Fashion Speak

Pratiksha Arora

Kuch Kuch Hota Hai drove the fashionistas crazy.

Donna Karan bodysuits, Gabbana formals and lace saris became the order of the day.

Here's a peek into the style file of director Karan Johar's latest magnum opus.

The army behind the scenes reads thus: Manish Malhotra, Shabina Khan, Rocky S. Add the wizard of make-up, Mickey Contractor and Karan Johar with his designer sensibilities.

Three months before shooting, the director drove his designers round the bend. The budget was huge as it stretched to shopping jaunts in the US, London, Milan and closer home New Delhi and the designers' studios.

Fittings, trials and many changes later, here's the look defining the six stars:

Amitabh Bachchan

The look: Stern father. Wealthy industrialist. Very upper crust.

The feel: Rich. Bandhgalas, a lot of jamewar shawls, a couple of three-piece suits designed by Manish Malhotra, where he embellishes black suits with Swarovski crystals and self-embroidery. Roll-down Prada sweaters for the warmer, casual moments.

The designer says: It's very exciting working with Amitji. He liked one of the Bandhgalas so much, it's now what his wax model at Madame Tussaud's is wearing. (Manish Malhotra)

Jaya Bachchan

The look: Subtle. Sleek. Modern mother. Different from the screen mamas seen before.

The feel: Chiffon saris in solid colours with self-tone embroidery. Matching shawls, elegant jewellery, shoulder-length hair and subtle make-up completes the picture. She was fussy about her blouses and jewellery. The diamond solitaires came from her own personal jewellery box.

The designer says: I am very excited about how the audience will react to her. Personally, I think she was a real sport during all the long hours of trial sessions. (Manish Malhotra)

Shah Rukh Khan

The look: Conservative. Son of a rich father. Suave MBA.

The feel: Suits, suits and more suits. Horizontal zips across the chest, silver buckles add a twist to the conventional ones. The look changes from young colours to conservative greys and blacks as the film progresses. Longer coats especially for the second half sequences in London. He was fussy about the fit of his jeans. Shah Rukh is known to be very particular about it. Also, fussy about his feet. He needs to be shoe happy!

The designer says: The Indian clothes I have designed for Shah Rukh are mind-blowing. Though I went bizarre in the song we shot in Eygpt, I gave him transparent shirts in organza to reflect the romantic mood of the song. Shah Rukh kept telling me, "You are making me look like Salman Khan!" (Shabina Khan)

Kajol

The look: Mature. All woman. Subtle and understated.

The feel: Lajpat Nagar, Chandni Chowk, G K Market, all set the trend for a middle-class Punajbi kudi. Trousers, salwar kameezes and conservative ghagra cholis. Embroidered net dupattas, ghungroos on mojris, bells on dupattas -- the details are mind-boggling! She was very fussy about parandis and wigs. Mickey Contractor whetted the look for Kajol.

The designer says: She is going to look different from anything she has looked before. Nothing over the top unlike her earlier avatars. Here she is the ideal daughter-in-law. (Manish Malhotra)

Hrithik

The look: Mature yet vulnerable. Young, teenybopper yet steeped in the right values. To stand against the mature SRK and the patriarch Amitabh Bachchan and yet hold his own.

The feel: Indian clothes designed by Rocky S. The layered sherwanis and kurtas, the self-tone embroidery.

In the second half, the glam factor is upped as Hrithik sports cut bodysuits, flared jeans, leather and knits. Accessories include coloured sunglasses, waist pouches. And yes, his ultra cool attitude. For the emotional scenes, pista green and lighter colours stand out against SRK's blacks and greys.

Hrithik is very fussy about the way he looks. He wanted tighter knits. But Karan and Rocky refused to give in. He is now said to be very pleased with the whole look.

The designer says: We shopped a lot abroad -- Milan, London... from brands like Versace, Guess, CK, DKNY, Tommy Hilfiger. But no matter where we shopped from, I altered his jeans, his T-shirt sleeves to give him that macho look." (Rocky S)

Kareena Kapoor:

The look: Fashion slave. Glamour doll. Sexy yet funny, the glamorous sibling.

The feel: The trends of the season. Asymmetrical tops, bare backs, trouser slits add to the sporty, sexy and youthful look. Brand names: Dolce and Gabbana, Diesel and Versace. She was fussy about designer Handbags. Nothing but Fendi, Prada and Gucci will do.

The designer says: She has lost oddles of weight to be able to fit into anything. My favourites are the red trousers with slits and crystals, and the asymmetrical teeny-weeny bustiers. (Manish Malhotra)