My guideline
Whether it is Bunty Aur Babli, Bluffmaster!, Don, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom or Tashan I stick to the script and go by the characters. So each of my films has a different look and I always style the whole film. Bachna Ae Haseeno (BAH)’s director Siddharth Anand wanted a very young, contemporary, vibrant and yet realistic look. The fashion had to catch on with the masses as well as the elite, he insisted. So I kept a do-it-yourself approach to the film where all the clothes and accessories could be bought here in local stores. I came on board in September and we started shooting for the film last November for the film that was to release a year later. So... I had to do a trend forecast as per international trends and then make my designs that would be a part of a 2008 look as trends trickle down to India.
Triple delight Ranbir
To begin with, Ranbir has a boyish look. For this he dons double sweat shirts having different coloured hoodies and sleeves. There are reversible jackets with a wintry feel because this part is based in Switzerland.
The second one is a cool Bandra boy look. He’s the first hero to wear Cargo shorts and tees with flip-flops in a film. This is how my friends and I dress up. He also gets malmal shirts with hoodies, tees inside and linen pyjamas sporting a relaxed weekend look.
In the third get-up, Ranbir in his late twenties is supposed to be more mature. So it’s linen jackets with tees inside and jeans. Basically it is European street styling-meets-grunge.
Of all these, my favourite is the bathrobe on top of jeans in the title- track music video. He also wears mettallic silver and black cargos, red and black Matador jacket and silver and orange plastic jackets - keeping in mind today’s vibrant trend.
To give all the colour a break, Ranbir is styled in all-white for the Khuda jaane number. I convinced Siddharth that the white will contrast well against the azure blue skies and ocean in Italy. I have given him jeans, sleeveless shirts, drawstring pyjamas and leather jacket - all in white.
Ranbir has fallen in love with the clothes in the film, he wants to take home everything. And we are going to give him the entire BAH collection after the release.
Dashing Deepika
Deepika has a severe and structured look because she is a Sydney cabbie in the film. I have given her loads of tee-shirts and high-waisted skinny as well as wide-legged jeans which are the biggest trend right now. She also wears a sleeveless denim shirt going into a pair of capris like a catsuit. As a relief from it all, I have given her florals and chiffon long dresses for the Khuda jaane song. This is also trendy right now.
Petite Minissha
Minissha plays a small-town girl who is a total romantic at heart and her fashion statement is like Amritsar heavily influenced by Delhi. She catches up on trends slightly later. Denim capris with brocade detailing, topped by short kurtis and small denim jackets. She also wears printed patialas with brocade belts and denim jackets that makes her look petite and feminine.
Bipasha’s attitude
Bipasha plays a troup dancer from a group like Shiamak Davar’s and she dresses up like a model. She has some adorable clothes - tiny coloured shorts and big bags. Her look is casual, hip and loaded with colours. She’s an independent girl so it’s shorts and ganjis for her. I have known her from her Kolkata days but this is my first film with Bipasha and it was very exciting. With that kind of attitude - she’s a dream to work with!
Future projects
Dostana (everyone except Priyanka) in November, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi in Diwali and Kambakkht Ishq is coming up. It’s only films for me right now.
Wish-list
I would give an arm and a leg to style Dimple Kapadia. I want to do one project with Kareena every year and of course I want to dress up Ranbir - he looks hot and trendy.
New India look
Blue jeans, malmal kurta, Kolhapuri chappals and aviator glasses to go with it - that’s the young India August 15 look.