Ritu Kumar brings royalty on ramp with Sharmila, Soha

NEW DELHI - Celebrated designer Ritu Kumar brought royalty on the ramp as yesteryears’ heroine Sharmila Tagore and her actress daughter Soha Ali Khan walked as showstoppers for her couture line.

As the melodious song “Chap tilak sab cheeni” played in the background, the mother-daughter duo looked stunning as they sashayed down the ramp hand-in-hand with royal panache in similar outfits.

Both looked resplendent in baby pink and blue ghagras and long cholis at the Taj Palace Hotel here Friday night.

“It is such an honour to walk for someone like Ritu Kumar. I have been a huge fan of hers as she makes such beautiful clothes. The classic tradition, gota work, the shararas she has styled is so romantic and flattering,” said Soha.

Sharmila added: “Ritu is the powerhouse of fashion. She is the one who started it all. I have known her from the time we were in Kolkata. I have so much respect for whatever she does.”

Titled ‘The Falaknuma Collection’, it is a tribute to the Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad (restored by the Taj Group of Hotels). The collection highlighted the craftsmanship of Hyderabad.

“This is not the collection that you do something for the fashion week. It is something that is almost historic. It is something to do with cultural curiosity in textiles and in all phases of art and craft. I think it is very important to resurrect the Indian craft,” Ritu Kumar told IANS.

With rich metallic effects and intrinsic weaving and heavy embellishments, the clothes inspired by royalty were the highlight of the show. The line had on display saris, ghagra-cholis, shararas and lehengas. The colour palate ranged from cream, beige, golden silver and black to bright colours like orange and yellow.

The collection also encompassed the informal sartorial attire of nomadic India.