Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Dressing up the ladies of 'Laaga Chunari Mein Daag'


The onus of designing the look of the three female characters in Laaga Chunari Mein Daag fell on the reliable shoulders of Kolkata-based designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee .

In a short time, Sabyasachi has risen to a respectable position in fashion fraternity. His designs appeal to both Indians and westerners alike. That is why he recently caught many eyeballs with his creations at London Fashion Week and in fashion shows in New York.




But when it comes to designing for Bollywood films, Sabyasachi cannot boast of a great experience. He says he does films only for fun. But even in that ‘fun’ he ends up giving a credible and convincing look to the actors.

Sabyasachi is the main designer of the look of the female actors of this Friday’s release ‘Laaga Chunari Mein Daag’. He is responsible for giving the small-town lady look to Rani Mukherjee , Konkona Sen Sharma and Jaya Bachchan .

Since the film’s first half shows the two daughters (Rani, Konkona) and their mother (Jaya Bachchan) living in Benaras, Sabyasachi drew influences from the dressing styles and customs of the people in that town.

He picked up colorful suits, salwars and kurtas for both Rani and Konkona, while he chose cotton saris for Mrs. Bachchan.

In the second half of the film, when Rani Mukherjee moves to city and is compelled by circumstances to adopt immoral ways to earn money, she is given a very glamourous, trendy and stylish look. Sabyasachi chose chic bustier, T-shirts and designer clothes for Rani. In accessories, Rani was given classy bags, bangles, necklaces and stilettos.

However, for Konkona Sen’s modern look, designer Manish Malhotra was roped in.

Apart from Sabyasachi and Manish, designers Subarna Ray Chaudhuri and Shiraz Siddique have also designed the look of other characters.

‘Laaga Chunari Mein Daag’ also stars Abhishek Bachchan , Kunal Kapoor and Anupam Kher . The film will hit the theatres on October 12.

Rani Biography

Member of the same illustrious film family from which Kajol draws her lineage Rani Mukherjee may still be at a distance from the citadel that houses her cousin. But there is no doubt about the light-eyed Bengali girl's mass appeal. Moreover, she is putting all her efforts and working hard to reach there.

Precocious yet innocently oblivious of it, it is the actress's unassuming self which draw friends and well-wishers to her.

Producers made a beeline for Rani's door (she was riding high on the success of Ghulam and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai) and just as she was gradually shifting positions towards the top in the popularity charts, she started getting the jolts. Good nature did not really help Rani in gaining stronghold and consolidating her position in Mumbai.

Films like Baadal cast a shadow on her prospects. The film left theatres in India without a whimper. Hope was alive in the form of Hadh Kar Di Aapne, which was in the pipeline. Rani had faith in Govinda and David Dhawan's saleability at the box office. Unfortunately, the film failed to raise a laugh and the cash boxes did not ring.

Rani tried to remain unfazed. She was looking towards the future and Hey Ram. As an actress, Rani was proud to be associated with an actor-director of Kamal Haasan's caliber and was thrilled to have Hey Ram in her lap. Even Hey Ram did not propel her career to the extent she had expected. There wasn't any critical appreciation of her performance in the film. Infact, Rani's fans became aloof when they saw their favorite actress locked in a passionate kiss in the film.

The actress does not regret though. ''I wanted to work with Mr. Kamal Haasan. The rest did not matter'' she said in an interview some time ago.

Rani still is excited about the projects that are lined up as her next films. A series of unsuccessful runs have not dampened the giggly self. She continues to be sprightly.

Rani Mukherjee Filmography















Laaga Chunari Mein Daag ( Rani Mukherjee, Konkona Sen Sharma, Abhishek Bachchan, Kunal Kapoor, Jaya Bachchan, Anupam Kher)
Tara Rum Pum ( Saif Ali Khan, Rani Mukherjee)
Baabul ( Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Salman Khan, Rani Mukherjee, John Abraham, Om Puri)
Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna ( Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukherjee, Preity Zinta, Abhishek Bachchan, Arjun Rampal, Kiron Kher)
Paheli ( Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukherjee, Juhi Chawla, Amitabh Bachchan, Sunil Shetty, Anupam Kher)
The Rising ( Aamir Khan, Toby Stephens, Amisha Patel, Rani Mukherjee, Coral Beed)
Bunty Aur Babli ( Abhishek Bachchan, Rani Mukherjee, Amitabh Bachchan)
Black ( Amitabh Bachchan, Rani Mukherjee)
Veer Zaara ( Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, Rani Mukherjee)
Yuva ( Ajay Devgan, Abhishek Bachchan, Vivek Oberoi, Rani Mukherjee, Esha Deol, Kareena Kapoor)
Hum Tum ( Saif Ali Khan, Rani Mukherjee)
Calcutta Mail ( Anil Kapoor, Rani Mukherjee)
Chalte Chalte ( Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukherjee)
Saathiya ( Vivek Oberoi, Rani Mukherjee)
Mujhse Dosti Karoge ( Hrithik Roshan, Rani Mukherjee, Kareena Kapoor)
Chori Chori ( Ajay Devgan, Rani Mukherjee)
Pyaar Diwana Hota Hai ( Govinda, Rani Mukherjee)
Badal ( Bobby Deol, Rani Mukherjee, Amrish Puri)
Nayak ( Anil Kapoor, Amrish Puri, Rani Mukherjee)
Bas Itna Sa Khwab Hai ( Abhishek Bachchan, Rani Mukherjee, Jackie Shroff, Sushmita Sen)
Chori Chori Chupke Chupke ( Salman Khan, Rani Mukherjee, Preity Zinta, Johnny Lever)
Kahin Pyar Na Ho Jaye ( Salman Khan, Rani Mukherjee)
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai ( Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Rani Mukherjee, Salman Khan)
Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega ( Salman Khan, Rani Mukherjee, Preity Zinta)
Hey Ram ( Kamal Haasan, Rani Mukherjee, Shah Rukh Khan, Naseeruddin Shah)
Hey Ram ( Kamal Haasan, Rani Mukherjee, Shah Rukh Khan, Naseeruddin Shah)
Hello Brother ( Salman Khan, Rani Mukherjee, Arbaaz Khan)
Had Kar Di Apne ( Govinda, Rani Mukherjee)
Bichhoo ( Bobby Deol, Rani Mukherjee)