Warm and receptive, Ameira Punvani’s spirited passion shines through her work, and well, the sheer eagerness to talk about it, enveloped in a childlike admiration despite herself being the very backbone of all that magic on-screen. From an unexpected conversation with director Shaad Ali that led to her bagging Bunty Aur Babli–her first gig as a costume stylist to working with Mani Ratnam, she’s been privy to the makings of numerous iconic Bollywood movies. Cut to today, she’s excited to see her hard work formulate and come to life in Citadel: Honey Bunny, where she collaborated with Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Varun Dhawan for the Indian remake of the action series. Here’s our chat with her.
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ELLE: Tell us about your styling journey.
Ameira Punvani: Bunty Aur Babli was my first film. The director, Shaad Ali, was in Delhi at the time. I had a store where I was making clothes—colourful, fun, and very original pieces. Shaad saw some of my work and asked me to come to Mumbai to work on a film. At the time, I was content with what I was doing in Delhi, but the idea of working on a Yash Raj film seemed interesting. So I packed my bags and came to Mumbai, not even knowing where Linking Road or Andheri was. But I managed somehow. Shaad was very happy with the work I did for Bunty Aur Babli, and that’s how word of mouth led me to do more films. After that, I was introduced to Mani Ratnam for Guru. And many more movies, music videos and now, Citadel: Honey Bunny.
ELLE: What was it like working with someone like Mani Ratnam for Guru?
Ameira Punvani: Mani Sir is a visual encyclopedia. When he gave me the brief for Guru, I was so young, and I had no clue how things worked. But I threw myself into it. I put together a presentation, made some sketches, and the next thing I knew, I was off to Chennai. I learned everything on the job, and working with Mani was incredible—he’s so meticulous. After that, I worked with some amazing actors like Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who taught me so much. Aishwarya, for instance, is very particular about how her clothes sit on her body. There was this one time on set when her sari fell off, and in seconds, she guided me on how to fix it, teaching me some tricks along the way. Working with industry veterans like her and Mani Sir was a huge learning experience.
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ELLE: Cut to Citadel: Honey Bunny, what was it like, working on that show?
Ameira Punvani: For Citadel: Honey Bunny, I worked closely with Raj and DK. They gave me a very clear and precise brief. We shot in multiple countries, and I was involved in every look. Samantha, in particular, was very technical. She’s incredibly fit, and when we discussed her looks, she would ask very detailed questions about how her clothes would move during action scenes or how the lighting would affect her outfits. She really keeps you on your toes, which is great because it pushes you to do your best work. Varun was different in that sense. He’s very involved but in a more relaxed way. We had fun discussing everything, from character choices to ’90s Bollywood style. It was a lot of fun working with him—we even laughed about the ridiculous fashion choices in ’90s films.
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ELLE: Name a Hollywood celebrity you’d love to style one day.
Ameira Punvani: You know, when I was working on Citadel: Honey Bunny, I found myself looking at a lot of Jennifer Aniston’s style. I’ve been a Friends fan for years, and I admire how she carries herself. Her effortless style, especially in more recent years, is timeless. I’d love to work with her one day.
ELLE: How would you describe your personal style?
Ameira Punvani: My personal style is all about being chic, but also very comfortable. In the past, I used to wear high heels just for the sake of it, but I’ve realised that if I’m not comfortable, I can’t enjoy myself. I now make sure I choose footwear that’s both stylish and practical, even if I have to spend a bit more on it. As for clothes, I love bespoke pieces. Being petite, I like to get things custom-made so they fit me just right.
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ELLE: What are you looking forward to in the near future?
Ameira Punvani: After Citadel: Honey Bunny, I’m definitely taking a bit of a breather. I’ve been working nonstop for a while, and I felt it was time to step back, recharge, and reflect. I’ve realised that sometimes taking that time off is essential for creativity—it helps you come back fresh and inspired. So, I’m looking forward to a few upcoming projects, but for now, I’m focusing on giving myself that space. I think it’s important for personal growth and to avoid burnout. But yes, there are a couple of exciting shows and films in the pipeline, so I’ll be back at it soon.
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