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| Inteview no 3 |
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| Manish Malhotra - Designer |
| Manish Malhotra has just returned back from an extensive tour to Egypt and London with the team of Karan Johar's Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gham. The designer has styled the look of most of the cast including Kajol, Jaya Bachchan and Kareena Kapoor, and Amitabh Bachchan. This is the first time he's dressing filmdom's first couple, (which is also their first film together since Silsila). So thrilled is the Big B with the designer's work, that now his wax model at Madam Tussad's wears one of the bandhgalas that Manish has designed for one of the scenes in the film. Last month Manish also won the award for Best Film Styling for Kuch Kuch Hota Hai at the first ever Bollywood fashion awards held in New York. |
| Excerpts from an interview: Tell us how the styling for Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham will be different from the other films you have done? Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham is meant to be a story about a family. I have given Kajol a completely mature look, quite different from the one she is used to till now. She has either been wearing these loud, over the top clothes in most of her films, or saris. Here she will be wearing a lot of trousers and salwar kameezes. But I am more excited about Jayaji's look. She is a completely modern mom, no not the kinds who wears dresses and trousers. She will be wearing a lot of saris, but some really beautiful ones, a lot of chiffon saris. Her hair has been styled so that it's only shoulder length and falls on her face, and her make up is very sleek. Amitabh Bachchan is apparently very happy with the clothes you have styled for him� Yes and he looks wonderful in them- bandhgalas, a lot of jamewar shawls, a few three-piece suits. It was exciting working with Amitji. Critics say that your look however hasn't changed much since you first got noticed for Urmila's clothes in Rangeela... No I don't agree. The look depends on the film. Karisma Kapoor looked different in Raja Hindustani and Dil To Paagal Hai. In the former she plays a rich girl who gets married to a poor man, and in the latter, she is this bubbly young kid. Pastel happens to be my favourtie colour because I think it suits the Indian skin best. What is the contribution of a director while designing clothes for stars? A film is a director's medium. Certain clothes in Rangeela were smart and simple, but it was how the director wanted it to be. Even Karisma's look in Raja Hindustani was how the director presented it. Earlier, only a few directors like Yash Chopra and Mani Ratnam took interest in determining the look of a film and the actors. But with the emergence of a crop of young directors, the involvement is much more. Someone like Karan Johar not only knows about what he wants his film to look like but is also a designer himself. Which would you consider your best-styled films? Several actually - Raja Hindustani, Rangeela, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Dil To Pagal Hai, Dilwali Dulhania Le Jayenge, Khamoshi, Satya. I loved Karisma's look in Raja Hindustani. It was completely new -from her haircut to her make-up to her eyes. It was the first time she wore brown lenses. I do not know if you have read about this designer, Xerxes Batena, who was a very big designer in his times. He said that he admired some of my work in Raja Hindustani because the clothes were very simple and yet had a formal look. It is very difficult to do simple clothes but is very easy to do heavy drapes and ghagras. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai was made by a friend, and I knew Karan would take care to present his movie beautifully. That was really inspiring. I was involved with the film right from its inception and writing. I was familiar with the characters. When the script was ready, Karan and I took the bound version to London and shopped for clothes and accessories for Kajol, Shah Rukh and Rani Mukherjee. Of course, for the sporty look of Kajol I picked up some stuff from Polo Sport. Contrary to the perception, a lot of her sporty clothes were tailored for her in Mumbai so that she could look slim. For Rani, Karan and I worked a lot on her look. I got a straight hair wig for her which Karan liked a lot. In Mauritius where we were shooting Rani's introduction scene, I went to Karan and told him that we were having a problem. Rani was looking plump, and her waist had tyres that showed through the short dress. Karan immediately changed the camera angles and added a lot of close-ups that were very effective. I still remember how I dreaded Karan's call from Ooty where he was shooting a song. I couldn't go on location and had sent 12 saris for Kajol. He called a few days later saying he had used all of them in one song and wanted more costumes. After that every two days I'd get a call from him asking for more costumes� But all this could be managed because we had already decided what Kajol would be wearing throughout the second half. Beautiful colors in chiffon or georgette with net blouses were the look for her. Some of the blouses were textured and at times even knits in pastel colors. The look was quite a hit and eventually, I made a lot of similar outfits for clients all over the world. So how would you define style? Style is a timeless classic. As a result of certain cultural or aesthetic factors some are born with it, others acquire style. Style is how you are as a person how you carry yourself, how you deal with people. Poise is style. Good colour sense is style. What are the fashion trends in films for the next two years then? Within films and even outside, fusion wear is here to stay. The world is getting closer. French designers are inspired by Indian styles and we reflect international nuances. Colours like pale, ice-creamy neutrals, lilacs and lemons for hot, sultry summers would be very popular along with fabrics like chiffon. Actually, I am biased because I like soft hair, soft faces, soft, pretty Indian femininity. I like lots of soft silk embroidery. I don't like gold. I like Swarovski crystals, they give a nice shimmer . |