Gone are the days of stiff, traditional sarees – Bollywood’s style icons are twisting, tweaking and absolutely nailing the modernist saree looks, making the ancient six-yards drape deliciously á la mode.
Remember when sarees felt a bit predictable? The same old designs, fabrics, draping styles, blouses. But it's 2025 now, and B-town celebs are amping up the saree game by twisting, tweaking and experimenting with various designs, fabrics and draping styles. They’re taking the classic six-yards and giving it a seriously fresh, fearless, and fun makeover. To be very honest, it's actually a vibe. The message is clear: Own what you wear and don't feel sorry about how you style it. Yep, so let's get going with our favourite B-town celebs serving major saree goals and reinventing the classic six-yards.
No more one-size-fits-all draping. 2025 is about experimenting and reinventing, and who better than our favourite Bollywood stars to show us how it's done!
(@anamikakhanna.in/Instagram )
At the TIME 100 Gala event in New York in 2018, Deepika Padukone donned a stunning saree gown designed by Anamika Khanna. The Cocktail actress shined in an ivory-white fabric, richly embroidered with tonal sequins and intricate 3D floral appliques. She reimagined the traditional draping style and technique without those fussy pleats at the waist. A sleek, columnar panel hugged her silhouette, while the gorgeous pallu was aesthetically placed over one shoulder, and was allowed to descend down into a soft, trailing cape. The entire ensemble was a balanced combination of sculptural tailoring and classic saree fuidity in one seamless, couture statement.
(@aliaabhatt/Instagram)
At the 2024 Delight Awards, Alia Bhatt showed up in a mesmerizing, multi-coloured saree designed by Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla. She was styled by Rhea Kapoor. The multi-hued saree featured Ajrakh prints with intricate block-printed designs which made the entire ensemble look like a dream, full of elegance, leaving a lasting impression on fans. The off-sleeved, tube-top-like blouse paired with the well-pleated floor-length saree, along with a contrasting embroidered cape-like wrap, created a desi yet modernized look that made a strong fashion statement. This unique and stylish ensemble seamlessly blended modernity with ethnic richness.
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Janhvi Kapoor stunned in a unique corset saree at the promotional event for her film Ulajh in 2024. The Dhadak star wore a structured, and strapless black corset top featuring digital floral prints in shiny shades of yellow, pink and green. The pop of colours and bright floral prints on the corset top added a sense of intrigue and drama to the monotone number. The corset top was tied up at the back in a criss-cross pattern – delivering a touch of unconventionality. She teamed the gorgeous corset top with a plain, pleated black saree, with the pallu draped uniquely over the shoulder. Giving a retro spin to the quintessential ethnic ensemble, her attire is still considered a fabulous example of modern fusion sarees and draping styles.
(@bollytellybuzz/Instagram)
Ananya Pandey took a daring leap into the world of modern fashion with a stunning saree and a striking blouse in pink designed by Amit Aggarwal. The pink, strappy, structured blouse featured a bold plunging neckline, and the design on it reflected the pleats of the pallu, creating a pretty harmonizing symphony. The blouse was perfectly fitted, thus complementing her slim frame and further highlighting her beautiful shoulders and collarbones. The saree featured a draped skirt with neat pleats adorned with shimmering golden motifs. Her diwali look in 2024 took the internet by storm as fans went crazy over her outfit.
#BhumiPednekar ❤️ pic.twitter.com/TW9Z9FAh7N
— Only Heroines (@OnlyHeroines) November 30, 2022
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Attending a friend's wedding in 2022, Bhumi Pednekar raised an oomph in a deep neck-out blouse and a pant-saree. She looked absolutely stunning to say the least. The golden wired blouse was the highlight of the entire ensemble, and it featured intricate Kashmiri embroidery. The draped, open pallu pant-saree was crafted from Banarasi silk in an ink blue tie-dyed technique, featuring metallic embroidery. Both the blouse and the pant-saree were designed by the fashion label Qbki Official. Her ensemble screamed a perfect blend of Indo-western fusion.
(@sukritigrover/Instagram)
Celebrity stylist Sukriti Grover took to Instagram to share Kriti Sanon’s mesmerizing pictures from a 2022 photoshoot. The Mimi actress was draped in a pink designer saree and a bralette blouse – both designed by the famous fashion label Falguni Shane Peacock. Her saree was hued in a pleasant flamingo-pink shade and crafted from a see-through zaree fabric. The pre-pleated six-yards featured rows of glimmering silver sequins, patti and bead embellishments, bold pink feather adornments on the pallu and the border, and a structured fit. She paired the gorgeous saree with a fuchsia pink bralette-style blouse with a super-cropped hem-length and sweetheart neckline. Once again, Kriti made a case by pairing a six-yards with a modern statement blouse.
This year our favourite B-town celebs are experimenting with the classic six-yards to create unique and modern drapes – we are talking about leather accents, metallic finishes, unconventional prints (abstract or graffiti-inspired), and even sporty fabrics.
So, the next time you think about draping a beautiful six-yard, take inspiration from these celebrities, and play, experiment with fabrics, drapes, designs, and blouses to craft the perfect match for you. Ultimately, carrying a saree is about confidence and personal style. So, reinvent it, wear it, love it, and don't feel sorry about your choices. Go ahead now, give your classic saree a new, modernist twist. Happy styling!
