Bridesmaid Alia Bhatt wore three sarees and no two drapes looked the same
Alia Bhatt reimagined saree three different ways for Akansha Ranjan and Sharan Sharma's wedding.
At Akansha Ranjan and Sharan Sharma's wedding, Alia Bhatt wasn't just busy with bridesmaid duties—she was serving major fashion inspiration too. A close friend of Akansha's, Alia attended all three celebrations—the cocktail, wedding and reception—and, needless to say, brought her best fashion game to each one. Her wedding photo dump is proof.
The cocktail look
There's no denying that purple is having a moment, and when paired with the craftsmanship of Indian designers, it only gets better. For the cocktail, Alia chose a saree, but it was the draping that truly stood out. The saree came from an unreleased Ekaya x Ashdeen collection, making Alia the first to wear the collaboration. She paired it with a raw silk purple corset blouse featuring delicate frog-button detailing.
The exclusive Cheena Cheeni drape (Cheena Cheeni being a term used within the Parsi Zoroastrian community in India to describe Chinese people or landscapes) brought together two celebrated textile traditions: Parsi Gara embroidery and Banarasi weaving. Inspired by the iconic 19th-century Silk Route motif, the saree reflected Persian, Chinese and Indian influences. Its rich purple base was adorned with silver motifs, while a hint of yellow peeking through the pallu added depth and contrast.
Keeping with her signature beauty aesthetic, Alia opted for dewy skin, softly defined eyes with minimal kajal and eyeliner, and a sleek bun. A slim gold choker, matching earrings and a few rings completed the look.
The wedding look
For the wedding ceremony, Alia stayed true to her love for sarees in a Punit Balana ruffle ensemble. This time, however, it was the blouse that stole the spotlight. The sleeveless blouse featured a high-neck cut-out, an open back and embroidered borders, adding a contemporary twist to the otherwise traditional ensemble. A handcrafted marodi border accented with contrasting dry henna detailing, lending depth and a distinctive visual edge.
She accessorised the look with a matching deep teal-grey potli bag, from the same designer, replete with tassels.
For jewellery, Alia chose a statement maang tikka and kaanphool earrings with attached chains. Skipping a necklace allowed the sculptural blouse to remain the focal point. She rounded off the look with kadas and a tiny bindi.
Her makeup remained fresh and luminous, while a soft pink lip added a subtle touch of colour.
The reception look
For the reception, Alia turned to another saree—and once again, she made it feel entirely different. She wore an Ajrakh saree by Nidhi Tambi Kejriwal, styled with a front-pallu drape. While it echoed the Gujarati style of draping, it wasn't worn in the traditional way across the waist. Instead, the pallu was left loose and pinned only at the blouse, giving the look a contemporary finish. She kept her hair open, sleek and straight to complete the look.
Rather than pairing it with classic gold jewellery, Alia opted for chunky statement silver jewellery and a kundan maang tikka, adding a striking contrast to the handwoven saree.
Three celebrations, three sarees and three completely different styling approaches, if you are someone who can’t think of styling your saree better, take cues from Alia Bhatt.
At Akansha Ranjan and Sharan Sharma's wedding, Alia Bhatt wasn't just busy with bridesmaid duties—she was serving major fashion inspiration too. A close friend of Akansha's, Alia attended all three celebrations—the cocktail, wedding and reception—and, needless to say, brought her best fashion game to each one. Her wedding photo dump is proof.
The cocktail look
There's no denying that purple is having a moment, and when paired with the craftsmanship of Indian designers, it only gets better. For the cocktail, Alia chose a saree, but it was the draping that truly stood out. The saree came from an unreleased Ekaya x Ashdeen collection, making Alia the first to wear the collaboration. She paired it with a raw silk purple corset blouse featuring delicate frog-button detailing.
The exclusive Cheena Cheeni drape (Cheena Cheeni being a term used within the Parsi Zoroastrian community in India to describe Chinese people or landscapes) brought together two celebrated textile traditions: Parsi Gara embroidery and Banarasi weaving. Inspired by the iconic 19th-century Silk Route motif, the saree reflected Persian, Chinese and Indian influences. Its rich purple base was adorned with silver motifs, while a hint of yellow peeking through the pallu added depth and contrast.
Keeping with her signature beauty aesthetic, Alia opted for dewy skin, softly defined eyes with minimal kajal and eyeliner, and a sleek bun. A slim gold choker, matching earrings and a few rings completed the look.
The wedding look
For the wedding ceremony, Alia stayed true to her love for sarees in a Punit Balana ruffle ensemble. This time, however, it was the blouse that stole the spotlight. The sleeveless blouse featured a high-neck cut-out, an open back and embroidered borders, adding a contemporary twist to the otherwise traditional ensemble. A handcrafted marodi border accented with contrasting dry henna detailing, lending depth and a distinctive visual edge.
She accessorised the look with a matching deep teal-grey potli bag, from the same designer, replete with tassels.
For jewellery, Alia chose a statement maang tikka and kaanphool earrings with attached chains. Skipping a necklace allowed the sculptural blouse to remain the focal point. She rounded off the look with kadas and a tiny bindi.
Her makeup remained fresh and luminous, while a soft pink lip added a subtle touch of colour.
The reception look
For the reception, Alia turned to another saree—and once again, she made it feel entirely different. She wore an Ajrakh saree by Nidhi Tambi Kejriwal, styled with a front-pallu drape. While it echoed the Gujarati style of draping, it wasn't worn in the traditional way across the waist. Instead, the pallu was left loose and pinned only at the blouse, giving the look a contemporary finish. She kept her hair open, sleek and straight to complete the look.
Rather than pairing it with classic gold jewellery, Alia opted for chunky statement silver jewellery and a kundan maang tikka, adding a striking contrast to the handwoven saree.
Three celebrations, three sarees and three completely different styling approaches, if you are someone who can’t think of styling your saree better, take cues from Alia Bhatt.
