Instep: People say that if Khawar had paid as much attention to the female models as he has with the males then the industry would be a better looking place. Comments?

Khawar Riaz: I think that many girls in Lahore and Karachi rose from this platform. People associate me with the male models and that has become my trademark as no one else is doing it. But I have discovered and groomed many female models too, though I have to say it was laziness that prevented me from taking many of them seriously. Iman (Ali) came to me but her dad gave me a tough time so working with her became very difficult. From Lahore, Nadia Ali, Nadia Malik, Natasha, Sabina Pasha and many others touched base with me before they moved on. Even for the film industry, I took in Zara Sheikh and Veena Malik, groomed them and helped them change their image. 

Instep: Between Zara Sheikh and Veena Malik - both of whom you gave career defining makeovers before they moved on - which one's betrayal hurt most?

KR: They did not betray me. They did not leave me, I left them. I had to move forward and whoever didn't want to move with me got left behind. I feel they were simply characters that were part of my past. These characters come and go everyday.

Instep: So which do you prefer: Khawar Riaz in Lollywood or Khawar Riaz in fashion?

KR: Definitely the fashion industry because that is what I am recognized for.

Instep: What did you think of Sabina Pasha's accusations against Ather Shahzad?

KR: I am extremely fond of Sabina but I think it was totally wrong of her to complain. Ather Shahzad gave her the break she needed to make it big and they deserve credit for that. Plus, she isn't a little girl and could have shown more backbone when it came to business matters. She needn't have complied with everything and if she did, then she should not have complained afterwards.

Instep: Your advice to female models?

KR: I cannot give them any advice because even if I did, they simply do not listen. You cannot advise them and if you pay them a compliment it will as sure as hell go to their head. Vinny is the only model whose head sits firmly on her shoulders.

Instep: Over to Munib Nawaz's recent show. It was an impressive job you did with the twenty male models…

KR: Preparing for Munib's show was exhausting: I worked on those twenty boys and since I'm running a men's salon I spent hours cutting their hair. First they were hesitant but by the end they all wanted a cut and felt totally transformed. The collection was classic and a grunge look wouldn't have looked good so we struck an army blend with a Mohawk look. It did work well.

Instep: Why have you never styled a womenswear show in a similar way?

KR: I actually don't think I can handle big shows the way Nabila or Tariq Amin do. But I'm thinking of going that way now. But before I start styling models for fashion shows, I feel the need to revamp the modeling scene. I want to revamp the girls first.

Instep: So what's next on the agenda?

KR: I think now is time for me to shift focus on female shoots. I will be giving this industry new models. Plus, I've decided that I love the fashion scene in Karachi. I have a great rapport with photographers like Tapu (Javeri) and Arif (Mehmood) there and I want to work in Karachi as well. I think the fashion scene in Karachi is unparalleled and it would be great working with Karachi based models like Sanam Saeed - who I have enjoyed working with - and Fayeza Ansari. There are many other great models there and my challenge would be to cast them in a totally different light. I tell you that I will find girls as tall as 5'10 or 5'11 and I will push them to the very top.

-- Khawar Riaz was talking to Aamna Haider Isani