SHEER IMPACT: This shimmery number with a sheer trail is super glam yet regal, making a statement at a fashion show finale

As told to Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 2, 2020)

I used to meet Janhvi Kapoor when she accompanied her mother, the late actress Sridevi, to her styling sessions. Dressed in cutesy dresses or sporty casuals, she would sit quietly in the corner, watching, wideeyed, as her mother carried off the six yards and elegant gowns with equal ease. When Janhvi was gearing up to make her film debut in Dhadak, Sridevi made me promise that I would style her for the promotional events close to the release. Unfortunately, Sridevi wasn’t around when the time came, but I kept my word to her. I have been styling Janhvi right from her first film.

She is a lot like her mother, in that she loves chiffon sarees and high-glam couture, and her overall style aesthetic is elegant. At the same time, she’s a young girl who wants to have fun with fashion right now. She is very clued into brands and latest style trends since she keeps tabs on the global fashion scene. From time to time, Janhvi sends me references of what she wants to wear. One day, out-of-the-blue, she started texting me pictures of male jewellery. I was wondering what she wanted when she told me she’d like to pair the pieces with apt attire.

As of now, Janhvi is obsessed with neons. From the brightest pinks to electric greens—she loves them all. And since neons are currently hot, she’s lucky. Again, like her mother, she loves whites.

While her peers believe in less being more, Janhvi is a maximalist. She enjoys going for the full look—from the accessories to shoes, everything should stand out. One thing that I have realised over time is that she chooses fashion and style over comfort. Like the one time, she had a wedding to attend, she was fixated on a gold ‘maar daala’ lehenga with mirror-work detailing, which makes it really heavy. I kept telling her that it would be difficult to move in it, let alone dance, but she soldiered on. She loves sequins and heavily embroidered garments. I want to see if 10 years down the line, her obsession with fashion continues. She is also accommodating of most styles and open to experimenting. But she won’t go anywhere near shapeless silhouettes. She hates long, baggy, flowy garments that are currently all the rage. There has to be some cinching or gathering somewhere. For her, the fit is of prime importance.


GOING FOR THE KILL: This nine-kilo lehenga was an archived piece from the “Maar Dala” collection, which features costumes worn by Madhuri Dixit in Devdas

SHIMMER-N’-SHINE: Manish Malhotra can make a saree look hot and this sequinned lilac full sheath number worked like a dream




















PRINCESS DIARIES: The red ball gown from Atelier Zuhra was an absolute ‘yes’ the minute she tried it on. Janhvi looked like a real-life princess

VISION IN WHITE: Ethereal white is her favourite colour, which is why she stands tall and proud in this gorgeous piece with lacy details

DESI GAL: Janhvi wanted a simple yet chic form-fitting saree in a beautiful colour and accessorised the perfect drape with some bling

FLOUNCE IT UP: I was in love with this collection and was keen that Malaika wears this dress. She pulled it off like no one else could have

As told to Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 17, 2020)

The best thing about styling Malaika Arora is that she cares about an outfit and wants to present it in the best way possible. She takes such good care of herself that everything—from her body and her skin to her posture—is impeccable, so clothes look spectacular on her.

I have always thought of her as someone who is very chic and inexplicably hot! Ever since she was a VJ, Malaika’s style has been iconic and over the years, her fashion sense has evolved with her setting new trends. If you ask me to sum it up in two words, I would say her style is “effortless elegance”.

Age hasn’t changed a thing for Malaika and why should it? She’s experimental and trusts me with her eyes closed. But right now, she’s in a phase where she doesn’t like anything that is too fussy and requires constant attention. Also, she’s done with bling. At least, that’s what I figured from our last few sessions together.

She’s really happy when you give her bold, solid colours and structured, clean silhouettes. Gold and blood-red are her favourites hues and she carries them with élan. She looks great in most silhouettes because with that frame, she can pull off just anything. For me, she looks like a dream in a saree.

We have a structured way of working which is always eventbased. If it’s film promotions, it depends on the characters she is playing. We speak to designers based on the brief we get and start sourcing pieces from all over the world. If there’s a particular attire we like from a certain designer, we write to them and procure them. Then, there are fitting sessions, with full hair, makeup and accessories. We go with whatever looks best on her.

Style evolves constantly and there are times when I look back and feel there’s a look that I might have approached differently now. Of course, it’s all a part of the process. Every day is a learning experience and when you have a model like Malaika, it’s all the more enriching.


A SLINKY AFFAIR: This designer does runway glamour like no one else and this gown was a beautiful red, simply cut. But the fit and the finish made all the difference. It fit her like a glove

As told to Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 26, 2019)

I started styling Shraddha Kapoor even before Vishal Bhardwaj’s Haider released and her style has undergone a complete makeover since. Now, she is willing to experiment a lot more instead of sticking with safe silhouettes and colours. She is doing a mix of Indian and international designers and, as a result, her looks are not boring or repetitive.

