As told to Nishi Tiwari (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 7, 2019)

In January 2016, I styled Ayushmann Khurrana and Bhumi Pednekar for a magazine cover shoot. I’d like to assume that he liked my work, so he called me again. Three weeks after that, I styled him for the first time. It was for a Filmfare Nominations Night and I dressed him in a grey Dior suit. It was a play-safe look but had a quirky twist in the camouflage print lining. After that it has always been about experimenting because Ayushmann is so multi talented. I believe that an artist always appreciates all forms of art and I found that in Ayushmann from day one. Next up, I styled him for an interview for which I did a yellow suit which was paired with a Phantom comic strip T-shirt and white sneakers, which were about trending at the time. This was in January or February 2016 and he loved the look. I was relieved, like, “Okay, our aesthetics match”.

Ayushmann’s personal style is completely eclectic and that is one of the best things about working with him. We do everything, from a classic black-and-white suit to one in pink and even silver. We have also done a crazy, space-age, futuristic sort of outfit. His open-mindedness makes all this experimentation work.

During the fittings, we discuss the nature of the outfit and the reason for doing what we’re doing. For instance, I wanted to do a whole moon-inspired look for the Filmfare Glamour and Style Awards (in June), so I gave him a silver jacket and white pants with shiny, studded shoes. And literally while dressing up, since we couldn’t decide between a blazer and a parka, we were like, “let’s just do both”, and I actually went ahead and combined the two. Ayushmann is the kind of a guy who can slip into the character of an outfit just as easily as he slips into characters of his films.

If you look at my work, you will notice that I have evolved with him. I have become more radical than I was in 2016. It takes time to develop that kind of understanding with someone and understand each other’s minds. Now, I have begun to explore khaki on him. It was a big colour for Spring/Summer ’19.

Ayushmann is a typical ’80s kid. It was a decade of dad jeans. Every time I have tried those on him, it just clicks because it’s so him. You see his tweets, the couplets he writes, and you will know he is this nostalgic guy. I see that quality in the clothes when he wears them. So, there is always an inclination towards retro stuff. He has been asking me, “Isha, when are we going to do bell bottoms?” I am hoping to do that soon.

Ayushmann loves layering. He also loves things that have a certain character. I once gave him a khadi jacket which was handwoven by craftsmen in Gujarat. He loves garments with stories. In fact, he likes to find stories in everything he does.

I want to try something historic on him, like Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray. I have not styled him for films yet but if I get a chance, I will fight to style him in a Victorian look like that. And the character has to be Dorian Gray. I can completely see Ayushmann in that character and I know he can pull it off.


1. TRENDING NOW: At the Dream Girl trailer launch, he wore a jacket with reflective patches which is a big trend right now. Then there are strips going along the inside leg

2. BRIT BOY: For a hospital event, I dressed him in a Corneliani suit. I was lucky enough to find a cardigan that would go well with the blazer. It’s a very British, gentlemanly, serious look

3. HIGH-STREET: A lot of people loved this look, which is futuristic and very street fashion; PVC joggers paired with holographic sneakers


4. PLEATING UP: For Article 15 promotions, I made him wear powder baby pink, very 1920s pleated pants with a mixedprint biker jacket. It may have been pink pants but the way they were styled, the look was masculine

5. GIGGING UP A STORM: For a gig in San Francisco in May last year, we paired a metallic parka with a wrap kurta, a pair of hightops and white denims

6. TWICE AS NICE: For Filmfare Glamour and Style Awards this year, I combined a blazer and a parka and paired it with studded, shiny shoes. The designer had actually showcased both designs on the ramp as two different looks

7. SUSPENSION OF DISBELIEF: For another promotional event, we did these suspender pants worn in the cross-body style. It is not an opulent look but there is an element of craziness, something avant garde