Indian cinema has always known how to make an entrance. Some looks came with a hat, some with a scarf, and one came with a cape the size of a curtain. These outfits and hairstyles left the screen and walked straight into everyday life. Here are 15 Indian movie looks that shaped the way people dress, dance and even pose for photos.
1. Raj Kapoor’s Tramp in ‘Shree 420’ (1955)
Raj Kapoor borrowed the baggy trousers, tight coat and bowler hat from Charlie Chaplin. Then he gave the look an Indian heart. The result was the lovable street hero of ‘Shree 420.’
His films were huge outside India too. ‘Awara’ in 1951 was a big hit in the Soviet Union and China. The tramp look travelled with it.
2. Dev Anand’s Quiff and Scarf (1950s and 60s)
Dev Anand had a puffed up quiff, a tilted head and a neck scarf that never sat quite straight. It looked effortless, and that was the point.
Young men across the country copied him. His fast talk and swaying walk were part of the package. Films like ‘Guide’ in 1965 made him a style hero for a whole generation.
3. Madhubala’s Anarkali in ‘Mughal-e-Azam’ (1960)
K. Asif’s epic took years to make. Madhubala played Anarkali in dazzling court costumes. The Sheesh Mahal song scene, shot in a hall of mirrors, is still a legend.
The Anarkali suit is now a wardrobe staple. You will find it at weddings and festivals even today. The film got a colourised re-release in 2004 too.
4. The Sadhana Cut in ‘Love in Simla’ (1960)
Sadhana had a high forehead, so she wore a straight fringe on it. The look was said to be inspired by Audrey Hepburn.
Girls rushed to copy it. The style became known as the Sadhana cut. She later helped popularise the churidar kurta in ‘Waqt’ in 1965.
5. Rajesh Khanna’s Guru Kurta (1970s)
Rajesh Khanna was India’s first true superstar. He delivered a string of solo hits in the late 60s and early 70s. Fans went wild for him.
His loose, collarless kurtas, worn in films like ‘Anand’ in 1971, became a craze. Tailors across towns got orders for the ‘guru kurta.’ It was comfy, cool and instantly recognisable.
6. Amitabh Bachchan’s Coolie Uniform in ‘Deewar’ (1975)
Amitabh Bachchan’s angry young man arrived with ‘Zanjeer’ in 1973. But the coolie look in ‘Deewar’ took it to another level.
He wore a plain khaki uniform with a brass badge numbered 786. The film was written by Salim-Javed and directed by Yash Chopra. That simple outfit became a symbol of working class rage.
7. Gabbar Singh in ‘Sholay’ (1975)
Villains are rarely this stylish. Amjad Khan’s Gabbar wore army style clothes, a bullet belt and a stubble that looked like it had not seen a razor in weeks.
Danny Denzongpa was the original choice, but Amjad Khan got the role. The film ran for years in Mumbai’s Minerva theatre. Gabbar still shows up in memes today.
8. Mithun’s White Suit in ‘Disco Dancer’ (1982)
Mithun Chakraborty lit up the screen as Jimmy. His shiny white suit and wild dance moves ruled the early 80s. Bappi Lahiri’s music fuelled the craze.
The film was a monster hit in the Soviet Union. It reportedly sold more than 60 million tickets there. Not bad for a sequined jacket.
9. Mogambo in ‘Mr. India’ (1987)
Shekhar Kapur’s film gave us a villain who loved a costume. Amrish Puri’s Mogambo wore a shiny outfit with a huge cape and a dramatic headgear.
Puri was already known abroad. He had played Mola Ram in ‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom’ in 1984. Mogambo is still one of the most copied Bollywood baddies at fancy dress parties.
10. Sridevi’s White Chiffon in ‘Chandni’ (1989)
Yash Chopra’s romance made chiffon saris the dream wardrobe of the late 80s. Sridevi floated through the film in soft white drapes.
The look was dreamy and easy to love. Chiffon sales jumped, and the style stayed a favourite in Hindi film romances for years.
11. Madhuri Dixit’s Purple Sari in ‘Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!’ (1994)
Sooraj Barjatya’s family film was one of the biggest hits of the 90s. Madhuri Dixit’s purple sari with a stylish blouse became the talk of the town.
Brides and bridesmaids copied it. Shops stocked purple saris in a hurry. That one outfit helped fix a new idea of the wedding wardrobe.
12. Rajinikanth’s Khaki in ‘Baasha’ (1995)
Rajinikanth played an autorickshaw driver in ‘Baasha.’ The khaki shirt looked simple, but he made it look like royal robes.
Rajinikanth was born Shivaji Rao Gaekwad and once worked as a bus conductor in Bengaluru. His trademark sunglass flips are famous. Fans still copy them at theatres.
13. Shah Rukh Khan’s Raj in ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ (1995)
Aditya Chopra’s debut film gave us Raj, the charming guy in a leather jacket. Shah Rukh Khan played him with a cheeky grin.
Then came the open arms pose, which became his signature. Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol played the lead pair. Mumbai’s Maratha Mandir theatre ran the film for over a thousand weeks, as widely reported.
14. Anjali’s Tomboy Look in ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ (1998)
Karan Johar’s first film as director turned Kajol into a campus trendsetter. Her Anjali wore short hair, baggy tees and basketball gear.
Rani Mukerji’s Tina wore the girly outfits. Manish Malhotra did the costumes. Together they set the style code for school and college kids in the late 90s.
15. Salman Khan’s Radhe in ‘Tere Naam’ (2003)
Satish Kaushik’s film gave Salman Khan one of the most copied hairstyles in Bollywood history. Radhe Mohan had long hair with a middle parting, and the fringe fell right over his forehead. People called it the ‘Tere Naam cut.’
Young men across small towns and big cities rushed to barbers with the same request. Plenty of them left with a style that was hard to pull off and even harder to grow out.
The look matched the mood of the film. Radhe starts as a loud college bully, then falls for Nirjara, played by Bhumika Chawla. His life turns heartbreaking from there. The film is a remake of the Tamil hit ‘Sethu,’ which starred Vikram.
- Indian cinema
- pop culture
