SHALEENA NATHANI ON DEEPIKA PADUKONE



Cannes Film Festival

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French Riviera

When styling a celeb I keep their personality in mind, but with Deepika there are no rules. We don’t bind ourselves to a particular style or aim to create what becomes a signature look. I’ve been working with her for so long that we now understand what the other wants without any need for discussion. I’m big on accessories and Deepika loves them too. We shop from across high-street brands and designer labels and she has no preferences. Deepika’s personal style is all about comfort from wearing what she feels confident in. If she doesn’t like an outfit, she is awkward wearing it, no matter how well put-together it is. So, we usually have random trial sessions where we bookmark looks that we like, then, pick and choose from them depending on the outing.When she is on a flight, the outfit has to be functional yet make a style statement. Airport looks are practical with just one striking piece which elevates it without any fuss. For events, we keep it as real as possible because that’s when fans get a glimpse of who she is and we don’t want to project her as a largerthan-life person like the characters she plays on screen. But when it comes to the red carpet, we play around with colours, textures and even silhouettes. When she goes for the, the only brief she gives us is to have fun. Deepika loves experimenting when she’s at festivals and galas.My work is largely dependent on the hair and make-up artists because it is all about the look. So we all work in tandem with each other. We can’t make a canvas of Deepika because she is a person, but we definitely want people to look at her. Our creativity is just an extension of her.As artists ourselves, we have to understand that what we create is up for criticism too. The brickbats don’t bother, either me or Deepika. But when someone doesn’t understand why Deepika opts for slicked-back hair with outfits, they should notice the neckline of the dress or the silhouette. We have to respect an outfit and everything has to revolve around it.Like most of us, Deepika’s style changes according to both trends and personal evolution. Ranveer (husband Ranveer Singh) has a very distinct style of his own, but I have never been asked to plan a look for her to complement his. He has his own style and we wouldn’t want him to change, and vice versa. People point out that Deepika has become more experimental after the wedding, but that’s also because fashion trends are now leaning towards neons, volume and breaking the boundaries.We wanted to do something bigger than the pink dress she had worn at Cannes the previous year and were looking for the ‘wow’factor. With the headgear and bow, that’s what we gotPink is a fresh, playful colour but in denim, it means business. With chunky earrings and stilletos, this look was a fine balance between serious and quirkyWith legs this long, it is difficult to resist putting Deepika in a dress. This one made a statement; the frayed denims were a lot of funBlue and white seems perfect for theand look how Deepika rocks the pin-striped blazer, paired with neon stilts and glaresA pantsuit that’s not just uber cool but also super comfy... perfect for long flights. The boots add to the overall look