Law graduate Haresh Sood is looking forward to the ramp instead of the courtroom after he was inundated with modelling offers following his nomination as one of Britain's '20 hot men you can date'.
Sood, who has a law degree from the University of Leicester, features in the November issue of New Woman magazine.
After the issue hit the stands, he received emails from women across the world. His story also appeared in the India media, on Web sites and in the UK.
He said: "I was absolutely shocked by the reaction; I started getting emails from women wanting to meet up with me and some even proposed!"
Sood, who lives in Nottingham and works in Derby, commented, "The best part were the offers to do some modelling, singing and I am also in discussion over a Bollywood part. I have already been signed up by an agent from Spain, and I am working on a music album with one of the music directors who worked on Bend it Like Beckham.
"I have also been in discussion over a Bollywood story idea with Meghna Gulzar, daughter of the famous lyricist Gulzar."
This will not be his first brush with stardom; he has worked with former Miss Universe and Bollywood star Sushmita Sen over a concert.
His sister had entered him for the New Woman competition and he had all but forgotten about it when he was splashed in the magazine. Sood, who is development officer for the British Council of Disabled People in Derby, added: "The coming months will be busy and very interesting to see what happens. It's nice to be appreciated for my talents, and not just my looks.
"When I tell people I have two degrees from the University of Leicester as well, they are gobsmacked!"
The 26-year-old Aquarian enjoys swimming, wine-tasting and foreign languages. He read LL B Law with Italian, and an LL M masters of law in Higher European Legal Studies with Spanish and French. Sood studied abroad (Spain, France, Italy and Australia) for almost two and a half years on the courses with the University of Leicester.
"My time at the University of Leicester really broadened my horizons and gave me greater confidence in myself and my abilities. It provided me with a platform to build a great career. This celebrity stuff is an added bonus."
Kate Turner from New Woman magazine said, "We run the 'Hot Men' feature every month and look for single men who stand out in both personality and looks. Haresh fitted the bill. He has wide ranging interests, was very honest in his answers and has great cheekbones! New Woman readers are interested in guys who not only look great, but have something to say for themselves too.
"We're really pleased to see Haresh cause quite a stir. I've had a few requests for further press coverage from the BBC and the press in India. Most exciting is the interest from the big players in Bollywood. Haresh seems to have his feet firmly on the ground so I'm sure he'll cope with his new found celebrity."
