Sherwani for Ashutosh

Vivek Fernandes

"Yes, I'm off to the Oscars," says Bhanu Athaiya, India's only Academy Award winner (for Costume Design for Richard Attenborough's Gandhi). She is costume designer of the Oscar-nominated film Lagaan, directed by Ashutosh Gowariker and produced by Aamir Khan.

"I am an active member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. They invite me to the ceremony every year. This year [at the 74th Annual Academy Awards], Lagaan was nominated in the Best Foreign Language Film category. I was part of the team, so I decided to be part of this special occasion to lend my support and prayers," the designer adds.

Athaiya leaves for Los Angeles Tuesday, March 19, night and will join Aamir Khan, Ashutosh Gowariker and Reena Khan, Aamir's wife, who are already there. "I have also designed Ashutosh's ensemble for the Oscar Night. I have created two outfits -- the first is a black sherwani with black embroidery; the second is a white sherwani with white embroidery. I prefer the white -- it will stand out wonderfully against the normally worn black tuxedos. It is made of a shimmering material and looks grand. However, we have tried to keep it very sober. The embroidery is not too royal and the cut, very contemporary."

Athaiya also says that all the Indian women, including Aamir's wife Reena who will be accompanying their husbands to the gala function, will be draped in saris: "I suggested that all the women be dressed in Indian outfits. Since the sari is the most well known Indian dress, we will all wear saris."

"I had worn a sari to the Academy Awards when I won the Oscar for Gandhi in 1982. Let's hope we're lucky this time, too," states Athaiya.

Design: Uday Kuckian

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