Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; December 20, 2017)

She knows her Dior from DvF and Valentino from Vera Wang, and is arguably the biggest fashion icon to have emerged from Bollywood. So it’s only fitting that Sonam Kapoor was brought on board as a celebrity judge for the fifth episode of the ongoing season of Middle East Project Runway. The actor was invited by Lebanese designer Elie Saab to join the judges’ panel that also includes model Afef Jnifen and Egyptian actor-singer Yousra. The reality television show pits contestants against one another to create the best outfits while giving them restricted material and time to work with.

Reflecting on the experience, Kapoor said that it was interesting to be involved in the creative process of designing an ensemble. “Each celebrity guest announces a new challenge that requires the contestants to develop one or more pieces of new clothing to be presented at a runway show. They have to showcase their creativity while maintaining their personal fashion design aesthetics. I would love to be associated with something like this [for the long run] because designers today have a very different perspective of design and creativity,” she said.

She is thankful to Elie Saab for giving her the opportunity to be a part of the show. One of his long- standing muses, Kapoor has often flaunted his creations on the red carpet — at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, she made heads turn in a blush- coloured gown by the designer, followed by another golden number by him. “I have been wearing his creations since I was 22. Our aesthetics match perfectly — we both love combining beauty, drama and elegance.”

Interestingly, Kapoor’s colleague Priyanka Chopra too had made an appearance on the US version of Project Runway in August last year.