Aki Narula
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Aki Narula (born 1968) is an Indian
fashion designer Fashion design is the Art (skill), art of applied arts, applying design, aesthetics, clothing construction, and natural beauty to clothing and its Fashion accessory, accessories. It is influenced by diverse cultures and different trends and has va ...
,
costume designer A costume designer is a person who designs costumes for a film, stage production or television show. The role of the costume designer is to create the characters' outfits or costumes and balance the scenes with texture and colour, etc. The costum ...
and
wardrobe stylist A wardrobe stylist, also fashion stylist, is a consultant (or person) who selects the clothing for published editorial features, print or television advertising campaigns, music videos, concert performances, and any public appearances made by cel ...
in
Hindi films Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, is primarily produced in Mumbai. The popular term Bollywood is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (former name of Mumbai) and "Hollywood". The industry, producing films in th ...
, who is most known for films like ''
Bunty Aur Babli ''Bunty Aur Babli'' (transl. ''Bunty and Babli'') is a 2005 Indian Hindi-language crime comedy film directed by Shaad Ali, written by Jaideep Sahni from a story by Aditya Chopra, and produced by Chopra under the Yash Raj Films banner. The film s ...
'' (2005), '' Don - The Chase Begins Again'' (2006), ''
Jhoom Barabar Jhoom ''Jhoom Barabar Jhoom'' (transl. ''Keep On Dancing'') is a 2007 Indian Hindi-language musical romantic comedy film directed by Shaad Ali and produced by Aditya Chopra under the Yash Raj Films banner. Based on an original story by Ali, with ...
'' (2007) and '' Dostana'' (2008). His brand label "AKI" was launched in 1996.


Early life and education

Born and brought up in
Kolkata Kolkata, also known as Calcutta ( its official name until 2001), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of West Bengal. It lies on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary ...
, he did his schooling from
La Martiniere Calcutta LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second most populous city in the United States of America. La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * La (musical note), or A, the sixth note *"L.A.", a song by Elliott Smi ...
, and passed out in 1987. He graduated in commerce from
St. Xavier's College, Kolkata St. Xavier's College is a private, Catholic, autonomous college in Kolkata, India. It is run by the Calcutta Province of the Society of Jesus. It was founded by the Jesuits in 1860 and named after St. Francis Xavier, a Jesuit saint of the 16t ...
, while at college, he started designing clothes for rock concerts, college plays and ''Xavotsav'', the annual college fest. He worked with the
Lintas MullenLowe Lintas Group, formerly Lintas, is an Indian advertising marketing communications company. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Interpublic Group (IPG), and is part of the multinational MullenLowe Group. As of July 2023, M ...
Group, as a management trainee, for a period of ten months, before going to
Arizona State University Arizona State University (Arizona State or ASU) is a public university, public research university in Tempe, Arizona, United States. Founded in 1885 as Territorial Normal School by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, the university is o ...
, for a communications course. Aki has had no formal training in fashion designing. "While studying commerce at St. Xavier's College, Calcutta, I was completely taken up by fashion. And despite no formal training in fashion designing, I began to design outfits for my friends," he said.


