Radhika Bhirani (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 11, 2020)

There wasn’t a trace of uneasiness in her when Nushrat Bharucha walked the red carpet at a recent event flaunting a pelvage dress — an ensemble that had a slit higher than the thigh-high routine. In this pursuit of “bringing sexy back” in Bollywood, the actor wasn’t only oozing oomph, but also a lot of confidence. The bold style statement she flaunted, won her compliments as well as some brickbats. However, Nushrat remains unperturbed.

“We have freedom of speech in our country. So, whatever anyone feels, they can put it out. But just like they’ve their opinion, what I want to wear is my right,” says Nushrat to the critics. She is happy that some fraternity members reached out, saying, “We’d never be able to do this, great that you could carry this off.”

The one-shoulder gown that gave a view of Nushrat’s intimate tattoo, made her feel nice and confident. “I did it for myself. I didn’t think people are going to praise me, or it will become the talk of the town. I wore a dress, attended the function, had fun, came home. I don’t get bothered at all. I don’t read the comments. I just put it out there and leave it,” adds the 34-year-old actor, who believes this confidence of being comfortable in one’s own skin is a result of her evolution in Bollywood.

This evolution, according to the Dream Girl (2019) actor, is “knowing who you are and what you’re trying to be”. “If this dress didn’t fit well or fall right, I wouldn’t be wearing it. It had nothing to do with how bold it was. If it didn’t look good on me, I would not have not worn it,” she explains.

Fashion, for Nushrat, is an extension of what she wants to express and it changes along with her mood. “When I put this dress on, I was comfortable in it, and that’s why I was able to carry it off. I knew what I was wearing, and I had to be careful,” adds the actor, who had grooved to the Chhote Chhote Peg song in Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety (2018) wearing a skirt with a slit almost as high as this head-turning dress.

“The toughest part to wear any ensemble at a red carpet, are the heels because the next day, my legs are in severe pain. And all these long gowns are made to a certain length, and even if I wouldn’t want to wear high heels, I don’t have an option,” she continues, “And the easiest part is to own it. Once you own the outfit, everything becomes easy. If you wear an outfit and you cannot own it, my advice is don’t wear it. For me, the easiest part of this outfit was that I owned it from the minute I stepped out of the door to the time I was back... But, toughest part were the heels.”

As told to Nishi Tiwari (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 10, 2020)

I worked with Nushrat for the first time two years ago. She was to attend an Iftar party, for which we chose dhoti pants with a bustier-top, and teamed it with a cape that had a dupatta inside. It was a pretty cool look, not strictly Indian, but contemporary and it fit Nushrat perfectly because she is not big on overly traditional stuff. She is young and hip.

Earlier this month, she made heads turn with a green gown on the Filmfare curtain-raiser red carpet. I was leafing through a designer look-book when I stumbled upon the outfit and instantly knew this was it!

We have done a lot of cut-outs, low necks and sequins in the past, but we knew we had to do something strong and structured this time. This gown has an amazing silhouette. Yes, it was daringly-cut, which made us wonder if we should go with it. Eventually, we went without a back-up so we wouldn’t reconsider the decision.

Of all the celebrities I have worked with, Nushrat is the only one I knew who would go for this outfit. She is intelligent, has an inner confidence and a great eye for fashion. A lot of designers in the West, like Gucci, Versace, Yves Saint Laurent have this high-slit design, but in India it’s like, “Oh, should we do this? What will people say?” Nushrat doesn’t care for what people say. She is comfortable in her own skin and that’s where we connect as well. Wardrobe malfunctions happen when you haven’t done your due diligence. We didn’t leave room for things to go wrong and tried the dress four times to made sure that nothing moved from its place. And we knew there was nothing to fear.

Getting ready for a red carpet event by abstaining from food items like cheese, carbs and fats so you can fit into a dress is a myth. That’s not something you can achieve in a day. It’s a process, a lifestyle. Nushrat works out every day. That’s how she has those fabulous calves and thighs, those tight muscles. She is able to stand and pose in whatever way she wants to. For red carpet looks, the idea is to always do something different and edgy. We want to be a little high-fashion, we want to get noticed, we want to make a point, but do it tastefully. A tight-fitted outfit or a ballgown are so done. Nushrat understands fashion and what it means to be trying too hard. She knows what she shouldn’t be doing.

She loves sequins, colour-blocks and neutrals, too. You will see her in all-black if she’s stepping out for coffee. She can also effortlessly pull off a white shirtdress with just a belt and sneakers. Her personal style is cool and casual. But for the red carpet, she will go for sequins or something plain but with a nice cut.

We would now love to do stronger, more powerful looks, like a trench, a power shoulder or a pantsuit. You feel more confident and empowered when you’re wearing these pieces. It makes you feel like, “I am going to own this tonight”.




1. GOLDEN HOUR: This ombre, pre-sequin gown was from an archive collection, which isn’t usually given out. We tempered its sparkle and drama with minimal make-up and hairdo. It was a fully sheer outfit, save for a lining till just under her upper thigh

2. PLAYING THE BLUES: Once, we weren’t sure if we wanted to do Indian or Western. So, we went for both. It had ruffles on one side, pleats in the front and a pre-stitched train

3. SLIT WIDE OPEN: We knew we had to do something strong and structured for the Filmfare event. It was a ‘this is it’ moment when I first saw it



4. CUT-OUT FOR GLAMOUR: We went for a short dress for an awards show last year with cut-outs and a low neckline. It was all about making a statement

5. SLIT WIDE OPEN: Nushrat was going for a filmmaker’s party and didn’t want the look to be too much or too less. So, we decided to play with the silhouette. This powder-pink gown has a slit and ruching and is paired with a French bun

Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; February 15, 2018)

Besides understanding the psyche of their character in a film, actors also go the extra mile to transform themselves physically to do justice to the part. Take Nushrat Bharucha for instance. The actress turned vegan during the shooting of her upcoming film, Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety. She went on a special vegan, gluten and dairy-free diet to maintain her toned abs during the shoot. Nushrat was introduced to the diet by a New York-based friend, who specialises in vegan food. She loved it so much that she follows it even now.

Says Nushrat, “I belong to a Bohri Muslim family, and for us, food is our biggest celebration. We are used to elaborate five to six-course meals. So, to give up on our signature dishes, which can only be made with chicken/mutton, was like living someone else’s life suddenly! This wasn’t only a dietary change, but a lifestyle change and a drastic one at that. Initially, it was really tough to deal with the cravings. The decision tested my will power and I am happy that I succeeded.”