Designer duo Shantanu & Nikhil, who have dressed the likes of Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Sania Mirza among others, say they find their muse in people who believe in themselves and not necessarily a Bollywood biggie.
"We love working with people who have the reality in place. Like last time, it was Radhika Apte who walked for us- a person who was a migrant, a traveler coming from a different place and owning the space because she believes in herself. People who believe in themselves are our muses. Whether they are actors, industrialists, artists or poets or even sportsmen," said Nikhil Mehra in an exclusive interaction with News18.com.
"I think India is maturing to understand what is talent and what is stardom. So to see Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Rajkummar Rao to be not stars but actors means that our country is now maturing. And I think these are the people who set the ramp on fire because there's a truth to who they are. Not that stars don't have a truth, but for the collections that we do, which are relevant to society today, we love working with people who bring that energy of reality," he explained on the sidelines of Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2018.
Nikhil also appreciates Bollywood celebrities' fashion evolution and says it's good they have professional stylists now, noting, "They know what they are doing. Their stylists and them are interacting. Before they didn't have stylists to fend for themselves and it was sad because not everyone knows what to wear. They know how to act, but not necessary what to wear. I'm glad a new industry has started, it' a good space."
For their latest collection, Tribe - The India Story, the duo chose Saif Ali Khan as the showstopper, who made a grand entry on the runway in an asymmetrical high-neck kurta and trousers. "We're focusing on millennials moving in from small towns to big towns, big towns to small towns, rediscovering themselves and rediscovering India. And also in today's day and age, how civilians are taking the country forward. It's almost like the armed forces has passed the baton on to the civilians. The young modern millennial are taking the India torch forward. And this collection is an ode to them," said Nikhil.
"It's the next chapter to The Regiment which is what we did the last season. And we're now giving the forces, the civilian forces, the power to continue working for the country and also making the individual style for the country. It is the call of the hour that the Indians today get recognized for their abilities across the world," he added.
The final showcase was inspired by the multi-tribal shades of Rajasthan and was an amalgamation of monochromatic themes and androgynous outfits.
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