The Most Fashionable Bollywood Actresses Of 2015
2015. Five movies. Five actresses. Five looks.
Indian cinema has always been fashion conscious but modern films are highly stylised and much thought and effort goes into aesthetic appeal, sometimes at the cost of a plot. 2015 too was no different. Most starlets were on point at least when it came to fashion, but these five divas were the ones that proved to be game changers of sorts.
SONAM KAPOOR (DOLLY KI DOLI)
Kapoor may be much maligned for her roles but across the industry and beyond she is known as a style icon. Both Western and Eastern designers clamour to clothe her. 2015 saw the release of Dolly Ki Doli - a great romcom with a twist, which revolved essentially around Sonam's character, that of a bride with many bridegrooms. Dolly has her pick of wedding jodas, sarees, lehengas, western gear, even an old school gharara popularised in the 70s, and unsurprisingly, Kapoor nails them all with aplomb.
KANGANA RANAUT (TANU WEDS MANU RETURNS)
Kangana in all her ethnic chic in Tanu Weds Manu Returns
Weddings seemed to be a recurring theme this year at least on celluloid, the most prominent of them being Tanu Weds Manu Returns, which sees a straight forward hero (played with earnestness by Madhavan) who already has his heroine (Kangana Ranaut) who turns out to be something of a harridan, with love ultimately turning sour.
Ranaut has really developed over the past decade. Once considered a niche actress slotted mostly in damaged bad girl parts, the actress has come into her own in the past couple of years. Her style too has evolved, as evident in this film which sees her playing a double role, where she dons mostly traditional punjabi salwar kameez suits, each one completely covetable and utterly wearable. It helps that Ranaut's slender frame is the perfect foil to all that ethnic gear.
ANUSHKA SHARMA (BOMBAY VELVET)
Anushka in all her 60s finery in Bombay Velvet
In a complete turnaround Anurag Kashyap's much vaunted release Bombay Velvet saw Anushka Sharma transform into a sixties club singer. Finger waves, beehives, beaded drop waists, elegant elongated lines evocative of early Chanel totally captured the era - this was full on glamour! Funky shades, sleek hair and Capri pants, in some scenes Rosie thoroughly channelled Audrey Hepburn - now that's a look that totally deserves a place in this coveted countdown!
PRIYANKA CHOPRA (DIL DHADAKNE DO)
Praying goes Vogue in Dil Dhadakne Do
Although many films try, many fail in the style stakes. Not quite the case with Dil Dhadakne Do – a movie so highly stylised it may as well have been a Vogue shoot!
Chopra as Ayesha Mehra, stole the whole film style wise which is saying something when she had uber-fashion maven Ranveer Singh and the eternally cool Anil Kapoor as co-stars. Nothing was left to chance, for a film set atop a Mediterranean cruise ship which sees Chopra's character decked (no pun intended!) out fully in the latest catwalk looks. Palazzo pants in pastels, wide brimmed sun hats, polka dotted halter neck stacked heel platform sandals, what I wouldn't do to have that wardrobe budget. PC's look in the film unequivocally reminded me of a young Zeenat Aman – she oozed class, style and finesse, qualities that no matter how much money you have, you just cannot buy!
DEEPIKA PADUKONE (TAMASHA)
Deepika looked captivating in Tamasha
The final style file entrant in this list, obviously, is Deepika Padukone, for her look in Tamasha.
In the film's first scene, Padukone's character, Tara is introduced to us as being highly irate and frustrated having had her bag stolen. Even with her hair disheveled and in espadrilles Padukone simply captivates. Imagine yourself ladies, in her holiday wardrobe of crop tops and spaghetti strap summer dresses. I so imagined myself on a Mediterranean beach in those denim cut offs, or perhaps sat on a mountainside in that crochet number.
The days when Bollywood was behind in the fashion charts are clearly gone. Now, movie stylists are at the forefront and as befits an international audience the looks are cultivated for an ethnically diverse market.
These were our favourites – Pick your favourites from this year, and let us know who they were in the comments below!
Columnist Brooke, lists her favourite films of 2015.