Raunaq Chodankar novo je ime koje polako privlači pozornost na međunarodnoj sceni, ne samo zbog svojih nogometnih uspjeha već i zbog impresivne karijere u modelingu i na filmu. Njegov put od mladog talenta na nogometnim terenima do uspješnog modela i glumca nije samo zanimljiva priča o uspjehu već i primjer izuzetne posvećenosti i svestranosti. Kroz intervju, Raunaq je s nama otvoreno podijelio svoje iskustvo, otkrivajući kako je uspio uskladiti sve svoje, naizgled nespojive strasti i karijere.
Raunaq je odmalena sanjao o profesionalnoj nogometnoj karijeri u Engleskoj, domovini nogometa.
“Oduvijek sam sanjao o potpisivanju ugovora s profesionalnim nogometnim klubom u Engleskoj. U dobi od 14 godina pozvali su me na probni test na kojemu sam pokazao dobre tehničke vještine, ali mi je nedostajalo snage. Savjetovali su mi da poradim na svojim slabostima. Kad sam se vratio godinu dana kasnije, prošao sam probni test i tako je počelo ostvarenje mog sna”, prisjeća se Raunaq.
Ovaj uspjeh nije bio samo osobni trijumf već i povijestan. Naime, Raunaq je postao prvi Indijac koji je potpisao ugovor s engleskim klubovima Burton Albion FC i Brentford FC. “Moj cilj uvijek je bio postići ono što nikome prije nije uspjelo”, naglašava Raunaq.
S obzirom na to da je još bio učenik, usklađivanje akademskih obveza s profesionalnim nogometom bio mu je veliki izazov. “To je bilo zastrašujuće, ali pristupio sam tome strateški. Iako su akademski i nogometni zahtjevi ponekad utjecali na moj napredak, pronašao sam načine kako raditi pametnije”, objašnjava. Ova iskustva pokazala su mu da uspjeh u oba područja nije nemoguć unatoč poteškoćama.
No Raunaqova karijera nije stala samo na sportu: ušao je i u svijet mode. Kao što nam je otkrio, oduvijek je bio zainteresiran za modeling, a ulazak u modnu industriju bio je prirodan korak. Njegova prva iskustva s brendovima kao što su Hollister i Abercrombie & Fitch samo su mu dodatno otvorila vrata u modnoj industriji.
Iako se čini da su nogomet i modeling potpuno različite oblasti, iskustvo igranja profesionalnog sporta pomoglo mu je u modeliranju, osobito na događanjima poput London Fashion Weeka.
“Vještine stečene u nogometu, poput upravljanja tremom, bile su neprocjenjive. London Fashion Week bilo mi je posebno drago iskustvo jer sam velik dio života proveo u Londonu.”
Raunaq je također razvio svoju svestranost kroz borilačke vještine poput boksa i jiu-jitsua. Te vještine, kako je objasnio, pomogle su mu u fizičkoj pripremi koja je ključna za nogomet: “Borilačke vještine bile su ključne za moj nogometni performans, poboljšale su moju disciplinu i tjelesnu izdržljivost”.
S vremenom se okušao i u glumi, što je prirodni nastavak njegovog angažmana u svijetu showbizza. “Interes za glumu došao je iz preklapanja s modom i sportom. Balansiranje ovih strasti uključuje korištenje mog sportskog i modnog iskustva za projekte u Bollywoodu”, objašnjava.
U budućnosti, Raunaq bi se volio okušati na modnim pistama u Parizu, Milanu i New Yorku, a volio bi raditi i za prestižne brendove poput Louis Vuittona i Diora. Također, velika mu je želja raditi na svjetskim filmskim projektima kao.što je “Game of Thrones: House of the Dragon”.
Što se tiče motivacije koja ga gura prema naprijed, spomenuo je frazu i savjetovao svima ono čime se i sâm vodi, a to je da “usavrše svoje snage, pretvore slabosti u prednosti i prilagode se novim okruženjima”, što su, prema Raunaqu, ključne osobine za globalni uspjeh.
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English version
Raunaq Chodankar is a new name gradually gaining attention on the international stage, not only due to his football achievements but also because of his impressive career in modeling and film. His journey from a young football talent to a successful model and actor is not just an interesting success story but also an example of exceptional dedication and versatility. In this interview, Raunaq openly shared his experiences, revealing how he managed to balance all his seemingly disparate passions and careers.
From a young age, Raunaq dreamed of a professional football career in England, the home of football.
“For me, it was always a dream to be signed by a professional football club in England, the home of football. A year prior, I had a trial where I was technically proficient but lacked strength. They advised me to work on my weaknesses. Returning a year later at 15 and winning the trial was a dream come true. Being recognized for my skills by an elite football club made me feel incredibly proud and meant everything to me and my family”, Raunaq recalls.
This success was not just a personal triumph but also historic. Raunaq became the first Indian to sign contracts with English clubs Burton Albion FC and Brentford FC. “My goal was always to achieve what hadn’t been done before”, Raunaq emphasizes.
As a student at the time, balancing academic responsibilities with professional football was a significant challenge. “It was daunting, but I approached it strategically. Although academic and football demands sometimes affected my progress, I found ways to work smarter”, he explains. These experiences showed him that success in both areas is possible despite the difficulties.
However, Raunaq’s career didn’t stop at sports: he also ventured into the world of fashion. As he revealed, he had always been interested in modeling, and entering the fashion industry was a natural step. His first experiences with brands like Hollister and Abercrombie & Fitch further opened doors in the fashion world.
Although football and modeling seem completely different, his experience in professional sports helped him in modeling, especially at events like London Fashion Week.
Skills gained from football, such as managing nerves, proved invaluable. “London Fashion Week was a particularly enjoyable experience for me because I spent a significant part of my life in London.”
Raunaq has also developed his versatility through martial arts such as boxing and jiu-jitsu. These skills, as he explained, helped with the physical conditioning essential for football: “Martial arts, including boxing and jiujitsu, were integral to my football training regimen, enhancing discipline and physical resilience. It toughened me both physically and mentally for football and brought a confident demeanor to modeling, especially on runways. Its lessons in adversity and poise proved invaluable across both careers”.
Over time, he also tried his hand at acting, which was a natural extension of his engagement in the entertainment world. “The entertainment industry natural overlap with modeling and sports sparked my interest in acting. Being in front of the camera for modeling made the transition to commercials and movies feel organic. Balancing these passions involves leveraging my sports and modeling background to pursue Bollywood projects, aiming to scale new heights in entertainment”, he explains.
In the future, Raunaq hopes to walk the fashion runways in Paris, Milan, and New York, and he would love to work with prestigious brands like Louis Vuitton and Dior. He also dreams of working on global film projects such as “Game of Thrones: House of the Dragon.”
Regarding the motivation that drives him forward, he mentioned a phrase and advised everyone to follow what he himself lives by: to “refine their strengths, turn weaknesses into advantages, and adapt to new environments”, which, according to Raunaq, are key qualities for global success.
Credits:
Talent: Raunaq Chodankar @thesuperronniec
Fotograf: Richard Rosen @richardarosen
Producentica: Jade Weber @jade_weber_official
