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All that style

Suniel Shetty's romance with style continues as he hopes to showcase Indian fashion abroad with `Crossover - Bollywood Se'

STYLE STATEMENT Cashing in on style is Suniel Shetty

Whether it's haircut, choice of clothes or shades, Suniel Shetty demonstrates a smart mix of poise and playfulness. Having set and spotted trends for over a decade, "Crossover — Bollywood Se" is undoubtedly a shot in his fashionable arm. That's why it made sense to discuss the star's fashion passion rather than his fading film career during his whistle-stop trip to Chennai.

International fashion

"There's so much international fashion coming to India. `Crossover - Bollywood Se' hopes to showcase Indian fashion abroad. While the first style lounge was launched in Dubai recently, the second one is slated for a March-end opening at Vancouver. We plan to open ten stores across ten cities in two years," discloses the actor and chairman of Fashion Bollywood Ishtyle Apparels Pvt. Ltd.

NRI connection

With trademark cool, Suniel continues, "Bollywood is India's ambassador to the world. The NRI community connects with its motherland through cinema. Bollywood films smack of popular culture and contribute largely to fashion trends. `Crossover' promotes styles that are a perfect blend of on-screen vitality and off-screen functionality."

Suniel, who has an impressive line-up of Bollywood and mainstream designers, including Manish Malhotra, Neeta Lulla, Aki Narula, Anita Dongre, Azeem Khan, Narendra Kumar, Rohit Bal and Falguni and Shane Peacock, showing their creations at his style lounge, says, "Gone are the days when people were embarrassed to ape their screen idols. Filmi fashion is mainstream fashion these days. Designers Manish Malhotra, Anna Singh, Neeta Lulla, Aki Narula et al have made certain looks memorable. Today, stars have become fashion icons, thanks to such designers." Does that mean there will be an element of kitsch in the styles at `Crossover'? "Yes, there should be."

Style is comfort

Talking about style in everyday life, the actor says, "To me, style is a personal thing that relates directly to comfort. So comfort is style. Even if that means an understated pair of jeans and a simple white shirt."

So what's up on the film front? "Well... there's "Fight Club" and "Phir Hera Pheri." Besides, there are two more films on the floor. I hope to complete them before March-end. Right now, I'm choosy about my projects. I want to do more comedies and wholesome entertainers. If I have to wait, I'm prepared to wait. Anyway, films take up plenty of my time. You have to work from dawn to dusk... sometimes even seven days a week. It's tough. I want to take things easy and focus on my businesses," says the actor whose mind is buzzing with business plans.

Actor or businessman first? "Films were a priority. Being an actor helped me get the right people into my food and fashion businesses. I think I do great PR for my brand and company. My association with films has helped me experience so much — and it's helped me shape my business as well. Now, I'm looking at building a business empire - with lots of lifestyle thrown in. Remember food and fashion are no longer reserved for a niche segment."

T. KRITHIKA REDDY

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