Manish Malhotra Celebrity designer's reason to celebrate

I really hope that sarees see a big revival on the red carpet," says Manish Malhotra during an interview ahead of Blender's Pride Fashion Tour where he showcased his latest wedding collection

On his love for Hyderabad

"My love for Hyderabad goes back to thirty years ago, when in 1990 and I remember we used come here for films to work for Raveena Tandon, Manisha Koirala. I got a chance to work with Sridevi, Vijayshanti, Bala Krishna, Chiranjeevi. I always loved the city, the greenery here. This place has so much space, it's modernising but still sticking to its culture. The city is a perfect blend of culture and modernism and has lovely food, which is essential for me."

His latest collection

"The collection is all about a summer destination weddings and because that is somewhat all about, lighter places; people like to go to Goa, Bali and sea-side places. So, the collection is lighter, it's glamorous of course, but it's also about Sobre colours. It has a lot of intricate work, a lot of sparkle. I loved working on this collection."

On his journey

On his dropping out from college and his father asking him to work in the air conditioning business to his mother questing him on working as a ladies tailor, from movies to wedding clothes, he shares all, "I was so busy with life that I don't know where thirty years have gone by and I am working on a book of mine where I try to remember things and I can't remember sometimes. When I started my job, it was about revolutionising the way movies were looked at. You know, like giving it a look. And then, I would be like, I would love to work with this actor because I am obviously fond of scripts and movies and storytelling. I never thought I was ever going to get into mainstream. Then the offers came to me. I took them on. I started my label, and then the journey came to wedding clothes. You find your path and things get moving. But I think whatever I do, I give it my 100 percent."

On his current work

I am doing a film called 'Takht', which is such a big film. It's got big stars, and it's set in the Mughal period. I'm also having another film with Sara Ali Khan, which is a very different character. I just launched a massive store and there is also the one in New Delhi. So, it's a lot in a day. This morning too, I was coordinating fittings for a wedding, which is on Monday and reception on Tuesday. So, I think that I just love to work and take on each thing as it comes."

Day in his life

"One thing that really helps me, I think, in my life is I am a very early riser. So, I wake up at 5 am, and I am very fond of music, food and movies area a stress buster. I keep it very simple and I think that keeping things simple really has helped me when I look into my own direction of thoughts and things and not really get taken in too much by any kind of negative things or criticism or backbiting. I have always kept myself away from it. And even when I really known stars, I've just kept it to my job, even if I've got friendly to them professionally."

Lehengas or sarees?

"I love sarees. I am very inspired by Rekha Ji, Sridevi. I actually really hope that sarees see a big revival on the red carpet. And I see a lot of designers, regular and new, and I see a lot of young actors wearing handlooms and I think it's getting a lot of visibility as well."