A Perfect Fit

Work simply never seems to stop for the fashion designer and artist. A self-confessed workaholic,we gather that Mahmood will be lost if she is not occupied. “With so much on my platter,I am taking this season of Lakme India Fashion Week off. I have been working continuously for the last two years,including all Sundays. I want to take a break from the rat race,” says the designer,who has also been selected for the India leg of the Absolut Art Tour,along with artist Subodh Gupta. In the meantime,UTV Bindass has also picked her up — as part of a team of five designers — to give their brand new show for the youth,Meri Toh Lag Gayee… Naukri,a customised and stylised look.

Inspired by everyday objects,like a cup of tea and matchboxes,Mahmood continues to sketch on a notepad,even as actor Ayaz Ahmed talks about the new show on UTV Bindass,which kicks off on March 20. “Well,the dot-spacing is pun intended,” says Ahmed,who plays one of the five characters on the show that is the first daily fiction for the youth,from the Bindass stable.

Set in a television production house called Jhakaas Productions,the show focuses on the life of five newbies and their three bosses. “It’s our first job and we really mess with the bosses,” laughs the actor. While Ahmed plays the cool dude who doesn’t want to work and pulls every prank in the book to escape the situation,the other four can be categorised as a nerd,a fashionista,a Miss-Goody-Two-Shoes and a true-blue Delhiite. All the five characters have been stylised by five different designers,who have showcased their works in fashion weeks. “The designers — siblings Saba and Arslan Shah,Rehane,Amalraj Sengupta and Mahmood — help create a distinct look for each character. What we wear also reflects our personality,” says Ahmed.

Back to where she started from,menswear,Mahmood is excited about dressing up Ahmed’s character,Ayan Walia. “He is a fun-loving,casual character and I’ve rolled out a line of tees with quirky one-liners on them. They are colloquial,tongue-in-cheek and colourful,” she explains. She cites instances: ‘I don’t have an attitude problem,you have a perception problem’,‘Coolie No 420’,‘Jo Dar Gaya So Mar Gaya’ and ‘Angry Young Man’,inspired from Amitabh Bachchan. “This is an exclusive line of tees,scarves,shoes,bags and accessories,with my signature style in each item,” she says,confessing that dressing up men is always a challenge. Produced by Deeya and Tony Singh,this show will have its light moments,promises the actor: “We’ll have spoofs on reality shows,like Pyaar Pe Atyachaar,” says he.