Rochelle Rao: Are You Stalking Me?

Looks great on a beach and likes to go through life with a bottle of chocolate sauce in her hand. She does need help getting some sand off her bum from time to time.

Who’s she? Age: 25. From: Chennai, now residing in Mumbai, all by herself! Likes: Japanese food and Mimosa’s.

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Rochelle Rao is ribbing us. Normally, we wouldn’t have cared, but stalking and molestation are slightly touchy topics amongst hacks these days, which is why we felt compelled to change the topic.

FHM: So how has 2013 treated you?

Rochelle: Well, it has been a fabulous year for me. I’ve had a lot of good things happening to me this year — from the IPL to anchoring at events throughout the country. But the biggest thing has been me settling in Mumbai and starting a new life, which I’m enjoying quite a bit.

FHM: And how is it living all alone in Mumbai?

Rochelle: It is a lot of fun and I am so excited to celebrate the season’s festivities by myself. It’s great to have a nice little house to yourself and take care of the daily chores.

FHM: What about cooking? Do you enjoy that?

Rochelle: Have you been stalking me, because you know every bit of what I’m up to.

FHM: Yes, we have. So are you a good cook?

Rochelle: Nah, I’m not a great cook. I hardly get time to cook due to extensive travelling, but I’m sincerely trying to learn. And I have a nice domestic help who always comes to my rescue.

FHM: Hosted any crazy house parties? The kind Mumbai is famous for?

Rochelle: Nooo… I don’t want to mess up my recently set up cute girlie apartment. Although, I do like to head out to friend’s cribs for parties, I’m not much of party planner myself.

FHM: Are you excited about 2014?

Rochelle: Absolutely. Last year has been extensively great for me and I’ve seen quite a steep graph in terms of my career, so I definitely want to maintain that pace and give my best at whatever I do in 2014 as well.

FHM: So next stop is Bollywood?

Rochelle: I’m not keeping my hopes up only for Bollywood. I’m open to Malayalam and Tamil films as well.

FHM: Has anyone approached you from down south?

Rochelle: Yes, I’ve been approached by many, but I‘m not in a hurry to jump into something I might regret later. So, I guess, I’ll wait for the right moment.

FHM: What is your idea of a perfect date?

Rochelle: That is a complicated question, but it really doesn’t matter where or whom I am with as long as I’m comfortable and share a good laugh with them.

FHM: So are you seeing anyone at the moment?

Rochelle: No.

FHM: Are you sure?

Rochelle: Yes. Let’s put it in this manner — I am single and not ready to mingle.

FHM: Your favourite drink?

Rochelle: Chocolate milk (laughs).

FHM: Umm, seriously?

Rochelle: Mimosa’s, if your question was directed towards alcohol, but no one really makes them unless it’s a brunch or a black tie affair. And that definitely sounds like an ideal date to me.

FHM: So if someone wants a date with you should he get you a bottle of Champagne or a bottle of Hershey’s chocolate syrup?

Rochelle: Haha! I’m sure this question will leave most of my friends baffled, because both these things are in close competition, but for starters I would like to settle for a bottle of Hershey’s, or maybe Champagne. Oh wait, I guess both would do (laughs).

FHM: If given an opportunity, would you date an actor or a cricketer?

Rochelle: You should not be asking me these questions (laughs). I am going to get into a lot of trouble for saying this, but I’ll choose a cricketer if given a choice.

FHM: So any cricketer you have a crush on?

Rochelle: Not at the moment, and certainly not till the time this year’s IPL gets over. I would comfortably like to tag them all as friends.

FHM: Why do you think Indian women are missing out on top spots in international beauty pageants?

Rochelle: Personally speaking, I think anyone in the Top 10 is capable of doing enough, because honestly there are about 180 or more beautiful girls from different races and parts of the world. So in a situation like that you can’t really compare the different kinds of beauty. I guess it’s got more to do with what part of the world they want to focus on looks wise.

Quick-fire round

Favourite book: She just finished Life Of Pi and The Hunger Games trilogy. Favourite film: Lord of the Rings and Matrix. Loves juggling between rom-coms and sc-fi movies. Favourite car: Red or yellow Beetle. On her playlist: Everything Avicii. “I have his latest album on loop by default.”

From the January 2014 issue of FHM India.