Not all actors can carry off the rustic look on screen, but Pawan Kalyan makes the lungi seems like a fashion statement! In the upcoming film Bheemla Nayak, a remake of Mollywood’s Ayyappanum Koshiyum, Pawan will be seen sporting lungis and Khakhis.
Though known for his swag, Pawan’s looks in the posters were a huge hit. And Rajini is the woman behind the actor’s styling for the Saagar Chandra directorial.
“I earlier worked for Vakeel Saab. Although I did not work for Pawan Kalyan Sir I got an understanding of the essence of his styling,” she says, adding, “He is someone who prefers to keep it simple and apt for the character.”
Pawan plays a raw and rustic honest cop in the film, and Rajini made sure his wardrobe was desi.
The stylist says she was surprised that Pawan, being such a big star, did not shy away from trying on 15 outfits in just two hours. “I was shocked that he was game to do so many costume trials; he was very patient and humble. Thanks to him for giving me the freedom to experiment,” she says.
“He prefers costumes to be lightweight,” reveals Rajini. “So we got cotton shirts and complemented them with lungis. I realised he’s always ready to experiment, as he kept telling me to discover all the nuances of the character so that the styling could be superior,” she adds.
According to Rajini, Pawan was game to sport wrinkled shirts to get that desi and rustic appeal. He also wanted the lungis to look a bit worn out. “It worked big time, as the response has been amazing. Also, since he’s sporting a lungi after a long time, the response has been even better,” she beams.
“As for the khakhi uniform, Pawan was very specific that I get important elements like the name plate, pocket labels, badges and shoe colours right,” she recalls. “I spoke to one of my cop friends in Warangal and familiarised myself with all the aspects of the khakhi uniform. Since he plays a simple cop (unlike in Gabbar Singh where he plays an eccentric one), I did not experiment too much,” she says.
The stylist, who hails from Dharmavaram, reveals that Pawan will be sporting around 6-7 looks in the film. “The experience of working with him has been very liberating. I realised it’s easy to work with big stars because they are professionals. I have observed that Pawan has a very keen eye for detail and that’s very inspiring too,” she signs off.
