New Delhi, April 24 -- For the final flourish in a commercial for a leggings brand, a Busby Berkeley-like parabola of limbs is envisioned. Each leg will belong to the same model; the plan is to shoot the leg, matte it into the background, then shoot the leg again just above it, and so on. The ad director explains all this calmly to the model. "No pressure, we'll just do it till it's right. it gets very mechanical. But don't let that concern you." The model, Apollonia ('Apples') Van Ravenstein, replies equally calmly, "No, I couldn't, because I don't understand."

With most directors, this moment would be a putdown. But as the scene continues, we see that Apples not only seems to understand exactly what's required of her but is a thorough ...