INSTEP Magzine

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Bollywood strikes a pose at Lakme Fashion Week!
This season's Lakme Fashion Week was even more star-studded than usual. Not only was the usual contingent from Bollywood in attendance, but several of them turned model for a day to make heads turn... and spark a bit of controversy while they were at it! Instep takes a look at the five Bollywood superstars who set the catwalk on fire!

By Saba Imtiaz

1. Shah Rukh Khan: Designer slings and model pouts

Over the years Shah Rukh has reinvented his Bollywood persona over and over again: as an actor playing negative roles (Darr, Anjaam and Baazigar), the boy next door romantic hero (Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayeinge and a spate of films where he played Raj or Rahul) and even as an action star (Don: The Chase Returns).

King Khan also revamped his career by building up a production house and capitalizing on his superstardom status by reenacting them in his films (Om Shanti Om, Billu). And while as of late he's been seen heavily involved with his Indian Premier League team, Kolkata Knight Riders, who would've thought he'd turn to the ramp too? The star was seen at Lakme Fashion Week walking the ramp for 'the' designer to Bollywood, Manish Malhotra. Manish's collection at LFW was inspired by the theme colours for the Knight Riders team (who he also designs for), and who better to walk the ramp for him than Shah Rukh Khan?

Despite recovering from surgery to his shoulder, Khan looked every bit the glamorous model in his black and gold outfit, replete with a designer sling to support his shoulder! The actor also - to the delight of the audience - followed through on the stereotypical catwalk pose by pouting. "I was told the secret was to suck your cheeks in, pout your lips and look really angry, when you walk the ramp," he said afterwards. We bet Madhur Bhandarkar is wondering if he can work this into a sequel to Fashion, last year's 'expose' of the Indian fashion industry!

2. Katrina Kaif: 'Come on Barbie, lets go party!'

We can't think of anything more befitting for Katrina Kaif than to walk the ramp as a modern day Barbie. After all, with her picture perfect good looks and ditzy air (see Singh is Kinng if you don't agree) she seems to fit right in with every girl's favourite doll, Barbie. As this year's New York Fashion Week was dominated with designers' tributes to Barbie for her 50th anniversary - so was Lakme Fashion Week! And as Katrina pouted in her poufy pink dress and glittery tiara by Nishka Lula for the Barbie segment, her appearance on the ramp came with the news that the actress had been chosen to have a Barbie modelled after her. While Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was said to be in the running to be the muse for Barbie, it appears like Katrina - a sure-fire director's bet to guarantee a hit film - has usurped that global dream away from Aishwarya.

3. Akshay Kumar: Wardrobe malfunction

Mr Kumar, what exactly went through your head at the Levi's/Tarun Tahiliani show at LFW is beyond anyone's comprehension! The actor, who is a brand ambassador for Levi's in India, walked the ramp for Tarun Tahiliani's line of Levi's. And he took the name of the Levi's range - Unbuttoned - a tad too seriously by turning to his wife, Twinkle Khanna, who was seated in the front row and asking her to unbutton his jeans. This rather public display of affection [sic] belonged in the bedroom than on the catwalk, and while risqué as it was one has to admire Akshay's bravado! However the act hasn't gone unnoticed. Akshay has been slapped with a complaint lodged with the Mumbai police, that says the act was "vulgar and indecent". And more trouble may be in store: a lawsuit may be filed against Akshay, Twinkle as well as the organizers of LFW and the management of the Grand Hyatt (the venue). It is ironic that Akshay was recently awarded the Padma Shri, one of India's most civilian awards. We wonder how Akshay will unbutton his way out of this one!

4. Deepika Padukone failed to dazzle

The girl who launched her career with 2007's magnum opus blockbuster Om Shanti Om was originally a catwalk model; and she returns to her modelling roots at every fashion week. She made an appearance at Lakme Fashion Week by walking the ramp for the Mai Mumbai benefit show, alongside Bollywood peers Farhan Akhtar, Rahul Bose, Milind Soman and Malaika Arora-Khan. However she was really one of the 'misses' of the show - the actress' gold Caroline Herrera ensemble did nothing for her. She was completely upstaged by Malaika, who looked absolutely great and her obvious bump confirmed the rumours spreading through the front row that she was three months pregnant. So for all those people following grapevine reports that Malaika and Arbaaz Khan are splitting, it sure didn't seem that way at all.

5. Party of two: Arjun and Mehr Rampal

If Akshay and Twinkle's public indiscretions were too risqué and off-putting - then Arjun and Mehr Rampal were the exact opposite. The couple looked absolutely perfect - and at home - on the ramp for the Mai Mumbai show. Arjun's catwalk appeal isn't just restricted to India: the actor had jaws (and bank balances) drop several notches when he made an appearance at the Carnival de Couture in Karachi several years ago. So yes, we have a soft spot for the Sikh who won Karachi's heart. But at Lakme Fashion Week, he was a sure shot success. Arjun was a model before he step into Bollywood and though he has become a movie star, he still has catwalk appeal. Appearing with his gorgeous ex-model wife Mehr, he was one of the great hits of Bollywood on the runway.