Career

Upon returning to in 1992, he started a
cost accounting Cost accounting is defined by the Institute of Management Accountants as "a systematic set of procedures for recording and reporting measurements of the cost of manufacturing goods and performing services in the aggregate and in detail. It includ ...
programme in Kolkata; he move to fashion happened when in 1994, he took part in the 'Fashion Designer award' of Damania Airlines, held across five Indian Metros cities. He entered the contest from Kolkata, he was chosen the winner. This started his fashion career in Kolkata. Eventually and launched his own brand, ''Aki'', in 1996 and has his first fashion show with "Melange", a designer boutique at
Opera House, Mumbai Royal Opera House, in Mumbai (Bombay), is India's only surviving opera house. Situated on Charni Road, near Girgaum Chowpatti beach, the adjective ‘Royal’ was prefixed to ‘Opera House’ to reflect the fact that its foundation stone was l ...
. Starting with Melange, he gradually started selling in eleven stores across India. In 2000, he participated in Lakme
India Fashion Week India Fashion Week is a bi-annual fashion week organized and promoted by the Fashion Design Council of India. Wills Lifestyle sponsored it from 2006–2014 before Amazon became the sponsor. The first event in 2000 featured the work of 33 desi ...
and in the following year his entire collection was taken up by
Selfridges Selfridges, also known as Selfridges & Co., is a chain of upmarket department stores in the United Kingdom that is operated by Selfridges Retail Limited. It was founded by Harry Gordon Selfridge in 1908. The historic Daniel Burnham-designed Self ...
(UK). He was appointed the design director at Sheetal Design Studio Mumbai in 2002. In 2004, he presented at the Grand Finale of
India Fashion Week India Fashion Week is a bi-annual fashion week organized and promoted by the Fashion Design Council of India. Wills Lifestyle sponsored it from 2006–2014 before Amazon became the sponsor. The first event in 2000 featured the work of 33 desi ...
, a collection themed around the '50s with red and fuchsia being the premier colours. Though he had previously designed for Mira Nair's ''
Monsoon Wedding ''Monsoon Wedding'' is a 2001 comedy-drama film directed by Mira Nair, written by Sabrina Dhawan, and starring Naseeruddin Shah, Lillete Dubey, Shefali Shah and Vasundhara Das. The story is set during a traditional Punjabi Hindu wedding in De ...
'' in 2005, his big break into Bollywood came with
Yash Raj Films Yash Raj Films (YRF) is an Indian film production and distribution company founded by filmmaker Yash Chopra in 1970. Since 2012, it has been led by his son Aditya Chopra. The company mainly produces and distributes Hindi films. History In 19 ...
’ ''
Bunty Aur Babli ''Bunty Aur Babli'' (transl. ''Bunty and Babli'') is a 2005 Indian Hindi-language crime comedy film directed by Shaad Ali, written by Jaideep Sahni from a story by Aditya Chopra, and produced by Chopra under the Yash Raj Films banner. The film s ...
'' in 2005 directed by
Shaad Ali Shaad Ali is an Indian film director and screenwriter who works in Hindi films. Early life and education Ali was born to Muzaffar Ali and Subhashini Ali (née Sahgal), an Indian politician and member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). ...
, in which he gave a new look to
Patiala salwar A Patiala salwar (also called a pattian walee salwar) (also pronounced as ''shalwar'' in Urdu) is a type of female trousers which has its roots in Patiala City in the Northern region of Punjab state in India. The King of Patiala in earlier ...
s and kurtis. This led to a string of films, which got noticed for clothes designed and styled by him. In the subsequent years as he got busy with his film projects, he gradually steered away from mainstream fashion designing, and seldom appeared in Fashion Weeks, though he planned to re-launch his label, and balance between Fashion Week and film projects. Over the years, he got acclaim for the looks for
Amitabh Bachchan Amitabh Bachchan (; 11 October 1942) is an Indian actor who works in Hindi cinema. He is often considered one of the greatest, most accomplished and commercially successful actors in the history of Indian cinema.* * * * * With a cinemati ...
in ''
Jhoom Barabar Jhoom ''Jhoom Barabar Jhoom'' (transl. ''Keep On Dancing'') is a 2007 Indian Hindi-language musical romantic comedy film directed by Shaad Ali and produced by Aditya Chopra under the Yash Raj Films banner. Based on an original story by Ali, with ...
'' (2007), his second film with Shaad Ali,
Abhishek Bachchan Abhishek Bachchan (; born 5 February 1976) is an Indian actor and film producer known for his work in Hindi films. Part of the Bachchan family, he is the son of actors Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan. From 2012 to 2016, Bachchan appeared in ...
and
John Abraham John Abraham (born 17 December 1972) is an Indian actor and film producer who works in Hindi films. Known for his stoic action hero persona, he is a recipient of a National Film Award along with nominations for four Filmfare Awards. Abraham ha ...
in '' Dostana'' (2008),
Kareena Kapoor Kareena Kapoor Khan (; ; born 21 September 1980) is an Indian actress. A prolific leading lady of Hindi cinema since 2000, she is noted for her roles in a range of film genres—from romantic comedies to crime dramas. Kapoor is the recipient ...
's look in ''Tashan'' (2008) and later her mismatched look, employing the colour-blocking technique in ''
Kambakkht Ishq ''Kambakkht Ishq'' () is a 2009 Indian romantic comedy film directed by Sabbir Khan and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala. The film is based on the 2002 Tamil film '' Pammal K. Sambandam'' which in turn was based on the 1999 film '' The Bachelor'' ...
'' (2009) and
Ranbir Kapoor Ranbir Kapoor (; born 28 September 1982) is an Indian actor known for his work in Hindi-language films. He is one of the highest-paid actors of Hindi cinema and has featured in ''Forbes India'' Celebrity 100 list since 2012. Kapoor is the re ...
in ''
Bachna Ae Haseeno ''Bachna Ae Haseeno'' (transl. ''Watch Out, Beauties'') is a 2008 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy film directed by Siddharth Anand and produced by Aditya Chopra under the Yash Raj Films banner. The film stars Ranbir Kapoor, Bipasha Basu, D ...
'' (2008) and in '' Rockstar'' (2011) In 2009, sports-lifestyle brand Puma, which had previously worked with Alexander McQueen, Yasuhiro Mihara and Sergio Rossi, signed on Aki to create 'Black Label', a range of apparel, footwear and accessories to hit Puma stores in February 2010. In 2012, he designed the costume for Asin Thottumkal in Housefull 2.


