Styling Mr Bachchan

We not only love watching Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) but also admire Amitabh Bachchan’s outfits in the show. One of the most fashionable hosts on the small screen, his sartorial choices complement his personality. For this, celebrity stylist Priya Patil deserves kudos. She’s the one who has been making Big B look dapper on the small screen. Patil has been styling the actor for KBC for seven years now. Last year, she not only styled him but also designed his clothes. She adds that styling him is a huge responsibility and there is a lot of pressure.

“I always tell people that it’s not my designs that make him look good, but it’s him who makes my designs look good. Sometimes, certain designs are average but he just lifts them up. He is one celebrity who makes everything look good,” she shares. KBC 11 is set to go on air from August 19.

Last year, Patil got a huge surprise when the megastar thanked her on Twitter. “My designer for KBC... PRIYA PATIL... thank you Priya for all the effort in making a disoriented, disproportionate disaster, be presented with some elegance!! (your expressions...not mine... I still maintain the disaster),” he tweeted.  

Patil couldn’t have been happier. “I have been styling him for so many years but last season when he tweeted about me, it was very encouraging,” says she. 

Patil, who has been designing his outfits for a month now, says that last season, Big B wore three-piece suits, which he hadn’t sported before. “But he was very open to it. He suggested having broaches, which became a fad. All the stores were showcasing the designs after he wore it,” she says, adding, “This year too, he will be wearing the three-piece suits and classic bandhgalas. But this year, I am experimenting with different ties and knotting techniques.” The KBC host will be sporting deep/ bright colours, checks and general classics, which he can carry off well. 

Throwing light on the process of designing his clothes, Patil says that first she makes a style line, which is essentially his look of the season and then runs it by the team including the actor. “Then he gives his inputs. He is very professional, open and accommodating. He knows what looks nice on him,” she shares.   

After Patil plans the look, the supplier imports the material. “He wears 120 check count fabrics for the show. This year, the material, which will be used to design his looks, have been imported from Italy. The fabric is very soft and fine.” 

For the buttons, Patil has been working with a specialist and the buttons have been imported too. Luxury fashion brand, Gabbana, will help tailor the outfits. Before Patil, different designers were on board who worked on his outfits and looks but ever since Patil took over she has been solely responsible and she is pretty kicked about it. 

While styling and designing the legendary Bachchan, what does she focus on? “It’s more about comfort. While shooting, he sits on the hot seat for a very long time so the outfits have to be comfortable. That’s why we import the materials because they are soft. It should also look nice under the lights. Sometimes, certain fabrics look different with the naked eye and behind the camera,” she says. 

When not shooting, the iconic actor is mostly seen in either pyjama kurta or track pants and jackets. Patil says that she loves what he wears while meeting his fans on Sundays. “He was recently seen wearing jompers, broaches on his collar, which looked very nice,” she says, adding that he has his own style. 

Patil also has had some takeaways. “While working with him I learnt to be humble because he himself is a very humble man and works hard,” says the young designer who has also styled actors like Kirron Kher and others.