Today, he is considered one of the richest fashion designers in India with a net worth of millions. But when he started, he received just Rs 500 a month while working in a small boutique in Mumbai. Simultaneously, he worked as a model.
After years of hard work and toil, he established his own brand in the early 2000s. Whether it is a small or big-budget film, or any Bollywood event, nothing is complete today without his participation. He has now become a brand himself.
Yes, that’s Manish Malhotra. Born on December 5, 1966, he developed an interest in films and fashion in his childhood. In an interview with Humans of Bombay, he shared, “Growing up, I was always fascinated by Bollywood films and made it a point to watch every single film that was released.”
When he was in sixth grade, he joined a painting class, which he enjoyed a lot. “From watching films, to painting, and being surrounded by mother’s clothes, my love for fashion grew. I used to even give fashion advice to my mom on her sarees,” he said.
When he got into a college in Mumbai, he simultaneously began working for a boutique, which turned out to be a “school” for him. He recalled, “I’m completely self-taught. I used to sit and sketch for hours.”
Finally, at 25, he got his first break. He made his debut in the entertainment industry as the costume designer for the 1990 film, Swarg, starring Rajesh Khanna, Govinda, and Juhi Chawla.
The turning point in his career, however, was the 1995 film, Rangeela, featuring Amir Khan and Urmila Matondkar. His work on the film earned him his first-ever Filmfare award for costume design.
Following his success, he designed the costumes for the casts of many popular films, including Raja Hindustani, Dil To Pagal Hai, Duplicate, Satya, Dil Se, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kaho Na Pyaar Hai, Mohabbatein, and Dhadkan, among others.
In 2005, Manish finally decided to establish his own brand, which offers bridal, couture, diffusion, men’s wear, and bespoke collections. Today, he has stores in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Dubai.
Besides costume design, Manish has also designed the wedding outfits for several B-town stars. He was the first choice of Preity Zinta, Kareena Kapoor, Kiara Advani, Ankita Lokhande, and Parineeti Chopra, among others. He has also worked with international celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian.
Almost two decades after establishing his own fashion label, Manish also ventured into film production. He produced the recently released film, Gustaakh Ishq, starring Vijay Varma, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Naseeruddin Shah, and Sharib Hashmi.
Manish Malhotra’s first film as a producer hit the theatres on November 28. According to Sacnilk, it has grossed a little over Rs 1 crore worldwide.
