New Delhi: Pakistan had its ‘fashion moment’ at the most talked about event in India—the extravaganza that was Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani’s wedding. From Bollywood actors like Alia Bhatt, Sara Ali Khan, and Kiara Advani to cricketer Hardik Pandya and singer AP Dhillon, many Indian celebrities turned to well-known Pakistani fashion designers for the wedding of the year.
Faraz Manan’s lehengas like the black with intricate silver work worn by Bhatt, the embellished glittery gown by Advani, and Pandya’s white sherwani with an embroidered jacket, were the talk of the town in Pakistan. The creations of other Pakistani celebrity designers like Iqbal Hussain and Mohsin Naveed Ranjha were also a huge hit. Sequins, diamantes, crystal and embellishments were the order of the day.
Pakistani fashion designers have increasingly been making their mark on the world stage and become hugely popular among Bollywood stars. But this cross-border love is not new, says renowned designer Mohsin Naveed Ranjha.
“You know, people find attachments [across the border] in many ways…People who live in India or Pakistan have relatives or forefathers [on the other side] so there’s still that connection,” Ranjha told Arab News in an interview this year. “It’s a beautiful thing.”
Designer celebrities
Faraz Manan, whom a Times of India article described as “Pakistan’s reply to India’s Manish Malhotra”, was by far the more popular designer at the wedding. Outfits by the UAE-based designer, whose calls Kareena Kapoor Khan his “muse”, were worn by Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Shloka Mehta among other famous guests.
For Pakistanis, it was “Faraz Manan all over the wedding” as one X user pointed out. Manan, dubbed by Vogue India as “Bollywood’s new favourite designer” in 2022, also designed Mahira Khan’s ivory wedding lehenga.
“Her [Kareena’s] sister Karisma became the face of the brand when I first started and through her, Kareena and I met and hit it off. It was an instant friendship, she’s beautiful inside out and has a real zest for life. Over the years, we have grown very close and that’s how organically she has become my muse,” the designer said in an interview with Vogue India.
Besides fans on social media, Pakistani media, including The News, The Express Tribune and Geo News, took note of the country’s presence at the Ambani wedding.
Actor Sara Ali Khan wore an olive green anarkali outfit by Pakistani designer Iqbal Hussain for the ‘Shubh Vivah’ ceremony and a golden lehenga, also by Hussain, for the ‘Shubh Aashirwad’ event.
While the dresses were appreciated across borders, for Hussain, Bollywood celebrities donning his dresses is not the main draw. In a 2023 interview, the stylist had talked about how his focus was ‘the women of Pakistan’.
“It is a mark of progress; these artists and stylists are working internationally, and it humbles me that they have reached out. But I am not jumping the gun. My main focus is to mark my brand’s presence and [make] my client base stronger in Pakistan. It is for the women of Pakistan by the craftsmen of Pakistan.” Hussain said.
Many Pakistanis were quick to note how Sara Ali Khan, who wore Hussain’s creations twice, did not credit him in social media posts.
“Seen your past posts where you’ve tagged the designer, really don’t understand why you’d just tag the stylist in this one. Whether he is from Pakistan or Japan, that’s his hard work and design. Give credit where it’s due,” said an Instagram user.
(Edited by Prashant)