Bhanu Athaiya’s daughter Radhika shares fascinating trivia about styling Zeenat Aman in Satyam Shivam Sundaram: “It was a difficult project for her because she had to use as minimal cloth as possible”

At an event held by Jio MAMI, legendary and Oscar winner costume designer Bhanu Athaiya was celebrated by a panel comprising Ashutosh Gowariker, Sonam Kapoor and costume designer Shruti Kapoor. At the end of the session, Bhanu Athaiya’s daughter Radhika Gupta also made her presence felt and shared fascinating trivia.

Radhika Gupta said, “Raj Kapoor ji gave her the vision for Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978). He played some music (while explaining to her what he wanted). He told her, ‘Aap socho. Main tab tak chai ka intezaam karta hoon’. By the time he came, 7 sketches were ready. He okayed each and every look and gave her the advance immediately.”

Radhika then spoke about doing justice to Zeenat Aman’s sensuous avatar in Satyam Shivam Sundaram, “She (Bhanu Athaiya) kept saying that it was a difficult project for her because she had to use as minimal cloth as possible. She had the advantage that she was dressing up someone like Zeenat Aman who had a gorgeous body. Also, her courage was exemplary. She would always say that it was a pleasure dressing her up. She gave her enough cloth to protect her from the male gaze.”

Radhika Gupta then said, “Similarly for Helen ji, when she did her cabaret designs. Then, it was always about a woman’s sensuous body. It was the need of the hour for Helen ji’s clothes. But Helen ji always wore a skin colour lining on her stomach and on her sleeves. She was so particular. Helen ji was the most sensuous woman I have seen in all these years. And my mother always respected each star’s requirement. She ensured they were comfortable before they went in front of the camera.”

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