It Takes Two

The wives of some of south India’s most well-known actors may often maintain a low profile, but they are well-established in their own right. Whether it’s running production houses, managing legacy institutes, raising children or being actors themselves, these women have figured out their individual paths to success along with a signature style. Vogue finds out more.

- Akshara Subramanian

AMALA AKKINENI

Actor and director at AISFM

AAmala Akkineni’s performances and style sensibilities remain an audience favourite. In addition to being the wife of Telugu superstar Nagarjuna Akkineni, she dons three different hats. A typical day in her life involves her being the director of Annapurna International School of Film and Media, a family-run institute, volunteering at the Blue Cross Hyderabad and focusing on her acting and directing projects. She is drawn to distinct storylines and is currently wrapping up The Forgotten Army, directed by Kabir Khan. Her style gravitates towards what part of the day she’s tackling first. “When I’m at the institute, a kurta with pencil trousers or a simple handloom sari is my go-to. I pick up pieces at Fabindia or The Deccan Story in Hyderabad. The owner of the store, Keerthi Reddy, does lovely customised outfits, including khadi kurtas with a soft lining.” A practising vegan, Akkineni is as particular about what she puts on her body as what she nourishes it with. “I tend to gravitate towards very simple, minimalistic styles. For me, the focus is more on the fabric and how comfortable I am than the brand.” On screen, she calls out her stylists Ganesh Nallari and Anu Vardhan: “They have a fantastic eye and truly understand what works for me.”

MADE IN INDIA: Akkineni is a big supporter of handloom fabrics. “I love saris from Shravan Kumar. He does a wonderful presentation of Indian handloom fabrics from different states and conducts draping sessions at our fundraisers for Blue Cross. Jyoti Reddy of Ereena is another favourite—her saris are a beautiful blend of cotton and cruelty-free eri silk, a fabric that’s manufactured in Assam. While they drape beautifully, it’s also the vegan angle that reins me in.”