This summer, wear what 'Bunty Aur Babli' do

Mumbai, June 5 (IANS) This summer, wear what Bunty and Babli do - eclectic, bordering on eccentric, colourful kurtis teamed with baggy, equally colourful pyjamas and cloth bags for women, and fitted sleeveless shirts and denims.

Created by young designer Aki Narula, who is known for his colourful splashes, the clothes of the film "Bunty Aur Babli" have defined hip street style this season - in mass copying that is the ultimate tribute to successful clothing in India.

The corner shops and bazaars of Mumbai are filling with look-alikes of the kurtis and pyjamas, in bright greens, yellows, that Babli in the film cuts out of her Sikh father's oversized tunics.

The duo of Bunty and Babli, played by Abhishek Bachchan and Rani Mukherji, wear almost close to 100 ensembles during their capers in the film, constantly changing their look as they move from con job to con job.

Each look, apart from the obviously disguised ones like those of a priest, has a distinct ultra chic appeal, from the fitted trousers and jackets of Abhishek to the slinky gowns and swishy skirts of Rani.

"We are getting a lot of 'Bunty Aur Babli' customers," clothes shop owner Imran Hashmi told IANS. "The clothes from that film are a huge hit and lots of people want the same look."

Popular fashion in India, as elsewhere, is determined by how quickly cheaper versions of attires donned in hit films percolate to the street, right from Aamir Khan's sailor cap in "Dil Hai Ki Maanta Nahin" to Shah Rukh Khan's leather jacket in "Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge".

Actors like John Abraham, in recent times, have made the white sleeveless vest a unique style statement and Shah Rukh has been an enduring ambassador for all things black. "Dil Chahta Hai" almost introduced loungewear and spiky hair cuts in India, "Lakshya" did wonders for the gypsy skirt and "Main Hoon Na" gave a huge boost to the grunge appeal.

"The look is increasingly important for each film," said Narula. "There has to be something fresh each time."

That's exactly what has happened to "Bunty Aur Babli" - it has ushered in the reign of the single tone, printed collar lining kurti like never before.

"The great thing about the clothes that Rani wears is that they are Indian in a sense of rich colours and yet are very smart and not traditional at all," said public relations student Sneha Kapoor.

The kurtis are available in many more colours than the ochre that Rani sports, as are the jholas that look like a collage of a million fabrics and colours.

So forget the infamous controversy that costumes in the film were plagiarised and revel in the styles of "Bunty Aur Babli".

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Bunty Aur Babli