Vidya Prabhu

At a time when most designers are trying their best to break into the film industry, Ahmedabad-based designer Anuradha Vakil knows exactly what she wants.

“Designing for films wasn’t really on my radar in all these years. So it was a pleasant surprise when I got a call from none other than Sanjay Leela Bhansali,” notes Anuradha, who has designed the look for both the female leads—Rani Mukherji and Sonam Kapoor in Bhansali’s ‘Saawariya’.

In fact, Anuradha didn’t say ‘yes’ right away. “I was a bit apprehensive because as a designer, I’m used to calling the shots. But here was an assignment where I had to let go and instead concentrate on what the character demanded,” she remarks.

But she has always admired Bhansali’s work.

“He’s not just a filmmaker; he’s an artist. The kind of films he makes are not runof-the-mill cinema. So I knew I’d do it,” says Anuradha, who is known for her sans bling ‘arty’ clothes.

Initially, she was even offered to design for all the characters in the film. “But given that I have always designed for women, I chose to play safe and only designed for the female leads,” she reasons.

And of course, working with such established names has been a memorable experience for her. “While Sonam has a keen sense of fashion, Rani has strong opinions, which is not surprising given her years in the industry,” she reveals. Ranbir, on the other hand, is a ‘sweetheart’.

Surprisingly, Anuradha isn’t excited about designing for films. “This was a one-off thing; ‘Saawariya’ is my first and most probably my last film. I don’t think I’m cut out for such a career as it’s very important for the filmmaker to share my sensibilities,” she signs off.