'Work With Ranbir Kapoor, Start Diamond Business...': Miss World 2025 Contestant Nandini Gupta On Her Pageant Journey, Bollywood & More

Hailing from the vibrant city of Kota, Rajasthan, Nandini Gupta, who was crowned Miss India World 2023, is proudly representing the country on the global stage of the 72nd Miss World pageant, currently taking place in Hyderabad, Telangana. In an exclusive chat with The Free Press Journal, the 21-year-old opens up about her inspiring journey from a small-town dreamer to an international role model.

Keep reading as Nandini talks about everything from her aspirations in Bollywood, her business goals, views on Gen Z stereotypes, busting myths in the modelling industry, and her undeniable love for Mumbai’s street food!

Excerpts:

You started from Rajasthan and now you are representing India at a global level. How has this journey shaped you professionally and personally?

Professionally, I have had the chance to work for various Indian designers and had the privilege and the honour. Well, I have also done a lot in commercial jobs, but apart from that, I have also found my Beauty with a Purpose project, which is "Ekta" for differently-abled individuals. Personally, I have evolved as a person—360. A girl who used to have a child-like demeanour to now a woman who is 21 and representing India with so much pride and love and warmth. I have come a long way.

You just spoke about Beauty with a Purpose, so what cause are you advocating and why at Miss World 2025?

I am advocating for differently-abled individuals. My project is "Ekta," which means “oneness,” and it's my way of building a community which is incredible and inclusive. It has been inspired by my uncle, who has polio in his tongue and goes through developmental delays and intellectual disabilities. So, I saw that growing up he wasn't allowed or welcomed into society. People were scared, and they felt pity for him. They were empathetic.

Well, the one thing for sure is that they don't need our help; they don't need our sympathy, and we do not need to bring inclusivity out of sympathy or charity, but simply out of justice. Even in our constitution, it is said—human rights—they are not acknowledged and they have not been fulfilled. To be able to call them by their name and not be fearful of them, and to not feel pity for them, and to know that they also have the same calibre as we do and they can outshine anyone, irrespective of their disabilities, irrespective of where they come from and who they are.

You've spoken about pursuing business management. Do you see yourself working in a corporate firm or want to stay in glamorous professions like modelling or acting?

I have just completed my graduation degree and while I am looking forward to working in Bollywood and even in the South industry with veteran actors. And one thing that I want to tell all the audiences is that since I know the numbers, I am a finance geek! I love numbers, so why not put that number knowledge to use? I want to have my sustainable, lab-grown diamond business that reflects not just beauty but ethical values too.

You just mentioned Bollywood and acting, so is there a celeb you want to pair with or any storyline you want to work on in the future?

Well, if there is a storyline like Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, I would love to work in it. And Ranbir Kapoor is one actor for sure who I’m looking forward to being on set with—to act with him and to be his co-actor. I’m looking forward to that journey in Bollywood.

Next, I want to ask you, in a time when people, especially Gen Z, are influenced by social media trends, how do you stay authentic to yourself and not get influenced by them?

Well, trends come and go, but you know what you are and what you believe in—that’s evergreen. Just keep believing in yourself, keep feeling yourself, be a trendsetter and not a trend follower, and you will lead your life together.

Following that, what’s your take on Gen Z’s reputation and opinion in society?

I simply feel that the opinions that have been made out by people are because there is something that both generations are differing on—there is a generational gap. But if there is a requirement made that there needs to be a formal code at work, we need to follow it, because that’s how we believe in uniformity and a civil code.

But again, if there is something about voicing out our opinions and speaking for ourselves, that’s what I’ve learnt from Gen Z. And one thing we should learn from the previous generation is to stand and believe in our work ethic and do it as beautifully as they do. They are committed to working more than us.

We like to have that work-life balance, yes, but if there is a given remark that we need to improvise on our work ethics, we should do it, because we are the future generation and the upcoming youth of India. So why put that remark on us? Let’s just work together; let’s voice out our opinions, but also let’s be great at work and let’s kill it.

What is one misconception people have about you and something they don’t know about you?

Well, everyone thinks that I sit like this for 24 hours, or I wear the crown for 24 hours. But no—Nandini is this girl who is bubbly, who is chubby, who keeps on talking and talking and talking, and whose friends need to tell her, "Please calm down, stop yapping, and don’t be a professional yapper." And I love to enjoy street food; I love street shopping.

You mentioned street food – is there one street food you love from Bombay?

Bombay sandwich—with beetroot, with spicy red chutney and green chutney. Thoda kam kanda daalna hai bhaiya (please put less onion), I jokingly say. But I love Bombay sandwiches. They get multi-grain breads also—it’s healthy. You can eat it in the morning, you can eat it at night—anytime. And I love pani puri! If you tell me, "Nandini, there’s a cheat day," and you let me go, I eat pani puri, sev puri, dahi puri, ragda puri, and masala puri. I love all the puris!

I want to ask you about your diet life—what kind of diet do you follow nowadays?

I follow a balanced diet which has all the nutrients. I do not believe in skipping a meal to stay fit. It’s because I am exerting myself; I am working out in the gym; I am working out while I’m working. Well, I get physically exerted and mentally exerted when I’m working, so I make sure that I have a physical balance to everything—where I eat in the right proportion, where I burn the right calories. And I do not overexert myself to gain something. But also, I tell myself that I need to meditate to be mentally fit and go to the gym to be physically fit. It comes with a balanced diet, a balanced mind, a healthy body, and a healthy soul.

What are two myths that people have about models or the modelling industry?

The one myth that people have about models is that that’s how they walk on roads; that’s how they normally walk. It’s about us also in pageantry—that you need to walk on the ramp or on the floor as well. But no, we walk like normal girls.

And something about the modelling industry—it is believed that in the modelling industry you need to be of a certain shape. But we are inclusive; we support one another. If you are a certain type, a certain body type, and you have a different skin tone—we love you. We are breaking that stereotype, and I think it was overdue from our side. And we are finally doing it. We are enjoying the evolution, and it’s record-breaking that so many people are getting the chances that were needed. And now, see the industry—everywhere you see—the editorials, on the ramps, even the designer campaigns, you see a new face every time, and they look commendable.

Last question to you—what is that one thing you look forward to after winning Miss World 2025?

On the same day? Sleeping for the entire day! After hugging my parents—they will be in the audience—and I can’t wait to hug my mother after three months. I haven’t met her. So, I hope that on the same day I will go on to hug my mother—yes, get that emotion out of me. Because, you know, the feeling of staying away from your mother just keeps sinking and sinking. And then, after that, I would love to go—I would love to cuddle my mother and sleep. Have the sleep that I deserve. And then, in my Miss World journey, I hope that I do justice to the legacy of the previous Miss World and that I bring the radiance and I add to the charm of the crown.