Athiya Shetty has become a veritable clothehorse over the last one year. Tall, statuesque and radiating a polished confidence which make her rock any ensemble under the sun. What makes her ahead of the pack is the fact that the style-savvy girl has promoted a lot of Indian designers and home-bred Indian labels unlike her contemporaries who favour international luxury brands. At designer Masaba Gupta’s wedding reception, the ingenue was seen sizzling in an ornate Rohit Bal ensemble, at the Ambani soiree, which she attended with dad Sunil, she wore a Monisha Jaising chikankari lehenga and an embellished blouse set. In the past too, she’s worn labels like Sukriti and Aakriti, Anju Modi and Sanjay Garg. Is this love for Indian designs inherited from mom Mana? Over to the proud mom Mana, who shares some snapshots of her daughter’s stylistic experimentation...
Athiya’s model face
Athiya’s sharp cheek bones and defined jaw line makes her the perfect modelling sensation. “She’s not the typical Indian body. Very athletic. She’s got broad shoulders and she’s very comfortable in her skin. People find her slim. She’s such a clotheshorse. Actually, she’s such a simple dresser. She loves her torn jeans and manages to make it stylish. Because she’s unaware of herself and not conscious all the time, which works in her favour. Aahan was the one who always wanted to get into the industry and not Athiya. Athiya wasn’t sure. It’s only when she did her drama in the high levels and travelled with school and performed, that she got into it,” Mama Shetty beams.
Promoting Indian designers
Mana’s closet is a panoply of home-bred Indian labels and her love for handicrafts and weaves shows in the way she dresses. The same love for Indian aesthetic has also been passed on to daughter Athiya. “People from abroad use our fabrics and go ga ga over them. So why are we letting that go by? Araaish is all about Indian creativity and designers, crafts. Athiya has attended each Araaish exhibition over the years. For her promotions and appearances, her stylist Ami Patel and she promoted Indian designers so beautifully. It’s great. You feel, ‘wow, one of your own blossoms grows’,” she smiles proudly.
Influence on Athiya
Athiya borrows things from her mom’s closet and her childhood artworks grace the walls of her mom’s office walls reflect that connection. Mana proudly shows me a crayon portrait with a handwritten message dedicated to her by the Hero actress. “Now she’s evolving. You could be wearing torn jeans and a T-shirt but make it work by adding beautiful silver jewellery. You just need to know — how to put it together. I think, over the years, she’s believed — ‘less is definitely more’. And simple speaks volume. You don’t have to be OTT all the time,” she says.
Athiya — Fashion’s It girl
Athiya is gracing covers left, right and centre and has become the face of a major beauty brand. “That I don’t know. (Laughs). She’s got a fabulous team of professionals with her. She’s very confident. Sunil and I have basically tried to let them make mistakes. You have to go out and learn for yourself. The school (American School of Bombay) they went to made them all rounders. Even though Athiya has been a great academic student, pursuing drama gave her exposure. She’s extremely independent. When you allow the kids to soar and fly, they discover themselves — their strengths and weaknesses, which is fine, very normal. We encourage her weakness also.”
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