Bhanu Athaiya: A pictorial tribute to the Oscar-winning costume designer

Oscar-winning costume designer Bhanu Athaiya passed away in Mumbai at the age of 91 on October 15. She had a marvelous career spanning five decades during which she designed costumes for at least 100 films. (Photo: Express Archive)

She was the first Indian costume designer to have won an Oscar. (Photo: Express Archive)

The designer won the Oscar for the 1982 film, Gandhi. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

The famed costume designer also worked for films such as Razia Sultan, Raat Aur Din, Shikar, Ajooba and 1942 – A Love Story among others. (Photo: Express Archive)

In an earlier interview with The Indian Express, she had shared, “For me, it (working for cinema) became a way to express myself and let my imagination soar. It was so fulfilling that I did not feel the need to do anything else, like opening a boutique. Top stars started approaching me on their own and recommending me to filmmakers. Nargis loved my designs.” (Photo: Express Archive)

In 2012, she had, however, returned her Oscar to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to be kept safely. (Photo: Express Archive)

She also worked in international films such as a German short film, The Cloud Door, and Krishna Shah’s Indo-American production, Shalimar. (Photo: Express Archive)

In her memoir, The Art Of Costume Design, Athaiya mentioned how she was the only Indian among the heads of department on the film, Gandhi. (Photo: Express Archive)

Athaiya’s daughter Radhika Gupta told PTI, “She passed away early this morning." (Photo: Express Archive)