Ace designer Falguni and her husband Shane Peacock have kept their fbb Femina Miss India’s unveiling swimwear costume edgy yet cool. It is representative of our times, Falguni tells Deebashree Mohanty in between a shoot in Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts in Sri lanka
How would you describe the Miss India finalistsIJ
All are super confident and extremely hot! But what attracts me about these finalists are that they are a package. The girls have worked on their personalities and are the best groomed lot that I have ever worked with. I am taken aback with the aggression these models have. They are all hungry for the crown and they aren’t shy about it!
The unveiling costume looks like a cross-over between a swimwear and techno suit...
See, the world is watching us. Since 2000, Femina Miss India has been a global discussion point and our contestants know that. It is a great platform for a designer to exploit as well. Shane and I wanted to take the world by storm, so we decided to go with this Rihanna-type of look while we were shooting with the girls at the backdrop of the Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts in Sri lanka. It is edgy yet feminine. The costume represents our thought process — women are more aware and want to assert themselves but they are not willing to compromise.
In Bollywood, who do you think has a perfect body to carry off a bikiniIJ
Deepika Padukone has the best body for a two piece bikini. In fact, she is the only one who can carry it off with elan. The other actors may look good on screen but they don’t sizzle.
Padukone brings in her own style to the dresses she wears and that is a huge ad-on. Priyanka Chopra is a bold actor who loves to experiment with her looks and does a pretty good job with the ensembles. But, she lacks grace.
Actors, too, have started flaunting their belly button...
Yes. And they look dashing. There is no competition to John Abraham at the moment but there are a few in the present lot who are vying for attention. Sidharth Malhotra also has a toned upper body! I don’t subscribe to the six-pack abs story and Salman is not my favourite dresser. I would rather opt for Saif Ali Khan. He looks royal. My all-time favourite though is Amitabh Bachchan. He has such an aura that a simple band gala becomes the most exotic peice of clothing on Earth when he wears it.
How can Indian women shed their inhibitions of sporting a beachwearIJ
They have to realise that one doesn’t need to be a bomb to sport a bikini. If you are comfortable in what you are wearing, it shows. Just make sure you are properly waxed before stepping out!
One style statement that you think is completely Indian and the West is dying to copy...
They are fascinated with the batik print work that we specialise in. The West is extremely taken in by the fine embroidery that we sport on all our clothing. But they are still very much in awe of the saree.