Be it Madhubala's Anarkali look in Mughal-e-Azam or Kareena Kapoor's T-shirt-salwar combo in Jab We Met, Bollywood has inspired trends down the ages. Bollywood stars, in addition to influencing audiences through their work on the silver screen, have also turned towards making their presence known in the fashion world.
From reigning actors such as Salman Khan and Deepika Padukone to internationally renowned mogul Karan Johar, numerous Bollywood bigwigs have taken the plunge into making their style accessible to the public through launching their lines.
THE EVOLUTION OF FASHION.
There has been a drastic change from actors sporting flamboyant costumes to trendsetting outfits in movies due to the change in the kind and quality of films that we watch these days. This transformation has, therefore, brought Bollywood and fashion closer than ever before. People can now replicate the looks of their favorite celebrities from numerous movies without any ambiguities. Here are some top looks from Bollywood that influenced fashion at all times.
1. ALIA BHATT IN RADHA SONG.
Alia Bhatt’s pink lehengas in the movie Student of the Year is the perfect example of cute and sexy at the same time. The unique combination of a pink and silver blouse and skirt with an orange-colored chunni creates an excellent contrast.
2. PRIYNAKA CHOPRA GOLD MONOKINI.
Priyanka Chopra still looks so fresh coming out of the water, glistening in that golden yellow bikini—making everyone drool, literally! From the concept of the movie (homosexuality) to the wardrobe of the actors, everything was way ahead of its time, especially considering it was 2008!
3. DEEPIKAS SARRE IN BADTAMEEZ DIL.
Deepika’s blue saree look in the song ‘Badtameez Dil’ became a trendsetter almost immediately after the song released. Who would have thought, a standard monotone chiffon saree could look so atrociously glamorous. The champagne gold border and the shimmering black blouse gave it an edge and added the extra oomph to it.
4. MADHURI DIXIT IN HUM AAPKE HAIN KAUN.
It all started with Madhuri Dixit’s legendary purple saree is where it all began. This was such a unique blend of colors at that time. Also, bright colors were in that era. She looked ravishing while dancing in this gorgeous piece.
5. RANI MUKHERJEE IN BUNTY AUR BUBLY.
Rani Mukherjee began the pop of bright shades Punjabi suits that became a favorite of every fashion faithful girl. The collared Kurti, Patiala pants, were loved and sported by many fashion-conscious girls at weddings, parties, and festivals.
6. DEEPIKA PADUKONE IN COCKTAIL.
Aztec prints and Coachella-esque outfits became the new rage amongst youngsters with the release of this movie. The film, released in 2012, made the actors look way ahead of their time, courtesy: Their Outfits! Remember, Deepika's sequined one-pieces and gorgeous beach waves?
7. SONAM KAPOOR IN AISHA.
Aisha is considered to be India’s first fashion film. Sonam Kapoor, who is also widely known as the fashion queen of the industry, played the lead and looked impeccable in every outfit. Pernia Qureshi, the costume designer, received immense praise for her work and rightly so.
8. KUCH KUCH HOTA HAI.
Polo Tees, GAP sweatshirts, plastic heels, Kajol's bob haircut, cheesy friendship bands, and headbands... all became an instant hit back then! Playing basketball became a thing for 80s kids. This movie revolutionized college fashion.
9. ANUSHKA SHARMA IN AE DIL HAI MUSHKIL.
She is seen flaunting long chikan and thread work kurtas teamed with ripped jeans. The oxidized silver jewelry and thick kohl underneath her eyes complete her look and leave us awestruck. Anushka plays a bubbly Muslim woman from Lucknow and, thus, is styled to seem modern but with a tinge of Mughal to perfectly suit her character.
10. MADHUBALA IN MUGHL -E -AZAM.
This trend smites us, and thanks to Mughal-e-Azam, that brought the magical Anarkali suits to life. Madhubala’s sported the royal Anarkali suit look in the film and looked nothing less than a classic diva. And since then, Anarkali suits have been reserved for weddings, festivals, and celebrations.
11. KABHI KHUSHI KABHI GHAM.
A movie where Karan Johar is involved, cannot have a dull sartorial appeal. Nope, no way! From Kareena's semi backless outfits to her traditional wear, from the grandeur of the locations to fantastic Manish Malhotra designs—this film was one helluva larger-than-life movie.
12. DIL TO PAGAL HAI.
The concept of athleisure started in India with the movie Dil to Pagal Hai. This movie launched the trend of wearing sportswear as daily wear. We also loved some of the streetwear fashion worn by Karishma Kapoor!
13. SRIDEVI IN MR INDIA.
Actresses like Rekha and Sridevi wore plain chiffon saris, fitted churidar suits, and pulled off bright red lipstick with every outfit. She brought an oomph factor in the plain saree, and the whole nation went gaga over her glamorous style. The plain saree trend is still popular in Bollywood, and you can see them in all romantic films of Karan Johar, Aditya Chopra.
14. MUMTAZ SAREE FROM BRAHMACHAREE.
In the film Brahmchari, Mumtaz transformed the saree and brought it to a whole new level. The iconic new style of draping saree in “Aaj Kal Tere mere Naam” song became a sensational hit, and the girls back then were and till date are totally in love with it. The saree easily flaunted the curves and created a mark in the fashion industry.
15. KAREEN AKAPOOR IN JAB WE MET.
Apart from Bebo’s stellar performance, it was Kareena’s stunning fashion sense that grabbed the attention of all. The trend of teaming t-shirt with Patiala pants became the most liked wearing of that time and was appreciated by the college-going girls.
5 BONUS LOOKS
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DENIM SHIRT FROM RANGEELA.
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BELL BOTTOM PANTS FROM HARE RAM HARE KRISHNA.
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POLKA DOTS FROM BOBBY.
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DEEPIKA PADUKONE IN TAMASHA.
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DIL DHADAKNE DO.
CONCLUSION.
Bollywood costumes have evolved to include everything from casual wear to occasion wear, making it easy for women to adopt these fashions into their lives. Bollywood costumes can attribute their fame and fan following not only to the stunning movie stars who wear them but also to the designers and stylists who work tirelessly to put together looks that capture each character’s style while blending seamlessly into the storyline of the movie.