Sonali Bendre’s blouse with elaborate appliqué work took over 500 hours to create

Sonali Bendre’s enduring sense of style is one that leans into elegance, nostalgia and wardrobe classics that transcend time. Her latest appearance in a stunning shaded chiffon sari by Nachiket Barve is a continuation of that narrative. Dyed in warm sunset tones that move from saffron to deep scarlet, the sari is a lesson in how simplicity can be nothing short of spectacular.

“There’s a very interesting backstory on how this sari came about,” shares designer Nachiket Barve. “I had created a chiffon look for her about 13 years ago for a television show she was part of back then. She wore a sari from my Caravan collection that was inspired by the silk route. It was a gradient sari in sunset hues, while the blouse emulated armoured doors.” The memory sparked the idea for a new collaboration when the designer and actor met recently, leading to this reimagined drape for her upcoming reality show Pati, Patni Aur Panga.

Crafted in gossamer-thin chiffon, the sari is dyed entirely by hand to mimic the sky as it transitions through dusk. There’s an ethereal quality to the way the colours melt into each other. But it’s the blouse that truly sets the look apart. “It is my trademark appliqué work, which is a technique that we have been trying [in order] to perfect the idea of three dimensionality in ornamentation,” Barve explains. “For Sonali’s blouse, we have handcrafted about seven different types of flowers. Each flower is enhanced with sequin work, beading, thread embroidery, cutwork, bugle beads and, of course, appliqué.” The intricacy is breathtaking and yet the blouse is nearly light-as-air. “Despite being designed at a haute couture level, it’s weightless. The blouse alone took over 500 hours of weaving and embroidery. It’s a look that marries a contemporary sari with Indian craftsmanship,” he adds.

What makes her ensemble especially compelling is its versatility, which makes it endlessly adaptable, occasion after occasion, season after season. She styled the look with oxidised silver earrings by Tribe Amrapali, engraved with the label’s signature chand motifs and orange stones that complemented the sari. Her makeup was kept soft and radiant, with dewy skin, flushed cheeks and a rose-toned lip, while defined eyes lent subtle drama. In keeping with the nostalgic appeal, her hair was styled in a half-up, half-down ’do with a bouffant.

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