Earlier, she used to opt for more fit-and-flare or A-line dresses. While those silhouettes did enhance her lithe frame, I wanted her to experiment more because I knew she would be able to pull it off. The best thing about Shraddha is that she is not fussy. If you tell her something works, she is open to the idea. She herself is quite informed about international fashion trends and now you will find her wearing everything—from a peplum and a column, to a ’60s and even a ’20s style dress.

She is extremely versatile but she never overdoes it. For her, less is more. And she likes to keep her clothes age appropriate. In her early-twenties, she went for cutesy, fun numbers. In her mid-twenties, we did a lot more feminine looks with her. Then, there was an androgynous phase which we still dabble in from time to time because there’s nothing like a well-tailored pantsuit on her.

But now, she is more into elegant dressing. She wants to look glamorous but at the same time, she wants to be taken seriously. You won’t catch her wearing anything that’s too childish, like pedal pushers or dungarees. At the same time, she wants to bring in the playful element with a lot of colours, even neons. Right now, she is being particularly partial to sheath dresses. We dress her according to the occasion mostly, while also keeping her mood in mind. Shraddha is a great client to dress because she has a clear image of what she wants. She tells me the vibe she wants to go for and I shortlist looks based on that. Then she chooses the one she thinks looks best on her.

Shraddha won’t ever wear anything bizarre as she doesn’t want to look silly. For instance, she understands that though it is November, it is still very hot in Mumbai, so we can’t go with boots. Even though it is a global Fall trend, here it would be a faux pas. She is very practical that way.

Her personal style has always been casual chic, and it remains that. She likes to stick to the basics like track pants with cool bomber jackets to make the look edgy. These days, she also likes traditional salwar-kameezes in sustainable fabrics. And she loves to wear saris. She draped herself in her mother’s traditional sari for Diwali.


1. RISE AND SHINE: An ombre halter dress, this one is a fit-andflare number by an international designer. It cinches at the waist, accentuating one of the best features of a tall, skinny girl like Shraddha. The overall look is very feminine and that’s what we were going for here

2. RETRO RULES: We did this oversized boyfriend jeans with a cropped jacket, which has a very vintage ’80s vibe. We paired it with silver hoops with her hair tied in a messy bun

3. THINK PINK: We chose this colour-block dress for the Hyderabad launch of Saaho. Shraddha wanted to go for a vibrant colour, and this elegant pink-and-red outfit fit the bill. We balanced it with nude heels and minimal make-up

4. ‘AB’SOLUTE: Shraddha’s torso is in great shape and the crop top highlights it beautifully. We paired it with paperbag waist pants. The look was hippie chic and alternative, so we went with open hair and big gold hoops. Can’t go wrong with black and gold

5. RED ALERT: A half-blazer jumpsuit, this was a lastminute pullout. It was for a video interview and I thought that the colour would look great on camera. Shraddha agreed. She quickly paired it with some oversized hoops and was good to go...

As told to Nishi Tiwari (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 9, 2019)

My association with Katrina Kaif is over nine-10 years old. I started out in my early 20s and I was styling Sonam (Kapoor), Bebo (Kareena Kapoor) and Lolo (Karisma Kapoor). Katrina was literally the fourth person with whom I started off as a stylist. It’s a relationship that has grown over time. I have understood her work and her style, which is very simple and elegant.

Over the years, I have realised that Katrina is someone who takes her time to open up to people. Now, I understand her style completely. I can look at a garment and tell if she will like it or not.

She really moves with the times. When I had first met her, she liked to stay in her comfort zone. Katrina is a sort of a comfort baby in that she likes to wear silhouettes that she knows work on her. It could be a sheath, something shorter with an A-line or a fit-and-flare dress.

When I had just started working with her, she had told me that there’s this one dress that she really liked so she picked up one in every colour from the label. Once, she went to two events in the same dress in different colours. When I asked her why she did that, she said, “Because it’s comfortable and I feel good in it. It doesn’t matter if people think I am repeating a dress in different colours.”

Over the years, however, Katrina has become more open to trying new silhouettes and experimenting with different styles. Within dresses she will try an asymmetrical, a deconstructed, sheaths, flairs, a geometric… She loves wearing a well-made pantsuit. But above all else, she is extremely particular about the way a garment fits her.

She prefers soft fabrics like chiffon, georgette or silk; stuff which feels easy and comfortable on the body. She doesn’t like stiff material or anything bulky, like organza or taffeta. She doesn’t like raw silk that much either. In colours, she loves red and enjoys wearing a white dress or even a salwar-suit. She likes Indian clothes and is particular about them, be it Lucknowi anarkali or a lehenga. If you notice these clothes on her, you will see how well they fit. Other than that, bright colours really work for her, like mango yellow, coral… She even wore a popping pink sari in Singh Is Kinng, which became famous. Whenever in doubt, she likes to wear black but for Indian clothes, she prefers colour.

You can say that Katrina plays safe but within her zone, she is experimenting. She will not go out there to make a statement because she doesn’t care about that. One of her standout looks from recent years was this red pantsuit which had an in-built waist-coat and a cut-out back. A few years ago, she wore this electric blue lehenga with a tie-up crop top, for International Film Festival of India in Goa. For Filmfare Style and Glamour Awards a few years ago, she wore this edgy Jean Paul Gaultier gown with a very ’80s shoulder and a slit on one side… a cool, classic dress.

Katrina is really tall and she has a very proportionate body. I have never heard a stylist say they can’t give certain things to her because they won’t work on a certain part of her body. Anything you put on her, she works it. Also, the fact that she was a model before she became an actress; she can carry different kinds of outfits.

Kareena Kapoor, who will start shooting with Irrfan Khan in London soon, says she needs to be around her son
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 5, 2019)

Kareena Kapoor is currently in Italy with husband, actor-producer Saif Ali Khan and son Taimur, for a quick vacation before she starts shooting for Homi Adajania’s Angrezi Medium in London. The actress on how she juggles her professional commitments and personal responsibilities. Excerpts:

So, it’s ‘we’ time in Tuscany with Saif and Taimur?
It’s going to be a hectic month so I’m squeezing in a holiday, one I’ve been looking forward to.

Recently a picture of Saif, Taimur and you, along with Sharmila Tagore, Soha, Sara and Ibrahim, at your place went viral. You clearly enjoy your family time.
I’ve always stood on one leg, balancing my personal and professional life. I’m probably the only actress who after delivering my son was back on the sets of a mainstream Hindi film, Veere Di Wedding, within six months with three other actresses. I’m constantly choosing the best from what I’m offered, and I have my priorities clear. I don’t like working for more than eight hours. Taimur is only two, he still needs me. So, I like to work only during the day till early evening. That’s why you never see me at film parties or screenings. It’s just work and family.

Aren’t you supposed to start shooting for your next, Angrezi Medium, with Irrfan Khan, in London from June 9?
Yes, that’s a 10-12 day shoot coming up. My portions will be entirely filmed in London, I’m looking forward to joining Irrfan. And even after I’m done with Angrezi Medium, I plan to stay on with Taimur while Saif is shooting Jawaani Jaaneman. I’ll be flying back and forth between London and Mumbai for my reality show, Dance India Dance.

And when does Karan Johar’s historical drama, Takht, kick off. That’s a biggie with Ranveer Singh, Anil Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Vicky Kaushal, Janhvi Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar…
I’m looking forward to working with Karan again. Our earlier film together, the 2001 family drama Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, was very different from this one, in fact, it’s nothing like anything Karan has done before. Ranveer and Vicky are on the top of their game so it’s going to be an exciting trip.

You’ve also reunited with Akshay Kumar after a decade for Good News.
Good News has ‘great’ written all over it, be it the cast, the director or the producer. Even the concept of surrogacy is amazing, though it’s going to be a really funny movie. The release date is perfect, the New Year weekend. I can’t wait to see how people react to it.

Buzz is, your son Taimur makes a special appearance in the film?
Not at all, why would he do that?

You will soon be completing two decades in the industry, is there any role you want to explore?
The idea is to keep doing something different every time. I never thought I would do radio, but I dabbled in it.

And now you are making your small screen debut with Dance India Dance. Do you watch TV?
When Taimur goes to sleep, Saif and I watch a lot of television. The lines are blurring, and everything is more about content now. I’m looking forward to watching Meryl Streep on Big Little Lies, even she’s making her TV debut.

Saif too is playing the suthradhar of the fiction show Kahaan Hum Kahaan Tum?
I think Saif did a voiceover for the show, his actual focus is on the second season of his web series.

Why did you pick Dance India Dance for your TV debut?
Since I’m making my TV debut, it had to be something bigger and better. Dance India Dance changed the concept of reality shows with a 360-degree stage and 200-plus cameras. It’s the longest running dance reality show, which has the common man at the forefront which is why I love it. So, I thought to myself, “Why not do this?”

How are you adjusting to the hectic schedules and long hours of shoot?
I’m completely against long hours but it’s once a week and we have a great team. I had a blast with the first episode, some of the contestants got standing ovations. I have two stylists, Tanya Ghavri and Mohit Rai, who have worked with me very closely in the past, designing my look. My brief to them is that the clothes should reflect my personality which is vibrant and feisty. It’s going to be an exciting journey going forward. 

Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 21, 2015)

DNA (July 11, 2014)


A source close to Kareena says, “Rohit was very particular with the kind of look he wanted for Kareena. While styling for her, we had to keep in mind her character — a very bubbly and outgoing Maharashtrian girl who plays the love interest of Bajirao Singham. We have played with a lot of bright colors giving her a very bohemian yet chic look. ”

Kareena even changed her favourite stylist Manish Malhotra in the film. She says, “My look is simple, modern and trendy. Tanya Ghavri is designing my clothes in the film. She’s a friend and I wanted something different. Manish will do whatever I’m doing next.”

Says Tanya, “This is my first film with Kareena. She is a star and has probably tried all kind of costumes, having been in the film industry for so long! For this film, keeping the cop’s story in mind, I have tried and played with as many colours as possible. There are almost 20-25 designer outfits that Kareena will be seen wearing and they’re all a class apart.”