PICS: What really goes on behind the scenes at LFW!

Photographer Rajesh Karkera sneaks a peek into the backstage goings on at the Lakme Fashion Week.

It may seem all very glamorous on the outside but there is no telling how much effort goes on to make it look picture perfect. Rediff.com's Rajesh Karkera decided to give the runway a miss and instead chose to aim his camera backstage to show you, our readers, what really goes into making those photographs look so glamorous for the cameras.

The first show of the first day is about to begin. Traditionally it features six young designers handpicked by a team of experts to showcase their work before a live audience. These designers are debutants and Lakme Fashion Week is usually the first big platform of their careers. We begin with this photograph of model Sanea Sheikh.

Sanea Sheikh sticks out her tongue as she and Sony Kaur get their hair done by Kapil Bhalla and his team before the beginning of the show.

Spanish model Conchi Sanchez who has been in Mumbai for about three months gets her make-up done from Leen. This is Sanchez’s first time in Mumbai.

Minutes before walking the ramp for the Gen Next show, model Meenakshi Khari gets dolled up.

Sony Kaur flaunts her tattoo as she gets finishing touches before the Gen Next show. The tattoo is her first name written in a way that it forms a circle.

Tension builds up as models go through their final rehearsals just before curtains go up on the Gen Next show. Seen here at a distance is model Reka Eva Kumza.

Model Amit Ranjan reads what seems like a cue sheet as his fellow model Jaggy Singh looks on.

Anyone who's attended the Lakme Fashion Week -- journalists, models or anyone associated with the Week -- will tell you that the five days are simply a haze, much like this picture here.

The focus of the show -- the outfit -- being ironed one last time before it is worn and goes under the arclights.

In the wings! Models await their cue on one side as a co-ordinator looks on. In a few minutes the bright lights will go on and accompanying the music, models will take to the ramp as six young designers will start their careers.

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