so the concept of styling is what I introduced in films
where the clothes would get real yet glamourised,
well I don't really follow the page and that, the only thing I have understood of that page
cashing on my popularity and following on social media they, unneccessarily do write about me quite often
I think it's great I get them some views that helps them, that's fine
I smile at it, when I hear of it I don't really follow it neither does my office, we don't really get into it
at the age of the 5 we had a tution teacher, because she wanted me to be very good at my studies
and my tution teacher complaint to my mother saying that, he is only commenting on my dresses and shoes
from the age of 5
Hi Guys, I'm Priyanka Modi from PINKVILLA as fashion team
and trust me over the years I have seen some of the most fashion iconic moments
From Poo in Kabhi Khushi Khabhie Ghum to Kajol's exciting transformation
from tom boy to pretty women in a Saree
there has always been that one guy behind most of this iconic look and that is Manish Malhotra
today we have with us and today he is completing 30 years on the industry
so Manish Hie, Hello
Tell me how did you start your journey in this industry
well for me my journey began when I was 5 years old
I was fascinated with films and I remember my mother telling me recently in lockdown i spend so much time with her
she tells me how at the age of 5 I had tution teacher , because she wanted me to be very good in my studies
and my tution teacher complaint to my mother saying that, he is only commenting on my dresses and shoes
from the age of 5, from the age of 5-6 I was absolutely crazy about films
when it came to career I decided I want to design and that time I think it had just started , all the senior designers
and watch their brand and this was about I think 1998
and I was like will I ever have my boutique will I ever have my collection , will I ever study design
so I applied in NIFT in Delhi, NIFT had just started
Nift said I was late and I will have to apply after 6 months, and that would also be shifting to Delhi and
my parents were like you'll have to live with one of our relatives, I said No, I'm not going to do that
so I thought to myself, I said I love films, I love clothes and movies late 80's were going through a little
of course, 60's, 50's, 40's have been phenomenal in style but 80's was losing
it was getting very loud in films so I told to myself , what if I marry the two love which is design and films
and with that hope I started for designing and I got to design for shoots
I had close friend of mine who worked in StarDust magazine, because I working in boutique and he knew that
Sangeeta Bichlani, for Juhi Chawla, Minakshi Sasadri
I met Rakesh Shestra, Rohan Shestra's father, very busy photographer at that time
and to him I started doing like photoshoots
and David Dhawan was my cousin sister's Husband offered me to do costumes for song for Swarg
that was like two days and I had to make 3 costumes and I ran around and put them together for Juhi Chawla
then he offered me film for Divya Bharti , that was the first film offered but that movie got shut
and in meanwhile I remember working with Rakesh , then I got Lootere and then I got Bhagi
after then I never looked back it been 30 years
so I think your entire potfolio also speaks for itself, I think you have done some iconic looks in movies like
just introduced so can you give a little scoop about like how you came forward with thought of the look
like this iconic Saree and stuff came about so we will start with Poo in Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Ghum
just to be little bit of backtap, by the time I came into the films, I don't think there was a concept of an entire script being narrated
specially to a designer, great directors like Yash Chopra, Shekar Kapoor who looked into costumes and all
so I came with whole thing what's this script and look kind of a thing
other's were like why does he want to know the script
and that is how looks started , then of course came Karan Johar and with Karan Johjar I did Kuch Kuch Hota Hai where again
we introduced the entire sports wear and the
in that whole international brands coming in and all of it so that is how it all happened
then by the time Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Ghum came , I was in flight every week with Saree's runing Switzerland for song
where the heroine wears shifon saree and hero's wear the mufflars and sweaters
putting looks together so the concept the concept of styling is what I introduced in films
when the close would look real but yet glamourised
so I use to buy 2 T shirts cut them make them into 1 T shirt , put this over that but
with close I wanted them to look more real with
that is how, coming to Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Ghum poo
Karan was like, she has to look a fashionista, she has to look legally blonde thing kind of
clueless was the film that was really out there
and it was of course Karan's conception, for designer it is always so important to work with director's with vision
that gives you path for your narrative
and I think what I establish with my work is this big films that the clothes are important part of characters
then the entire shopping was done in London and
when I shopped something aboard I just not want to take something and give it
so I was cutting it opening it up , it was a whole process
that is how whole character kind of came to me
we wanted to be her cool high school girl who is fashionable
and I think every character in a Hindi film , after that which is so many films got based on fashion and
the girl who is fashionable, I think all watered down into Poo
I think it's still relevant now, like some of her looks like mini skirts and backless bralette and all of that
I think they are still relevant now
