1. When you are not working, what do you do?
When am I not working hmm? I think im always working, even when Im sleeping im also thinking of work.
2. Your favorite holiday destination?
My favorite destination keeps changing. For a very long time, it has been New York and Paris. But if I had to be one place, it would be London.
3. The most memorbale moment in your 25-year year career?
This is the year that I complete 26 years in movies and my label has completed 11 years. My most memorable moment for me was Rangeela, where I received the first ever Filmfare award given to a costume designer.
4. Who do you look upto for advice?
Honestly, that’s my problem. No one.
5. Your quintessential Manish Malhotra muse??
Kareena Kapoor. She’s beautiful and has been one of the most confident brides ive ever dressed.
6. A childhood memory you can't forget?
My fascination for Hindi movies. As a child, I always cried to watch my favorite movies.
7. A piece of advice you would give to the fashion industry?
The whole phase is so out there and its so much easier. Theres social media, you pay a showstopper and she walks for you. Its much easier to get there. In my case, we had to do a lot of work before even getting noticed, but then again its change of time. However, the sustainbilty today is going to be a little more difficult. Because reaching somewhere is a bit more easier, so one has to work hard, focus and keep going on.
8. A perennial trend you can't get enough of?
A nice shimmery sensuous sari. I love saris and the flow that they have in them.
9. If you were not a designer, what would you have been?
A film director.
10. Your wardrobe stape?
A black shirt, that makes me look slimmer and which I always have.
11. If you could take only three things to a deserted island, what would they be?
My phone so I could be in touch with my family and friends, a chef so that I can get good food and my I-pad so that I could catch some movies.
12. Last thing you do before you hit the bed?
Im quite a Youtube fan and Ive started enjoying all the information one gets through the internet. I sometimes catch a movie or a TV show.
13. Other designers you like the work of?
There are a lot of other designers that I like. I think that there are so many, all my seniors from Abu Sandeep Khosla to Rohit Bal and Tarun Tahilani. Their brands are 25 years old as well.
14.The film that was your best work?
I would think the film that was my best work is yet to come. There’s so much more to do.
15. Your style advice for a bride to be?
Everyhting is changing, todays young bride knows what she wants and which designe she would like to be dressed in. Shes alert on social media, from twitter to instgram and snapchat and facebook. I think brides today are much more confident and they know what they want.
16. How excited are you to be on azafahions.com?
I launched my label in 2005 and in 2007, we had our first big promotion in Aza which was a complete breakthrough. It was a completely white collection which I had done for Lakme Fashion Week which was at the NCPA where Kajol had opened the show and Preity Zinta had closed it. That had been one of the most memorobale collections for me because it was not the usual razzmatazz and had a lot more lace and crochet. There was something peculiarly memorable about this collection and it did well at the Aza store as well. This is where my association with Alka and Atul Nishar started and they have wonderful people who are very supportive to me, my work, my brand and it has been a long association since then.
17. Why should everyone look forward to shop this collection from Aza?
Well I think Aza has a very serious and professional approach to their work, very systematic with their work and I always belief in their ideologies because we are tow professionals who understand the essence of what to do and how to do. Their very good with their service and they are there for the client and I think that’s the most important thing.
18. Your take on online shopping websites for Indian designer wear?
I think it’s a great way that e-commerce has grown tremendously and Im so happy that a professional company like Aza is doing it because I think they are going to be great with customer service and will act as true professionals that helps designers to reach out to even more people and places.