“Kriti Sanon is a delight to work with. Her statuesque body and vivid personality make it a total bliss for stylists,” says celebrity stylist Sukriti Grover who has been working with the Panipat actress for a while now.
For Sukriti Grover, it all began with a mini-series. “My first project that I worked on was an American mini-series called Bollywood Hero where I was an Assistant Art Director. After that, I switched to costumes and there was no looking back,” she says.
Her first big project was Yash Raj Films' Dhoom 3 starring Aamir Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Katrina Kaif, and Uday Chopra. Sukriti reveals, “I worked on Dhoom 3 with Anaita Shroff Adajania. We were styling Abhishek Bachchan, Uday Chopra, and Katrina Kaif.”
Anaita Shroff Adajania, Vogue India fashion editor and stylist, has been her mentor in the industry. Speaking of the best advice she received from her, Sukriti reveals, “Take up all work that comes your way and give it your best shot. No job is too big or small.”
One of the stars she works with a lot is Bareilly Ki Barfi star, Kriti Sanon. The actress is known for her sartorial choices and often opts for something that she is comfortable with yet stands out in the crowd. Over the years, along with her film choices, her fashion game as elevated too. Recalling one of her favourite looks she has curated for Kriti, Sukriti says, “One of my most favourite looks was with Kriti Sanon for IIFA Awards 2018 in Bangkok. She was in an eye-catching silver shimmer ball gown from Mark Bumgarner which we accessorized with a pair of shiny Nitya Arora hoop earrings and a bold embellished ring from Outhouse. Instead of pulling the hair back in a classy bun, we decided to do a messy ponytail to keep it young and fun, and the whole look was beautiful.”
But, what goes on behind-the-scenes is very interesting. Sukriti admits that when it comes to styling, the process is very simple – to curate a look that makes her client comfortable in what they are wearing. When asked what her first approach is like, she says, “First thing I understand is the body type, comfort zone, and personality. A celebrity stylist has to have a deep understanding of the star’s sartorial sensibilities, be in-the-know of what’s trending, and be able to translate it into something individualistic. With there being a considerable rise in events in the last five years, one has to constantly work on fresh looks. I go through briefing sessions with clients and my team, to creating mood boards/ideas for the look, juggling to source from Indian and international brands, and several fitting sessions to lock the right look for the right event,” she says.
“Thus, both Kriti and I sit and discuss what kind of look would we like to go for depending on the event whether it should be Femina or grunge or androgynous, accordingly to the vibe, I figure outfits that work best on her body,” she adds.
Another actress Sukriti Grover is known to style is Angrezi Medium star, Radhika Madan. The fans have seen a drastic change in the actress over the years. Moving from Television to movies, her style has evolved a lot, she likes to work with colours and often opt for prints and pattern. She has an outgoing personality that showcases in the way she is styled too. “Radhika Madan is a young talent and a super fun personality. It’s extremely important to understand the artist’s personality and portray their true image through their attire. This bubbly personality comes out through her clothes,” the stylist reveals.
Amongst some of the big names are Indian actors Shruti Haasan and Tamannaah Bhatia who work in both Hindi and South industries. Speaking of Shruti, Sukriti adds, “Shruti Hassan has a Goth and edgy aesthetic and sticks with that when I style her. She isn’t fickle and knows exactly what she wants and that makes it easy for me.”
In the case of Tamannaah, the stylist says the actress is a “conventional beautiful girl with a feminine aesthetic. Also, preppy looks go very well with her personality. She has a formal take on clothing as opposed to casual. Extremely elegant in Indian wear. So I work with that when it comes to her.”
The fashion industry has changed so much in the last decade. If she were to give the best advice staying ahead of the curve, it would be, “To concentrate on conscious and sustainable fashion and be more responsible.”
When asked what kind of fashion moment are we having right now, Sukriti says, “Comfort clothing has become the pandemic fashion trend.”
In this coronavirus pandemic where India is seeing a rise in the cases every day, it seems difficult for many to get back to work. But, the TV and film industries are slowly getting back on feet and many have resumed work already. In this situation, Sukriti says they will adhere to safety regulations. “We will try working with zero contact. All garments and accessories will be sanitized and PPE kits will become a way of life. Definitely going to concentrating on local designers and sustainable fashion,” she concludes.