Filmography

* ''
Monsoon Wedding ''Monsoon Wedding'' is a 2001 comedy-drama film directed by Mira Nair, written by Sabrina Dhawan, and starring Naseeruddin Shah, Lillete Dubey, Shefali Shah and Vasundhara Das. The story is set during a traditional Punjabi Hindu wedding in De ...
'' (2001) * ''
Bunty Aur Babli ''Bunty Aur Babli'' (transl. ''Bunty and Babli'') is a 2005 Indian Hindi-language crime comedy film directed by Shaad Ali, written by Jaideep Sahni from a story by Aditya Chopra, and produced by Chopra under the Yash Raj Films banner. The film s ...
'' (2005) * ''
Garam Masala Garam masala (Hindustani language, Hindustani: ''garam masālā'', ) is a Spice mix, blend of ground spices originating from the Indian subcontinent. It is common in Indian cuisine, Indian, Pakistani cuisine, Pakistani, Nepalese cuisine, Nepale ...
'' (2005) * ''
Bluffmaster! ''Bluffmaster!'' is a 2005 Indian Hindi-language crime comedy film directed by Rohan Sippy and produced by Ramesh Sippy. The film stars Abhishek Bachchan, Riteish Deshmukh, Priyanka Chopra, Sanjay Mishra, Boman Irani and Nana Patekar. It is ...
'' (2005) * '' Don - The Chase Begins Again'' (2006) * ''
Jhoom Barabar Jhoom ''Jhoom Barabar Jhoom'' (transl. ''Keep On Dancing'') is a 2007 Indian Hindi-language musical romantic comedy film directed by Shaad Ali and produced by Aditya Chopra under the Yash Raj Films banner. Based on an original story by Ali, with ...
'' (2007) * '' Tashan'' (2008) * ''
Bhoothnath ''Bhoothnath'' () is a 2008 Indian Hindi-language supernatural comedy film written and directed by Vivek Sharma, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Juhi Chawla, Aman Siddiqui, Priyanshu Chatterjee and Rajpal Yadav and featuring Shah Rukh Khan in an ...
'' (2008) * ''
Bachna Ae Haseeno ''Bachna Ae Haseeno'' (transl. ''Watch Out, Beauties'') is a 2008 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy film directed by Siddharth Anand and produced by Aditya Chopra under the Yash Raj Films banner. The film stars Ranbir Kapoor, Bipasha Basu, D ...
'' (2008) * '' Dostana'' (2008) * ''
Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi ''Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi'' (), also known by its initialism as ''RNBDJ'', is a 2008 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy film written and directed by Aditya Chopra. It was produced by his father Yash Chopra under their production banner of Yash R ...
'' (2008) * ''
Kambakkht Ishq ''Kambakkht Ishq'' () is a 2009 Indian romantic comedy film directed by Sabbir Khan and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala. The film is based on the 2002 Tamil film '' Pammal K. Sambandam'' which in turn was based on the 1999 film '' The Bachelor'' ...
'' (2009) * ''
Shortkut ''Shortkut'' (also known as ''Short Kut: The Con Is On'') is a 2009 Indian Hindi-language comedy film directed by Neeraj Vora and produced by Anil Kapoor under Anil Kapoor Films Company. The film stars Akshaye Khanna, Arshad Warsi, and Amrita Rao ...
'' (2009) * '' Kurbaan'' (2009) * '' Paa'' (2009) * '' Housefull'' (2010) * ''
Lamhaa ''Lamhaa'' () is a 2010 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film written and directed by Rahul Dholakia. It stars Sanjay Dutt, Bipasha Basu, Anupam Kher, and Kunal Kapoor in the leading roles. The film follows an Indian Army officer sent under ...
'' (2010) * ''
I Am I Am or I'm may refer to: Language and literature * "I Am that I Am", a common English translation of the response God used in the Hebrew Bible when Moses asked for His name ** I am (biblical term), a Christian term used in the Bible * "I Am" ( ...
'' (2010) * '' Tees Maar Khan'' (2010) * ''
Chillar Party ''Chillar Party'' () is a 2011 Indian Hindi-language family comedy film jointly written and directed by debutantes Nitesh Tiwari and Vikas Bahl and produced by Ronnie Screwvala under UTV Spotboy and actor Salman Khan in his production debut ...
'' (2011) * '' Rascals'' (2011) * '' Rockstar'' (2011) * '' Agent Vinod'' (2011) * ''
Housefull 2 ''Housefull 2'', sometimes called ''Housefull 2: The Dirty Dozen'', is a 2012 Indian Hindi-language action comedy film written and directed by Sajid Khan. Brothers Sajid Samji and Farhad Samji co-wrote the film under their duo Sajid-Farhad, ...
'' (2012) * ''
Highway A highway is any public or private road or other public way on land. It includes not just major roads, but also other public roads and rights of way. In the United States, it is also used as an equivalent term to controlled-access highway, or ...
'' (2014)


References


External links

*
Aki Narula
at
Bollywood Hungama Bollywood Hungama (lit. "Bollywood Madness" in Hindi), previously known as IndiaFM (or IndiaFM.com), is an Indian entertainment website, owned by Hungama Digital Media Entertainment, which acquired the website in 2000. The website provides n ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Narula, Aki Indian fashion designers 1968 births Living people Artists from Kolkata St. Xavier's College, Kolkata alumni University of Calcutta alumni Indian costume designers Fashion stylists 21st-century Indian designers