‘Rani is like family’
Sabyasachi mukerji
Whether it is Rani, Vidya or Aishwarya, what binds these beautiful women together is that I am connected to them not just by clothes, but our common love for music and literature. Clothes are just conversation starters, to take any relationship forward, it must have a soul, something more than just the need to look stunning. I think that they all inspire me and I like real women — women who are somewhere disassociated with fashion and everything fabulous that surrounds them.
So, let me start with Rani. We got close due to the Bong connection, two Bengalis in Mumbai, who love books and Rabindra sangeet, what more can one ask for? But now Rani is more than just a friend, she is family and I am very close to her parents too. But I must add that our bonding is a bit unconventional and goes beyond our love for fish as we discuss lots of issues other than just fashion.
A lot of people ask me how I manage to maintain ties with three stunning women without a conflict. But I would like to say why is conflict considered such a bad word. It is good, it makes you think, move forward, takes you in a new direction. We are different people who understand each other and want to give each other space to grow and evolve.
Rani works with other designers and I work with several actresses. We are mature enough to understand and respect that. Every relationship must have freedom of thought and decisions and Rani and I share an unspoken rapport.
Vidya is very earthy, grounded and traditional, unlike Rani who is glamorous and diva like. The latter didn’t know much about fashion, but has trained herself well and now she knows what will look fabulous on her. While Vidya is blissfully unaware of fashion and is happy to live that way. South Indian families have a certain hidden grace and elegance and it is their subtlety that makes them so endearing.
I like to talk about the mundane and the not-so-elite and that is what I feel draws me closer to Vidya, as she is simple and uncomplicated. And at the risk of sounding politically correct, we have never had ego clashes or disagreements, of course, there are things that an actress wants changed or altered which I am always happy to do, if it doesn’t take away from the look or the role.
I think they all respect me as when we are working, I am serious and there is no faffing around. Though I must confess that all three women have different temperaments and tastes and that is what makes them challenging and exciting to design for. The mind of an actress is complex, but two things are for sure, they want to be a star, and they also need to look good and get better and better at their work, just like us designers. So we share a common goal.
I have designed for all three — Vidya in Paa, Rani in Black and Ash in Raavan. But having said that, I must say that here individual styles were pushed to the background and we were dressing up a character, so they are easy to work with.
Ash has been my inspiration, not because she is such a beautiful woman, but because she has a warm heart and will go out of her way to help you. She is a natural beauty, so everything looks good on her. I would like to dress her in colours of the earth that would bring out her real personality.
And I must end by saying that any actress who has to live in an industry that is dominated by the constant need to look fabulous all the time, must have a style guru who understands her needs and personality. Thankfully, all three women trust me implicitly.