The Dream Weaver

Having reached the apogee of the dizzying fashion universe, Manish Malhotra’s savvy cinematic style has created an enduring couture legacy.

- Neeti Mehra

In the hushed Jamshed Bhabha theatre, the lights dimmed and the curtains lifted to reveal a dramatic rendition of the silver screen blockbuster, Mughal-E-Azam. Recreated by auteur Feroz Abbas Khan, the lavish and ethereal production was a befitting tribute to K Asif ’s magnum opus. But what stole the show was the indescribable beauty of the jewel toned costumes, which shimmered and sparkled under the theater lights. All 550 of them, created over a period of three months, were magical ensembles that carried the pathos of the tragic love story on their silken threads, each created by the masterful Manish Malhotra.

Last year the costume designer, stylist and couturier completed a momentous quarter century in the industry. With no formal training in design, Malhotra describes the past decades as “one never-ending learning curve.” He recounts the essential moments of his life, right from his first assignment, styling actress Juhi Chawla in the film Swarg, to scooping his first Filmfare award for sensuously draping actress Urmila Matondkar in the blockbuster Rangeela. Having earned the moniker ‘the couturier to the stars,’ his label seemed an afterthought, having come into existence only 11 years ago. For the workaholic Malhotra, this eventful journey has had its “ups and downs,” but unlike the quintessential heroes he dresses, who are constantly looking behind their shoulders to catch their lover’s eyes, Malhotra says he doesn’t like to look behind. “While the past does define my journey, I am constantly focused on what lies next. I am trying to transform my label by doing things that I have never done before,” he said.