Seems the tryst with the retro feel and ’70s look in Bollywood continues with Anurag Basu’s upcoming flick BARFI! Set in the 1970’s the director and costumer designers really studied the costumes and worked hard to make sure the costumes in Barfi! fit with the era, but also keeping in mind who the characters are. The director wanted Ileana D’Cruz to look like a small-town girl from Darjeeling and so keeping the essence of her character in mind, they designed her costumes accordingly.
Says the costume designer Shefalina Gupta, “The idea of ’70s fashion is rigid, with big collars, bright prints, tight bellbottoms and, of course, polka dots. Ileana’s character, Shruti, however, is an innocent, sheltered girl from Darjeeling. Anurag wanted practical clothes for the character. Since Shruti stays in Darjeeling, she has to look like a small-town girl. So post marriage, she doesn’t wear chiffon, but Dhaka saris.”
Co-producer Rucha Pathak adds, “The character was supposed to be inspired by Jaya Bachchan’s look in Mili (1975) and Guddi (1961). Our strategy was not to have the clothes stand out. Anurag wanted the focus to be on the emotions rather than the fashion.”
Also starring Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra, BARFI! releases on Septembe 14, 2012.
