THE FEMININE MYSTIQUE

Smart silhouettes, pretty details, and a confident spirit— Sobhita Dhulipala aces the modern bridal look

- RADHIKA BHALLA

There’s a quiet confidence to our cover star Sobhita Dhulipala, as she strikes a languid pose by the pool, clad in a champagne-coloured lehenga by RI Ritu Kumar. We’re at The Roseate in Delhi on a sunny winter’s day, and there’s a small army of people buzzing around the 27-year-old, eager to get the perfect shot—which is not hard for Dhulipala to achieve. An Internet sensation, she is casually aware of her intriguing persona, her eyes exuding a sense of mystery, and an innate power that she draws from her lean, feminine physique. You can’t quite put your finger on it, but know you’re in the presence of a rising star.

And 2019 has been especially kind to her—It began with her role as the ambitious wedding planner in Zoya Akhtar’s Made In Heaven, due for a second season. And before you knew it, she was back on-screen as an Indian intelligence officer in Bard of Blood. Barely three years since her acting debut in 2016 with Anurag Kashyap’s Raman Raghav 2.0, Dhulipala has come to represent the quintessential modern Indian woman—brave, bold, and unafraid to take risks, yet always embodying the spirit of what makes us, us. Much like the reinvented Ritu Kumar brand that’s crafted with a fresh, young take on modern wedding wear. Bride’s Today caught up with the actor for a chat on love, equality, her ideal partner, and more.

What does love mean to you?

Love, to me, is friendship and romance, something that shouldn’t be postponed.

What does equality in a relationship look like to you?

When two people are able to treat each other as people, not with attached gender roles of male and female.

What’s the most romantic gesture someone has ever done for you?