Fashion designer Manish Malhotra showcased his latest collection The Persian Story at the FDCI India Couture Week 2016 and actors Deepika Padukone and Fawad Khan turned showstoppers for the collection.
The showcase was held at the Taj Palace, New Delhi on Wednesday, where the suave Pakistani star was welcomed to the ramp by loud cheers from the crowd as he walked in a black kurta and deep maroon palazzo-pyjama and opened the grand show for the designer.
Following Khan, models showcased Malhotra’s collection as they walked to Persian music. The collection saw a wide range of heavily embellished lehengas, off-shoulder gowns, long jackets, anarkalis, sherwanis and sequinned dresses which featured elaborate architectural, floral motifs and check shirts and achkans.
The colour palette included cream, gold, red, indigo, brown, maroon, royal blue and yellow.
The designer tried to recreate the magic of Persia by replicating traditional marble motifs and Persian chandeliers which added to the feel of the event and a small shamiana completed the decor.
Talking about his inspiration, the designer said: “I had Persian Story’s idea in mind for so many years. I love Persian architecture, I like the colour schemes of Persia and the music and that was a concept I had in my mind and that’s how it got generated.”
Padukone, who was chosen to close the show for Malhotra, stunned the audience in a beautiful off-shoulder choli, with intricate gold embroidery and a long-trailed lehenga. The Bajirao Mastani star also wore a polki pearl choker and a hath-phool (traditional hand jewellery) from Hazoorilal by Sandeep Narang.
Malhotra, who has styled celebrities such as Michael Jackson, Reese Witherspoon, Kylie Minogue and Naomi Campbell, said: “I am so thankful to Fawad for being here and dearest Deepika — I know her since she was a model and her first film — it’s a very special moment.”
Padukone, who started her career as model, said the ensemble she donned at the event was the heaviest.
“The last time I walked for him I thought that [outfit] was the heaviest. This is much, much heavier,” she said.
For Khan, who made his Bollywood debut in 2014 with the romantic comedy Khoobsurat, this was his first time on the Indian runway and shared that the experience was “daunting”.
Asked if it was his first time on the ramp in Delhi, Khan said: “In Delhi for the first time? In India for the first time. Obviously [it was] very daunting.”
Bollywood celebrities such as Sophie Choudry, veteran actress Shabana Azmi, designer J.J. Valaya attended the event.
Other names from the Indian fashion fraternity such Anita Dongre, Tarun Tahiliani, Reynu Taandon, Rimple and Harpreet Narula, Rahul Mishra, Anamika Khanna, Varun Bahl, Gaurav Gupta, Manav Gangwani and Rohit Bal will showcase their latest collection at the five-day event, which concludes on July 24.
