Man of the Moment

But more important was the theme — the completion of 100 years of Indian cinema. Given that Malhotra started his career as a stylist and costume designer before venturing out as a couturier,it was perhaps an easy task for him to mark the film industry’s milestone with his love for fashion. “The first film that I worked on was the Juhi Chawla-starrer Swarg (1990). It has been a 23-year-old whirlwind journey in Bollywood since then,and it seemed only fair that I thank the industry for all it has given me,” says Malhotra.

The collection reflected the evolution of Bollywood dressing through the decades,with chikankari and Kashmiri embroidery accentuating his designs. Starting with a black-and-white collection that was a throwback to the ’30s,the collection moved on to anarkalis and fitted salwars of the ’60s,breezy polka-dotted silhouettes of the ’70s and the flower power of the ’80s. He ended the show with an emphasis on disco bling of the late ’80s and ’90s casual chic — the latter being something that he had helped bring alive through his styling and costume design.

Not many know that the 47-year-old started out as a model and stylist for photo shoots with photographer Rakesh Shrestha. This was back in the late ’80s when Malhotra — who comes from a non-filmy Punjabi background — was working at a store called Equinox in Mumbai. “I was an enthusiastic sales boy who loved sketching on my notepad and I would often assist Rakesh (Shrestha). I was so fascinated by movies that I always wanted to be a part of the industry and bring in some change through my work. By the early ’90s,I knew my interest lay in costume design,” he recollects. With Rangeela in 1995,Malhotra made his presence felt and then there was no looking back. In fact,his signature label has attracted loyalists from Bollywood and the glamour set in just seven years of existence.

Ask him if he plans to imitate the business models of other successful fashion designers by branching out into pret,as also interiors and accessory design,and Malhotra replies that thanks to his Bollywood and fashion commitments (he is opening five stores this year,including one in Mumbai and Delhi each),he doesn’t have time for much else. Of course,he’s never tired of styling — even after having 1,000 films to his credit. “Every movie is a challenge,” he says,adding that he hasn’t had the time to focus on his directorial debut either.

And does he have any regrets? Malhotra isn’t quite sure how to answer that one. “I am a very limited person. Be it introducing the concept of the showstopper or travelling abroad to source for films — the two things I know are films and fashion. In these relentless pursuits,I may have lost out on a private life — having a marriage or kids. But then again,you never know what the future brings. Right now,these two Fs rule my life,” he says.