How Ranveer Singh's fashion reveals he's a true Bollywood rebel

Quick question: What's the similarity between Ranveer Singh and French fashion designer Coco Chanel? No, the mademoiselle didn't harbour a secret wish to sport a moustachio or an eight-pack for that matter. On the other hand, and it may seem like a far shot for some, both these stars have used fashion to subvert the life and times that they have lived in.

As for Ranveer Singh, the man showed up at a recent award function for the "best dressed man" of 2015 wearing what looked like a cross between a magician, a clown and American playboy, Hugh Hefner. In an industry where the growth an actor's success equals a snazzier suit and a higher cocked eyebrow, Ranveer's stunt is a fresh (and jolting) reminder to not take ourselves or the celeb-culture so seriously. His T-shirt quite aptly echoes the prevailing individualistic way of thinking, reading "No F**ks To Give" in bold letters. The 30-year-old hasn't shied away from being a part of the zeitgeist, and he's moving away from the typical "macho man" stereotype that years of Bollywood conditioning has produced. He represents a new generation of men who're comfortable in their skin and fashion choices. From pretty florals to pastel hues, we've seen him sport each look with a cool flair, despite confusing fans and providing critics with ample style fodder. Ranveer is the anti-hero in the lead role, and he's owning his crown by bursting out of the confines of streamlined thinking on the red carpet, entirely on his own terms.

Now every age has displayed a penchant to convert pretty faces into handsome clothes horses. Fashion runways and magazines have fed into the "ideal" look every month, defined the "hippest" and "hottest" styles of the season, and wide-eyed divas have lapped it up like a cat with cream. It should come as no surprise then, that conforming to trends can mean that one is indirectly comfortable with the prevailing social norms. Which is why a red carpet rebellion not only makes for good entertainment but also shakes us out of our daily stupor.

Of course, being a part of structured and organised society can be a great thing - it ensures traffic rules are followed, work gets done efficiently, and that people take their designated seat at fashion weeks. But truth be told, a smart and confident act of subversion is always so exciting, however innocuous it may be.

The strong-headed and immensely attractive Coco Chanel did it in her prime too. With enough flair to knock the socks off every Parisian, she freed women from the constraints of the corset and made them wear the pants instead. At a time when ladies were still sitting pretty under glass ceilings and powdering their noses, Chanel's energetic acts of defiance set the ball rolling in a stronger and more empowered direction.

Similarly, Madonna played with hypersexual clothing and conical bralets in the '90s, pushing mainstream boundaries, and promoting freedom of expression. Lady Gaga followed suit in theatrical costumes to comment on society and celebration sexual orientation. Diane Von Furstenburg's wrap dress symbolised women's liberation in the 1970s, Mary Quant gave direction to 1960s "youthquake" with the miniskirt, and Kim Kardashian has reintroduced curves as being beautiful with her tight fitted dresses and silicone sculpted body.

Publicity stunts and attention-seeking aside, fashion as a means to subvert moral and social order, authority or hierarchy can be a powerful tool when applied with the correct intention and some basic levels of intelligence. Such acts are important from time to time to help us question what society has defined as "correct" and "respectable", and whether we agree with it. Are we stuck in a mental rut? Have we become a tad complacent? These fashion rebels may not always be understood or accepted, but you can bet your Jimmy Choos on it, they have a very exciting role to play in.