Tara Sutaria first stepped into the limelight in 2010 as a video jockey on Disney Channel’s show, Big Bada Boom, but it’s her upcoming Bollywood debut this November, in Karan Johar’s Student Of The Year 2, that’s caught everyone’s attention. And now, the 22-year-old Mumbai-based actor and dancer is the face of Label Ritu Kumar’s Fall/Winter 2018-19 campaign, where she has lent her graceful moves to a video, choreographed by Ashley Lobo. We spoke to Sutaria and Label Ritu Kumar’s CEO Amrish Kumar to discover more.
ELLE: What can we expect from the F/W 2018-19 line?
Amrish Kumar: It is inspired by urban culture, dance and music—particularly hip-hop and jazz. We wanted to make statement-worthy clothes you can dance in. The collection features free-flowing silhouettes, funky embroidery and all-over statement prints. We’ve experimented with new-age techniques on different fabrics like shimmer georgette and velvet. It also marks the launch of our line of costume jewellery.
Tara Sutaria: The colours are young and vibrant, and the metallics make them perfect for the party season. My personal style is quite feminine; I love dresses, and the collection has a few that are beautifully decorated, with eclectic prints and intricate embroidery.
ELLE: How did you decide on Tara as the face of the campaign?
AK: We wanted a bright new personality. What’s more is that Tara trained at the Royal Academy Of Dance, London, and is a master of various dance forms, which was a major plus point, given the campaign we had in mind.
ELLE: The campaign video brings together two different art forms—fashion and dance. What was the thought process behind it?
AK: Dance is a representation of a cultural form, as is fashion. The objective was to bring attention to the inspiration behind the collection, so we put together a jazz dance routine.
ELLE: Tell us about working with Ashley.
TS: I’ve known and trained with Ashley for years. I love his vision and passion for dance, so filming this video together was a great experience. I learnt so much from him—he knows exactly what he wants and he’s a great motivator on set.
ELLE: Any fashion tips for the modern woman?
TS: Confidence is key. Don’t wear something you don’t feel 100 per cent confident in, no matter what the trend is. And always balance your accessories with your outfit. Go bold with simple outfits, and keep it low-key with stronger ones.
