Going casual "suits" the stars
Casual, in-your-face and keeping it real is the latest trend in Bollywood, and needless to say, it’s high time! The so-called “younger generation” is all about being legit, easy breezy and displaying a no-fuss attitude that speaks spontaneous, impulsive and unconcerned. Which is not to say that they don’t reserve the right to be standoffish, distant and withdrawn; it’s just that they exude an informal, unconstrained and relaxed disposition with an air of honesty and authenticity.
This substantial shift in demeanour has resulted in a tangible association with their fan base, something celebrities from decades past, even in the 90s, could never create, as they always preferred being glorified, magnified and almost eulogised. Now whether it is about their style, their relationships, their families, their hits and misses, their brawls or even their lifestyle — the era of pretence, camouflage and entourage is done and over with.
Take for example the latest celebrity relationships making headlines today — cricketer Virat Kohli and actress Anushka Sharma or actors Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif — both couples are casual and candid about their relationships. They don’t feel the need to justify, deny or confess to anything; neither do they indulge in clandestine meetings nor do they make an overt display of their respective relationships. This trend could be credited to actors Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan, but more Kareena than Saif. The star was honest and unapologetic about her life and felt no need to hide anything from anyone. Deepika Padukone too has been frank, outspoken and straightforward about her relationships, be it Ranbir Kapoor or Siddharth Mallya. Gone are the days when stars used to make a fuss and hue and cry about their personal lives, or cry foul if anything ever came out in the open. Now, the have a devil-may-care attitude that is refreshingly honest and also appreciated by most.
Not only are they above board when it comes to their personal lives, but they are sincere and frank when it comes to their kids and family lives. Take Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan, the duo are spotted with their kids everywhere and anywhere — on holidays, at stadiums, at the airport or at events. Malaika and Arbaaz Khan and even ex-couple Sussanne Khan and Hrithik Roshan used to be seen with their brood all over the place. Much of this can be attributed to Hollywood celebrity couples like Brad Pitt-Angelina Jolie and Victoria and David Beckham along with Katie Holmes who have made it rather fashionable to be seen with their little ones. Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao are often spotted playing with their kids and even Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan who were very protective about their daughter Aradhya, are often spotted with their baby in their arms.
Celebrities from Tinseltown have also figured out that turning up dressed to the nines, at all hours and at all occasions, is not the best bet when trying to be à la mode. Younger stars are aware that there is a place, time and dress code for every occasion and certainly the airport isn’t the red carpet.
Anushka Sharma, Katrina Kaif, Deepika Padukone, the Khan tribe (all of them), the Kapoor clan and even names like Shahid Kapoor, Shruti Hassan, Shraddha Kapoor, all keep it simple and comfortable. Even Big B prefers his track pants. They dress to impress when they have to and they dress first for themselves and then for their fans. This is a far cry from the garish stars from the 80s and 90s who looked like they came straight out of a Halloween party and were scary with the amount cake on their face. Nowadays minimal make-up, au natural style, dressed down and chic is the mantra. This is not to say that Bollywood’s leading fashionistas like Kangana Ranaut and Sonam Kapoor are going to hang up their stilettos anytime soon, but even they know when to keep it on the down low and when to up their game.
From the looks of it, Bollywood is getting a serious reality check and celebrities like Aamir Khan are leading the way by ditching their entourage in exchange for real time narratives.