What lights up a dull, dark rainy day? Heartthrob Vicky Kaushal, for sure, as Falguni and Shane Peacock didn’t shy away as usual from shine, all kinds of it, as well as clashing colours, but added Banarasis to celebrate two decades of making brides sparkle, presenting “Rang Mahal” at the Hyundai India Couture Week 2024.

By Asmita Aggarwal

As Delhi almost got submerged in rains, a brave few ventured out for the Hyundai India Couture Week 2024.

Many felt watching Bollywood heartthrob Vicky Kaushal dressed as a groom for Falguni and Shane Peacock was worth battling the deluge. Though some things only Vicky can do, shake the band’s lead singer’s hand, which really held the show together with their renditions of A R Rahman to Bollywood numbers, help his fellow show stopper Rashmika Mandana on the stairs as she wore a heavily embellished white lehenga. Shook hands with journalists he knew and asked them if his catwalk was appropriate. “My first car was a Hyundai and I also banged it several times,” laughed Vicky. He is a gentleman. We were showered with rose petals, after all it was the grand finale and frankly, we smelt and felt fabulous.

The ornate set created, had swans on the ramp and a pool with rose petals, vintage chandeliers hung from the ceiling, the theme was an ode to the magnificence of legendary palaces, the people behind who created these –artisans.  Few would have heard, “Only fools fall in love” by Elvis Presly, being strummed live on a sitar by the musician who was sitting in between opening petals!

Freestyle dancing, artistes wearing salmon pink ruffled skirts gave the silver and white lehengas that Falguni-Shane introduced, a heady beginning. The ‘Rang Mahal’ collection, had for the first time Banarasi brocade lehengas, Chikankari, lace and of course a tornado of sequins, there were mild tremors felt with golden and copper, lehengas, brimming with motifs — swans swimming with abandon, diyas, to banyan trees to peepal leaves. FSP added an extra dupatta to saris, the Banerasis came in pink with pure gold borders, former cricketer Mohammed Azharuddin, seemed to enjoy the unabashed ode to crystals, as the saris came with a shimmering cape. The live band crooned, “Yeh jo desh hai Mera”, by A R Rahman, FSP decided to replace their semi-precious stone bustiers with silk blouses sans any embroidery, maybe as an option to team it later with a pair of denims.

This is their 20th year in fashion, and they are known for not shying away from any kind of glitter, or colour in the rainbow, also combining myriad hues in one fish tail gowns from stark blues to cold silvers. The transparent churidar came in black, and the Spanish influences on wrap shawls, in velvet with tessellation were nifty.

Mirror work this year has been everyone’s favourite, only FSP used larger ones, and created Mughal motifs, resembling the arches of the Taj Mahal.  The longest trails like a princess, and French lace complemented zardosi. Pink is another hue that is being celebrated in couture, and it is true, the Peacocks can never execute a line without faux feathers, it is called the Peacock effect.

Reliance Industries, will now be venturing into handicrafts, with Swadesh their brand, a bit like Cottage Emporium stores, FSP tied up with them to create a special woven ensemble. The showstoppers Vicky and Rashmika are part of ‘Chhava’, a period drama, where Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, and his wife, Yesubai Bhonsale form the storyline.