Fashion on my Mind

The pristine white interiors of her Juhu home are in sharp contrast to the bright hues and psychedelic prints that Masaba Gupta prefers.

The pristine white interiors of her Juhu home are in sharp contrast to the bright hues and psychedelic prints that Masaba Gupta prefers. White is a favourite with my mom; I love anything thats bright and vibrant. I belong to the Manish Arora league, says this newbie designer,winning us over instantaneously with her black leggings and a wraparound silk top (her own designs,thank you very much). Gupta,still a student of fashion designing at SNDT University,Juhu,makes her debut at the Lakme Fashion Week this season in the GenNext category.

The daughter of the celebrated actress Neena Gupta and West Indies batting legend Vivian Richards,Gupta is certainly proud of her mixed ethnicity. I have got the best of both cultures, she smiles as she summons one of her staff to deliver a consignment to Zoya,a swishy boutique in Bandra. Portraits of her famous mother decorate the living room walls,and her little pug,Luca,interrupts our conversation. Cuddling him,she continues,I will be showing Indian ethnic at the LFW and try to bring forth the lost arts of our country. Sounds more like Ritu Kumar?

Gupta,when growing up,wanted to be an actor. I still do and if I get an opportunity I will act. But I certainly will not do television,because it dishes out loads of crap, she asserts,but places her mothers soap opera Ladies Special on a higher pedestal.

Clearly,Guptas mother has been a source of motivation. My mother wanted me to be a designer. She did not want me to act,sing or dance. Finally her prayers are answered. But for her the defining moment was when she won three awards at SNDT. I knew I had to explore my talent. Thats when I filled the GenNext forms and got selected. My mentors Hemant Trivedi and Wendell Rodricks have also been of great help.

Post LFW,Gupta wants to try her hand at the money-spinning business of bridal wear. There are very few designers who design good bridal wear. I dont want my brides to look like chandelier,I want them to look pretty, she says with a forgivable amount of naïve arrogance.

Is her father happy with her career choice? He was extremely proud of me when I told him about the fashion week. He has also told me he would try to be there for the show, she smiles,but admits that sitting through a 50-over cricket match bores her.

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