KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian model Vibha Rajish nearly skipped an audition for what she believed was an ordinary sportswear commercial, unaware that the opportunity would place her on set with Hollywood star Zendaya.
The 23-year-old eventually landed a role in "Zendaya in Your New Favourite Action Movie", a two-minute campaign film for Swiss sportswear brand On.
Released on YouTube on 1 Oct, the cinematic advertisement features Zendaya in a showdown with female martial artists, with Vibha appearing briefly as one of the fighters pursuing the actress.
Vibha initially considered missing the audition because she had a wedding to attend in Belgium.
When she decided to go ahead, she thought the job would provide extra pocket money for her summer holidays.
She learnt she had been selected just two days before filming and was asked to return for the shoot.
The casting call had made no mention of Zendaya, referring only to a "sportswear ad".
Vibha discovered the identity of the leading star only after arriving for rehearsals and noticing two unusually large trailers.
"Initially there was no mention of Z (as we called her on set)," she said in a news report.
After meeting other women who had been training for the shoot, she realised something big was happening.
They eventually explained that the trailer marked "Z" belonged to Zendaya, while the other was for the actress's celebrated stylist, Law Roach, whom Vibha admired.
"It was so surreal that this little girl from Bandar Utama was about to meet, let alone act alongside Zendaya in her prime," she said, describing the experience as emotional, gratifying and a source of pride.
Despite the hectic filming schedule, Vibha found Zendaya warm and considerate towards the people around her.
The actress even offered her pizza, although Vibha was too nervous to accept.
"It was a very hectic few days but yes! She was lovely to everyone; she even offered me pizza. No, I didn't take it cos I was too nervous and freaked out lol," she said.
Born in Kuala Lumpur and raised in Petaling Jaya, Vibha described her upbringing as typically Malaysian, with her kindergarten, primary and secondary schools all within about two kilometres of her family home.
Her modelling journey began at 16, when she wanted to help pay for treatment for her cat, MJ, which had been diagnosed with feline immunodeficiency virus.
With retail jobs difficult to secure during the Covid-19 pandemic, she teamed up with a neighbourhood friend who was an aspiring photographer, exchanging modelling photographs for his experience behind the camera.
"That's where it all began!" she recalled.
Her journey later took her to Prague, a city she had first encountered in a fantasy book and was drawn to partly because of its comparatively affordable living costs.
During her first year there, a modelling scout approached her, leading to an agency contract.
She initially balanced her studies, modelling assignments and part-time work, but the industry has since become her main source of income.
After five years abroad, she hopes to explore acting opportunities in Malaysia, particularly in Bahasa Malaysia.
"I would love to do some acting in Malaysia and in Bahasa specifically," she said.
"My Malay has deteriorated a little since living abroad for five years, but I love a challenge and it would be so special to me to do something local. I'll be back in January so I'm just excited to be back home, eat good food and see what Malaysia has in store for me."
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd