EXCLUSIVE: With Love- Manish Malhotra on Dhadak, SOTY 2, Fanney Khan and more!

The name Manish Malhotra is synonomous to Best in Bollywood Fashion. In an open letter to Pinkvilla, he shares his journey in the last many years, his upcoming movie projects, styling Janhvi Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan & more. Read up as Manish Malhotra gets up, close and personal for his fans.

Styling and designing has been a very important part of my journey - this year I complete 28 years in the film fraternity and I feel very privileged to be an integral part of this industry. Looking back, I think that I couldn’t have had a better training ground to feed my passion for fashion than movies as I love Indian cinema. I have loved sketching since I was young. And I loved clothes and the movies. To me, styling and costumes seemed like a natural progression to bring all these together by way of a career.  In the process, I have also got to work with wonderful actors such as Juhi Chawla, Karisma Kapoor, Late Sridevi Ma’am, Kajol, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan many of who became friends and fervent supporters. Having worked with almost all generations – I am now thrilled to style the third generation of actors like Ananya Pandey, Alia Bhatt, Sara Ali Khan ,Janhvi Kapoor.

This year I’m starting with Dhadak - Jahnvi's first film and I am so happy that I was a part of her journey just as her mother would have loved it. For her look, I’ve used very interesting styles – you will see her donning printed kurtas with harem salwar, a waist coat, mal mal ghagras to kalidars in vibrant hues such as red and ivory with fabrics that are inspired by the vivid culture of the city of Rajasthan. I wanted to move away from the typical silhouettes like kurtas and salwars  and give her a fresh and different look. Hence, you will notice that I have mixed multiple colours, textures and prints making the look more young and vibrant.

I’m also doing a youth centric film Student of the Year 2 where I’m styling Tara Sutaria, Ananya Pandey and Tiger Shroff; then moving totally towards a contrast period movie like Kalank. Whether it’s Janhvi for Dhadak, Sara for Simmba, Ananya and Tara for Student of the Year 2 or Warina for Loveratri – it brings me great excitement to work with all these young actresses.

I’m also styling Aishwariya for Fanney Khan who I’ve worked with on multiple projects in the past. In the movie she plays a character of a popular singer who’s got the superstardom of what Aishwarya has in person—she’s soft, she’s young and she is warm, very close to her real personality. We were very keen that we didn’t want to do the stereotypical star. Hence, in the movie you will see her carrying off a camouflage jacket to ripped jeans, big sunglasses, tracksuits, simple jeans and shirts paired with sneakers. Her character is in touch with day-to-day fashion like every other girl and the styling reflects that fun side – it’s a combination of street style meeting high fashion.

People see stars as divas, but they are human too and that’s what we are trying to portray in the film. Her look in two of the songs is very edgy, but not unrealistic – one that you can wear for a  party or a friend’s cocktail; In the other songs, it’s all sequins—sequinned blazers, jackets and jumpsuits. Internationally too, sequins are making a huge comeback—the whole ’80s influence is evident.

In terms of my label which is completing 13 years in 2018, I’m very excited to take this opportunity and announce my first solo couture show in Mumbai after 6 years – a city where the brand began its journey. The Couture 2018 Collection will see ensembles that will have the label’s signature opulence and fine craftsmanship along with trendsetting palettes, style innovations, and never-worn-before silhouettes. In keeping with the onset of the wedding/festive season, the collection will have pieces for him and her, inspired by two stylish muses. The show is scheduled for August 1st, 2018 at J W Marriot, Juhu.

Overall, 2018 has been a very busy year for me; however I say this to everyone that when you do what you love, there is no stress, no worry. I love working and it is my antidote to all maladies. I love meeting people, sketching, talking to my young team. I have always been an early-riser and spend my mornings having tea with my mother and reading. So, the secret is to give everything your best with a positive attitude.