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Bollywood has always inspired fashion trends. Be it Mughal-E-Azam‘s Anarkali-style dress that is in trend even now, or Salman Khan’s Tere Naam haircut that took the youth by storm, Bollywood films have a major impact on the lives of Indians. We take certain pride in flaunting a dress that was worn on-screen by someone famous and often use the name of actors or actresses as reference for a haircut. Our jewellery has to sparkle just like it did in a particular ad film and our homes should be done up just like it was in one of the films. It is said that cinema is a reflection of reality. However, let’s take a look at the times that reel-life inspired real-life trends…

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Hum Aapke Hai Koun!
Rajshri productions’ Hum Aapke Hai Koun! starring the evergreen Madhuri Dixit and Salman Khan has completed two successful decades in 2015. However, the film that achieved cult status, also redefined fashion trends. Be it Madhuri Dixit’s backless blouse or Salman Khan’s three piece suit, the trends soon caught on and everyone who was anyone flaunted the same. Tailors were commissioned to scoop the back of the blouses to make it just like Madhuri’s and the white-and-green sharara was the hottest colour combination of the season and sold like hot cakes.

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Kuch Kuch Hota HaiKuch Kuch Hota Hai, produced by Dharma productions, turned out to be a blockbuster. The film was a major trend-setter and changed the manner in which friendships were forged. Friendship bands were all the rage post the release of the film and have become symbolic of Friendship Day since then. Kajol’s short blunt cut also became a trend and stylists had to style thousands of mane in the same style post the release of the film. Shah Rukh Khan’s T-shirts inscribed with the words ‘POLO’ and locket that read, ‘COOL’ flooded the markets and were a sellout. Kajol’s dual coloured sarees with velvet blouse also became a fashion trend.

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Aashiqui and Tere NaamBollywood’s musical drama, Aashiqui, had set a trend for haunting melodies. However, even more popular were Anu Aggarwal’s ribbons. Those netted ribbons with polka dots on them flooded the Indian markets. Just like the ribbons, Salman Khan’s hairstyle from the film, Tere Naam, too, caught everyone’s attention. Young boys started sporting the hairstyle and it became all the rage across the nation.

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Maine Pyaar Kiya  was also successful in setting certain trends. Bhagyashree’s blue skirt and a top with polka dots on it were a hit with young girls. They commissioned similar outfits with the initials of their name inscribed on it. Salman Khan’s leather jackets were also in demand after the release of the film and soon college campuses resembled the sets of Maine Pyaar Kiya.

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Love In Simla
Sadhana Shivdasani introduced the famous fringe hairstyle in Bollywood. She flaunted the haircut in her debut film, Love in Simla. The suggestion was made by her husband, Nayyar, who was also the director of the film. He thought that the fringe style would make her forehead look narrow. Nayyar cited the example of Hollywood actress Audrey Hepburn and she became the inspiration for the haircut. The fringe was all the rage in the ‘60s. In 1963, when Sadhana was signed on to play a role of simple Muslim girl from Aligarh in Mere Mehboob, she did away with her famous hairstyle to fit the bill. However, the director of the film, H.S. Rawail, insisted that she retained the fringes as he didn’t quite like the plaited look that Sadhana had opted for.

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Brahmachari
Mumtaz created an indelible impression with her orange stitched saree. So much so, that it has become an innate part of fashion trends for generations now. The Mumtaz style drape highlights the curves and was a perfect style for voluptuous Indian women. The song, ‘Aaj kal tere…,‘ from the film, Brahmachari, where Mumtaaz was seen draped in the saree, set in motion the trend of experimenting with traditional attire.