9 Iconic Fashion moments in film: Bollywood's memorable movie moments

9 of the most memorable fashion moments that has instant recognition. From Vyjanthimala's amrapali dance costume - forever called the Amrapali because of her -- to Kajol's short white top and mini that shocked Kajol herself. Rekha created the template of course for the mujra ensemble and Saira Banu's embroidered sari falls were all the rage... once upon a time in Bollywood. 
 

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan wearing Manish Malhotra at Cannes 2025

 

Deepika Padukone at a friends wedding: looking stunning!

 

Aishwarya Rai in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam

 

Aishwarya Rai styled by Neeta Lulla

 

Aishwarya Rai by Rakesh Shreshta

 

Rekha with Sanjay Dutt

Rekha with Sanjay Dutt. Rekha is only five years older than Sanjay Dutt - did ya know in the 80s they asked her to be his mother in a film?!!!

Meanwhile, male actors with co-stars 40 years younger is/was/continues to be not uncommon. 

Oh Bollywood... you and your twisted logic. 

Kajol by Gautam Rajadhyaksha

 

Rekha

Rekha G by her Gautam Rajadhyaksha portrait... 
 

Bhagyashree's iconic Salwaar Kameezes in Maine Pyar Kiya

In the age of ill-fitted western designer fare in curvy Indian bodies, its refreshing to look back at young Bhagyashree's attainable, colourful, impactful, traditional with a modern twist salwaars in the blockbuster Maine Pyar Kiya. Not a hint of skin or sin, the angelic, cherub actress was covered head to toe and made an impactful film debut. For a brief time, the colours and patterns were bursting out of the college going crew, who suddenly embraced traditional fare. 

Iconic Indian Actresses: Aishwarya Rai to Zeenat Aman

 

Aishwarya Rai: how it started, how its going: Tamil cinema edition

 

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in PS1 and PS2

After giving her career best performance in PS1 and PS2, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan hasn't signed  a film till date. 

Rekha

 

Icons only: Rekha, Madhuri Dixit, Sridevi, Hema Malini

 Icons only: Rekha, Madhuri Dixit, Sridevi, Hema Malini

Shabana Azmi

 

Bhanupriya

 Telugu actress Bhanupriya 

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan: L'Oreal Ad

 

Yet again voted among the most beautiful women in the world... 

Vinod Khanna and Juhi Chawla in Chandni (1989)

People forget that Juhi Chawla had a cameo in Sridevi's iconic film, Chandni (1989). 
 

Karishma Kapoor, Shahrukh Khan, Sridevi and Alia Bhatt

 A memorable moment from back in 2017 - superstar lineup... 

Abujani Sandeep Khosla: Sridevi: Goddess Most Golden

Only Sridevi could get away with it. Attending Manish Malhotra's 50th birthday party--themed gold--she wore a stunning Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla ensemble and was easily the most elegant and best-dressed diva at the event. 

Be it Shahrukh Khan or Aishwarya Rai or Madhuri Dixit, all lined up together for a picture with 'the great Sridevi.'

 

Young Aishwarya Rai's earliest catalogue modeling shots from the 90s

Young Aishwarya Rai's earliest catalogue modeling shots from the 90s

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in PS2

Her finest performance yet without the usual trinkets and trophies. Alas. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in PS1 and PS2 was fantastic. 

Aishwarya Rai and Rajinikanth in Enthiran (

Unlike Jeans, Enthiran, aka Robot in Hindi, was loads of fun. Both versions did well. Aishwarya Rai's first film with Rajinikanth and the flawless music helped make this film a blockbuster. 

As always Ash looked like a dream, even in some bizarre costumes. Not Manish Malhotra's best work. Looked a bit rushed and haphazard. Esp the song shot in Peru. Ash's epic beauty covered some esstential flaws. Even the makeup was... done with a heavy brush. Early days. 

Photoshopped within an inch of her life... 

Aishwarya Rai in Jeans

Aishwarya Rai, 25, looked so staggeringly beautiful and danced like a dream in the Tamil film Jeans. The Hindi dub just didn't work...

but the Tamil original version was a smash hit. 

The songs were lovely--AR Rehman, the Mozart of Madras did the dutiful--and Ash danced and looked like the vision she is. 

Shockingly, the expensive film was India's official entry to the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language film -- cue laughter. 

An expensive and a hit film in the Southern belt, the movie was not great in any measure. Entertaining perhaps, enlightening? No. Not by any measure. 

But Indian cine politics and what goes to the Oscars has always been debated with heat and passion. No logic.

Rekha, Madhuri Dixit and Sridevi: Number One Actresses: The Best of Bollywood

Rekha, Madhuri Dixit and Sridevi: Number One Actresses: The Best of Bollywood 
 

Aishwarya Rai as a model

 

Aishwarya Rai's epic beauty was noted early on - she made others insecure by just walking in. 

It wasn't her fault. 

I mean.. look at her! 

Aishwarya Rai in Jodhaa Akbar: Behind the Scenes

Aishwarya Rai in Jodhaa Akbar: Behind the Scenes 
 

Aishwarya Rai's Stardust cover: But has the magazine died?

Stardust, one of the original film tabloids born in Bombay, was the ultimate masala movie magazine. Gossip, innuendo, the dish on Indian celebs, sneaking looks behind the curtain, the affairs, the scandals... it was the most declicious and deviant of film rags in Bombay. 

As instagram has killed many a magazine, I fear, the death of Stardust, slow and circling the drain... is either immintent or its already happened. We couldn't find a single magazine on newstands, the website hasn't been updated nor its social media... the sad end of a once giant. It didn't go with a bang but with a whimper... 

Stunning Aishwarya Rai in Kuch Naa Kaho (2003)

Stunning Aishwarya Rai in Kuch Naa Kaho (2003)

Juhi Chawal's girl next door gets a MOVIE mag revamp

Juhi Chawal's girl next door gets a MOVIE mag revamp! 

Though the lace cover was rather racy for Juhi, it's just not the image most audiences have of cutie pie Juhi Chawla.