As told to Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 2, 2019)

It started with a photoshoot...
Styling Ranveer Singh is as fun as it looks. Our association began when I styled him for a Filmfare shoot by Rohan Sreshtha, around all his haunts in Bandra. The three of us enjoyed it so much that I went on to style him for a personal shoot. From these interactions, Ranveer felt we had similar tastes when it came to fashion and signed me on as his stylist. It is the absolute dream job. Not only does he have a great sense of fashion but also the physique and swagger to make everything he wears look good. Every job comes with a responsibility and I take complete ownership of what Ranveer wears. I never let him walk out wearing something I am not a 100 per cent sure of. At the same time, he never wears something just because I want him to.

From the street to the star
Ranveer has never given me a brief. I pick clothes according to the event that he is attending. When he arrives, I offer him a choice of four-five different looks and explain the thought behind them. He chooses the one that he likes the most and we go with that. Every look has a statement piece that stands out and irrespective of which one he goes with, that invariably gets noticed.

I pick stuff which I feel most closely resembles his style, often from the streets on a whim. I remember these crazy pyjamas that I bought from Colaba Causeway, he made them all the rage. The next day, I was getting calls asking me which designer he had been wearing. On my travels, I hoard rings, bracelets and chains that elevate any look, making it seem well put together.

He chooses his own clothes for casual outings, and strangely, they are almost always what I would pick up if I were styling him. Because I have been working with him for so long, I guess we are on the same wavelength. It’s a good match.


That’s a perfect match!
A wedding is a very personal event and Ranveer wanted to work with designers he is close to and also complement Deepika’s (Padukone, wife) looks. We worked in tandem to create a mix of both their sensibilities. I also dressed Ranveer’s family for the different events.

Yes, Deepika’s fashion sensibilities have changed post marriage but that’s understandable. When you marry someone and live with them, some bits of them should rub off on you. If they don’t, you are doing something wrong. But if Deepika has started experimenting more, Ranveer has also started going for elegant looks. When they make appearances together, they sometimes go all out with whacky clothes and at other times, keep it classy. The idea is to make a statement together.

Trolls, who?
Both Ranveer and I don’t care about trolls. We don’t read memes. If people are talking about us, it means that we are doing something noteworthy. That’s what fashion is all about. It should start conversations, even debates. What’s the point otherwise?

Gen-Bender
Ranveer has no mental blocks. He is open to all silhouettes and colours. For us, it is not so much about breaking stereotypes but about having fun.

Who decided that men can’t wear pink? Ranveer not only wears it but makes it look hot. I’m lucky to work with someone who is open to everything. It’s liberating to work without boundaries.


DON RETURNS: At the cricket World Cup, we went with a customised suit, with an overcoat and scarf. This was old-world mafioso style with wide-cut silhouettes and vintage plaids. The quirky glares were Ranveer’s touch


WILD CATS: We chose this luxurious pink cheetahprint tux for the prestigious Berlinale. Perfect for turning heads


ON A TUNE: We went with this look for its distinctive colour and cut. Obviously, having Jimi Hendrix on it made it all the m edgy. Ranveer paired it black-and-white glare


BESPOKE-PERSON: This faux fur custom-made jacket created such a buzz! Also, it went perfectly with the film’s promotions