest scoop and celebrity news. Her interview roster reads like a dream guest list—Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Shah Rukh Khan, Robbie Williams, Sean Penn, Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt, Joaquin Phoenix, and Morgan Freeman. From breaking celeb news to making stars spill secrets, Manjusha doesn’t just cover entertainment—she owns it while looking like a star herself.

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