Model Agency: Jackpot Glamour Man

Vishal Kewalramani, managing director of Scorpion productions, a modelling agency, is the man who flirted with fate and got away with a fortune.

The 27-year-old Indian now runs a Dh10 million empire, but just four-and-a-half-years ago all he had was an engineering degree and no desire to use it.

"I was always attracted to the world of glamour and wanted to be part of it. So I took up a low-paying job that involved assisting in the organisation of the Bridal Show. Later I joined an ad agency. What I really wanted to do was start my own modelling agency, but I had no funds."

And that is when he had a brainwave. "It was the Dubai Shopping Festival. The raffle draw fever was on. With every purchase worth Dh25 you could get a raffle coupon.

"I started borrowing money from family, friends and even my driver. The plan was simple, buy etisalat calling cards worth Dh30, each of which would fetch me a raffle coupon. I would keep the coupon and sell the card."

Every day he would fill out several coupons and drop them into different boxes around the city.

On the 27th day of his operation he hit the jackpot. He won a Nissan Patrol. A car that would provide him just the fuel he needed to start a modelling agency.

"I left my job the same day. I sold the car for Dh130,000, of which I spent Dh30,000 to repay my loans, presented another Dh30,000 to my dad and used the remaining Dh70,000 to start a modelling agency."

His office was a studio apartment which doubled as his bedroom after business hours.

"The going was tough. I would draw inspiration from labourers and security guards. If they could survive on Dh1,000 a month, so could I."

The first contract came after five months. "By that time I was down to my last Dh2,000 and was thinking about getting a job somewhere."

Today his company’s net worth is Dh10 million, and is on the cusp of global expansion with plans to set up offices around the world.

The office-cum-bedroom studio has been replaced by a large office in Bur Dubai and a swanky three-bedroom apartment on Shaikh Zayed Road.