Designs On You

Manish Malhotra, the celebrated designer has set trends with his flowing elegance. His bespoke ensembles are often as larger than life as some of the Hindi movie costumes that he has styled. The suave fashion designer goes candid with Timeline Goa.

- Kavita Shyam

How does it feel to have been part of the fashion and Bollywood industry for so long?

My journey has been anything but conventional. Instead of mainstream fashion, I started my career with costume design. Growing up, I was (and still am), fascinated by Hindi cinema. Although it was never planned, I got my first assignment to dress and style actress Juhi Chawla for a film called ‘Swarg’ in 1989 and have never looked back since.

Over the last 26 years, Bollywood has evolved immensely. I came into the industry when the concept of costume design was nonexistent, though it is now a crucial part of a film. Costumes have always helped the director create visual characterisation, but with time it has become an integral part of the stylistic world a movie creates. Its importance is now acknowledged in the industry. I have always focused on giving a very distinctive style to each character, depending on his or her role. I have had the opportunity to work with some the most striking personalities in the Indian film industry. The journey has been long; but every moment has been worth the effort.

How did it all begin? Tell us about your two decades in the industry.