Hats off,shirts off

Films and fashion have been a tag-team even before we were ready to admit it. The influence of cinema and its reach into the consciousness of masses have made anything that comes out of filmdom highly powerful.

While we in fashion have made fun of the tastelessness that cinema promotes,there’s no belying the sour grapes. In fact,never before have more models turned actors in the history of Indian cinema until now. And most designers,even the top-end ones,wish for a star-laden front row or at least one on the runway. In the same way,actors are aching for a nod from the fashion world too. An actor,even if you have the mighty talent of Vidya Balan,isn’t forgiven her sartorial errors. Madhuri Dixit and her triangular tips would have never survived today.

But much before fashion magazines and blogs became the all-in-one destination for that kind of window shopping,we got our styling tips from the eccentric actors of our favourite flicks: like Amitabh Bachchan’s knotted shirts. Fashion in films hasn’t always been an eyesore. Amitabh Bachchan wore delicious safari suits in many films,including Kabhi Kabhi. Neetu Singh’s wardrobe in the same film is a personal favourite. The omni-elegant Simi Garewal’s wardrobe in Karz seemed as if it inspired Fendi itself. Sadhana’s fringe,Waheeda Rahman’s bouffant,Asha Parekh’s body-hug kurtas inspired an entire populace.

There have been several films made recently that have label-pushed to a point of senselessness: Aisha and Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna are two,as is that godawful Sex in the City. None are anywhere close to Madhur Bhandarkar’s Fashion,Ben Stiller’s Zoolander or the Meryl Streep-starrer The Devil Wears Prada.

Salman’s shirtlessness is more than him exhibiting his,well,exhibitionist tendencies. It’s also a slap in the face of pretentious fashion. What Salman says and every true-blue fashionista must agree: real style comes from within. Even if he means it a little too literally.

(namratanow@gmail.com)