From ‘Rangeela’ To ‘Dostana,’ 7 Times Manish Malhotra Curated Iconic Fashion For Bollywood

Happy birthday king!
From ‘Rangeela’ To ‘Dostana,’ 7 Times Manish Malhotra Curated Iconic Fashion For Bollywood

Indian cinema has enjoyed a delightful romance with fashion. From inspiring audiences to dishing iconic styles, fashion in films has had an impact on our relationship with style. Reinventing this connection that celebrities share with style on the big screen, Bollywood’s biggest costume designers have gifted us some unforgettable trends. Be it YashRaj’s heroines, swaying in a chiffon saree or Madhuri Dixit’s tryst with purple in Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, actresses, and their onscreen wardrobes are a glorious part of Bollywood’s history. And while we appreciate, and swoon over our favourite heroines headlining new trends, we often forget about the true stars behind the iconic look. Costume designers, as they are present in the film circuit have become an integral part of a film. Nurturing this bond that fashion shares with the big screen, costume designers have been the true architects of the past, present and future of filmy style. And one name, that has always turned onscreen fashion into an iconic piece of art, is costume designer–Manish Malhotra. 

 

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The designer who turns 56 today, is known for his contribution to films. Since his initial footing in the business, Malhotra is known for his work both on the big screen, and runways. The designer’s glitzy, and Bollywood-soaked approach towards fashion has been a delightful affair to watch out for. With his work, the celebrated designer met some of his closest friends from the fraternity, who only trust him to dress in films. As the designer celebrates his birthday today, we are revisiting the seven film character styles that Manish Malhotra turned iconic. 

Rangeela-Urmila Matondkar 

The 1995 film starring Urmila Matondkar, and Aamir Khan reinvented tapori-chic for the big screen. In collaboration with the actress, Malhotra worked on a gamut of skater skirts, anti-fit shirts, knotted hemlines, and gaudy belts. On Matondkar, Manish brought a splash of colours and coupled them with busy prints, berets, and pigtails for dance numbers. Rangeela’s impact pushed audiences to shop for head-to-toe prints, combat boots, and printed caps. The iconic wardrobe was also recreated by actress Kiara Advani for her film Indoo Ki Jawani. 

Dil Toh Pagal Hai- Madhuri Dixit, Karisma Kapoor

For Yash Chopra’s 1997 blockbuster film, Manish Malhotra displayed two distinct sartorial styles through the contrasting character personalities of actresses Karisma Kapoor, and Madhuri Dixit. For Dixit, Manish romanced YashRaj’s obsession with chiffon, through see-through, front-slit kurta sets, minimal lehenga, and sorbet hues. Channelling an opposite aesthetic was Karisma Kapoor’s Nisha. Through Kapoor’s character, Manish worked around athleisure-glam and shaped a wardrobe using cycling shorts, crop tops, and activewear. 

 

 

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham- Kareena Kapoor

No one can ever beat the charm of Kareena Kapoor’s Poo. Working his magic, Manish collaborated with a close friend–Karan Johar to build the closet of Poo. Pop culture’s dearest darling was born in the early years of 2000, and brought forth some of the biggest, and still relevant trends in Indian fashion. A nod to the classic Y2K aesthetic was Poo’s approach to monochromes, today’s favourite barbiecore, clingy leather, and boot-cut pants. Through every song, Kapoor’s Poo stood out in mesmerising shades. I mean she truly is P.H.A.T.

Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna – Rani Mukerjee

For the 2006 Manish-styled actress Rani Mukerjee in Karan Johar’s film about love, and infidelity which was seasoned with sartorial excellence. Seeking inspiration from the colours of spring, and fall, Manish dressed Rani in a bunch of iconic sarees. Her collection made of ombré pallus, halter-cut blouses, and shimmer inspired every saree wardrobe for the next few years. A part of her unforgettable collection was an absolutely stunning red lehenga, that appears in the film’s famous bench scene. 

Om Shanti Om- Deepika Padukone

Besides running his successful label, Malhotra stepped into the shoes of a costume designer for Farah khan’s second directorial venture. Starring Shah Rukh Khan, and Deepika Padukone, Malhotra rekindled our love for retro fashion. The celebrity designer travelled back in time to dress Deepika’s Shanti Priya. In attendance were fuchsia shararas, churidars, statement beehive hairdo, and the fail-proof Dream girl aesthetic. Malhotra trusted floral hair accessories, edgy eyeliner, and polka dots in abundance to decorate Shanti Priya’s closet. One of his best works to date.

Also Read: Exclusive: Manish Malhotra Takes Us On A ‘Behind The Stitch’ Journey, Reveals About Bridal Trends And His Favourite Celeb Bride Of 2021

Jab We Met- Kareena Kapoor 

Reuniting with his favourite–Kareena Kapoor, Manish made Geet a fashionable character. For fashion nerds, the designer brought old-school salwars, into a new light. Reinventing the lousy silhouette, salwars, teamed with graphic t-shirts became a street style obsession for Indian youth. From three-toned suit sets and preppy parandhis to memorable costumes for songs, Geet provided a joyful mix between traditional ethnic, and loungewear favourite tees. 

Dostana- Priyanka Chopra 

Not one or two, but Manish had us swooning over Priyanka throughout the film. In the Karan Johar-produced film on friendships, Manish styled Priyanka Chopra’s character Neha. Neha’s tropical beach aesthetic was at times exchanged for shimmer sarees to serve the iconic desi girl moment. On Priyanka, we saw a heavy mix of cutting-edge resort wear, cropped shorts, knitted dresses, and gold swimsuits. And who can ever forget Shilpa Shetty’s ab-baring looks for “Shut Up And Bounce?”

Happy birthday Manish Malhotra! Thank you for these fashionable films!

Side Burns, Beehives, And Polka Galore: How ‘Om Shanti Om’ Reinvented Retro Romance In Fashion

Jasveen Kaur Sawhney

Jasveen Kaur is a fashion writer, and pyjama hoarder, who loves watching interviews of all kinds, and checking her Pinterest mood board every hour!

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