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The India Couture Week 2016 started off on a high note on Wednesday with a Manish Malhotra show. The celebrity designer’s couture line was inspired by Persia’s architecture and was labelled ‘A Persian Story’. While the show was opened by Fawad Khan, his debut ramp walk in India, it came to a close with Deepika Padukone’s scintillating turn. The Bajirao Mastani actress stole the show in an off- shoulder choli and embroidered red lehenga, while the Pakistani actor stole the show in a black and maroon ensemble. Deepika’s accessories composed of a polki-pearl choker and a hath-phool from Hazoorilal by Sandeep Narang.A DNA report quotes Manish Malhotra, “The embroidery is very old world and architecturally intricate. It took us three months to complete.”
The Persian story was completed with Persian decor and Persian music in the background. Images on Malhotra’s Instagram account show the behind the scene preparations for the first show. 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 moved from cream, gold, red, indigo, brown maroon, royal blue to yellow. The designer tried to recreate the magic of Persia by replicating the traditional marble motifs, popular Persian chandeliers which added more spunk to the entire feel of the event and a small shamiana (a marquee), which helped the models exitingthe ramp. Talking about his inspiration, the designer told reporters here: “I had Persian Story’s idea in mind for so many years. I love Persian architecture, I like the colour schemes of Persia, music and that was a concept I had in my mind and that’s how it got generated…”
Talking about his showstoppers, Manish, who has styled globally known names like 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." Deepika, who started her career as model, said the ensemble she donned at the event was the heaviest. “The last time I walked for him (Malhotra) I thought that (outfit) was the heaviest. This is much much heavier…,” quipped the actress. Fawad, who made his debut into Hindi cinema in 2014 with the romantic comedy Khoobsurat, shared that the experience was “daunting”. Asked if it was his first time on the ramp in Delhi, Fawad said: “In Delhi for the first time? In India for the first time. Obviously (it was) very daunting…” Bollywood celebrities like Sophie Choudry, veteran actress-socialist Shabana Azmi, deigner JJ Valaya were also at the event. Other names from the Indian fashion fraternity like 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 24 July. With inputs from IANS
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