A graduate from Mithibai College, Vaid subsequently studied Hotel Managementat the National Council of Hotel Management and Catering Technology. Havingread dietetics for three years as a part of his course, he understands thenutritional value of food and the balance it should have. ``Besides, mydoctor clients at the IMA are stringent about hygiene, food presentation andthe quantity and quality of oil used,'' he says.

Fitness and diet have been a prominent part of Vaid's life. A resident ofJuhu Koliwara, he works out at least five times a week, about 45 minutes atone go. ``I go to a local gym where all the fishermen in my area shape up.It has no name, but I prefer it because it is close to my home and chargesjust Rs 20 per month. Also, it is located just where the beach begins,'' hesays.

After doing his hotel management course, Vaid worked as a chef at the LeelaKempinski hotel. ``Then I got into flying with Sahara Airlines as a flightsteward and later branched out into my own business,'' he elaborates.Before 2000, Vaid had not ventured into serious modelling. ``Prior to this,I was studying and then working. It was always on my mind, but I wanted tocomplete my education. With a semblance of being settled in life, Igradually moved into acting and modelling,''he recalls.

Vaid's first and only brush with advertising came with a Pantalooncommercial early this year. But he has been acting for some time now. ``Iplayed Sunny, a boxer in Campus on Zee. I have also done theatre with Ansh,Makarand Deshpandey's group, for the past two years,'' he explains.

After winning the Mr India pageant in Hyderabad recently, fame has beensudden for Vaid. The youngest brother of three sisters, he recognises thatthe adulation is ephemeral. ``But the platform that the contest has given toAjay Malik, Ikram Sandhu (the runners up) and me is solid. Graviera hasbrought in a lot of respectability to all our plans. The money is verytempting, too,'' he says.

Before the contest, all the participants underwent a gruelling shape-upschedule with Mickey Mehta, one of the best fitness trainers in the country.But what gave Vaid the edge in the finals, according to him, is mentalmuscle and a knowledge of diverse disciplines. ``I am an avid reader. Myfavourite authors are Ayn Rand and Mario Puzo, but I also read non-fiction.Recently, I have got hold of two volumes of Osho's Book of Secrets and someworks on modern psychology by Dr Alfred Adler,'' he says.

Vaid has read The Godfather about 25 times and carries it in his travellingbag. He hasn't read the subsequent works of Puzo because ``I don't want toend up being disappointed with them. For me, he is a pure author and I wantto see him as the guy who has written Godfather,'' he says.

About Ayn Rand, the Cancerian has this to say: `` Staying within theparameters of fiction, she managed to delve into the realms of psychology.That is a tremendous task. Howard Roark is a character that every youth canidentify with,'' he says. Vaid also wanted to be like Roark when he read TheFountainhead. ``I decided to leave the novel at about 70 per cent becausethere was a lot of dissatisfaction inside me abut what Roark could achieveand I could not,'' he claims.

Besides an exposure to literature, Vaid feels that coming from acosmopolitan city like Mumbai has given him confidence. ``The city is myheart. It is special because it is a part of me just as much as I am a partof Mumbai. I've been to quite a few places, but Mumbai is where I wanna liveand die. You may have good people everywhere, but there have been situationswhere I was stuck, and strangers went out of their way to help me. Mumbaialso gives you tremendous opportunities to grow, not just professionally,but also personally,'' he sums up.