so that's what makes it more iconic
next one is another iconic look, Bebo's Salwaar Tshirt. so that became one of the cult favorite
I think I was pretty young and everyone was wearing it
that was normally like you wouldn't wear normal Tshirt over Salwaar
Director Imtiaz Ali had a very clear aspect that he wanted Geet to be a character
which is a small town character and she is yet very bold, modern and in fact that character of geet
yet complete president to lot of movies where small town girls became iconic
so small town girl replace that to fashionista gilr who is wearing clothes in New York and London
that film led to the entire India dressing up in a Salwars with T shirt, Kurti with a jeans
then a denim jacket over a Kurti, now the thing was we had discussion and I remember listening to the script
and I said Kareena you must do this film, and she said Yeah of course I am doing it
whole thing in Salwar she got into a train and then changes in the night
my whole logic was she was wearing a blue T shirt inside , she is wearing Salwar and Kurta
she won't change her full look she will just change her Kurta inot T shirt
they liked the idea then I was like she is such a filmy character , she loves movies and full drama
so Mugleazam is an iconic film, it is iconic love film
so why don't we have a poster on a T shirt so I got her special T shirt printed with that
so Imtiaz liked the idea , Kareena had so much work with Ashoka to Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Ghum she was like okay go ahead
actors arr like Manish is so interested, he is more interested then us also then us in movie script and what scene is coming before and after
that also pushed me work harder but also made me think lot of thing what I was thinking
that's how T shirt and Salwar came
so after that came the new age movies like say Wake Up Sid, Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani
so how do you think that has impacted now on like milliniear fashion scene
well what is amazing today, I think everything is accepted
is become so individualistic that today you want to wear with Salwar with T shirt and Lehenga with sneakers
you want to do some retro, you want to do some classic black and white
you want to mix up Banarasi Saree with modern jacket
so there is so much accepted in fashion today
yes, definitely I think people are now open to trying out new styles also
I remember the couple of years ago there was whole thing , I remember when you are doing a film
Anjana Anjani , shooting in Bankog with Priyanka she is wearing wedding lehenga and
we gave her sneakers because she has to run , yeah with leather jacket
that is kind of look today, that is in every party today when brides wants to celebrate
now that is become a thing, after 1 clock Dupatta's gone, it's change over the jacket over that skirt
and you are wearing a sneakers
so much is changed and so much is opened up here
I know this is a serious question but do you think there is lot of difference women were treated then in the industry
and the way that they have gotten the liberty now
I don't think there was change ina way they were treated because the heroine was always special
but in those days, when I came into movies you couldn't just come into actor saying Hey whats Up
it was never like that, Shridevi, she was the only actress I call ma'am and still call her ma'am
there is such a kind of regard
today it's quite very casual
I actually feel that actors and stars were treated very differently at that time
and you know while there is so mcuh change
tell you something, fundamentally nothing has changed
there is wonderfull change there is a system , acceptance,
costume designer which I got which is important part of narrative
I was first costume designer to get independent credits
sure in earlier films also happened but not in the 80's
Manish was also designing this characters look
I think close remains special though today everything is very basic and very real
the glamour is more on the red carpet
it is yet that special, women are all treated specially in our industry and
there is respect, regard, love and faith
so now recently period dramas have gained lot of popularity
even bridal attires are getting attached by this period dramas
do you see yourself doing movies like that in future
socially we have been glamour, I mean Takht is the film I am doing with Karan JOhar
which is based in Mugal period , have fabulous lot of work on it and great costumes Already which we tried on actors and all of that
you are saying you are working with Karan in Takth so does he like give you any
say okay I have this particular vision in mind and I want to work around it or do you have like creative liberty when it comes to him
it's not about Karan but even otherwise like I mentioned even actress and director say that I am only so interested
like I am doing Anand Rai's Atrangi, for Sara Ali Khan and
I just finished Collie No 1 as well with her
they also know let's take special to Manish because he is so interested
that is what happens I get involved more,
some work, some don't work but I put in my efforts
lastly I know it is very cliche question that a lot of fashion designer are being asked
but what are your thoughts about Diet Shabya
but I just wanted to ask it
well I don't really follow the page and all of that
the only thing I have understood about that page is cashing on my popularity and following on social media
they un neccessarily do write about me quite often
I think great because I get them some views and it's fine, I smile at it
when I hear of it I don't really follow it , neiher my office I don't realy get into it
okay, it was great talking to you Manish
and Congratulations on completing 30 years in the industry
thank you so much, and many more to come
on that positive note, we like to conclude this Thank you