‘Method-dressing’ and staying true to one’s reel character at promotional engagements for a movie/show has become the norm, but it’s often seen as a one person job. It’s not. Sure, there’s the star but the A-team toiling tirelessly behind the scenes successfully completes the puzzle. It’s no news that we as an industry, fail to celebrate stylists with the dynamism they deserve, and in a bid to change that, we’re back with another #OffTheRack, this time with stylist extraordinaire Sukriti Grover.
Tasked with curating a picture perfect wardrobe for stars like Kriti Sanon, Shilpa Shetty and the likes, Sukriti Grover’s ascent is surely, one for the books. From being exposed to the intriguing world of movie styling at a very young age to bagging international projects on sheer merit, her trajectory has been nothing short of a fairytale. And it’s just the start for her, we reckon. Here’s our chat with with acclaimed stylist.
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ELLE: Tell us about your styling journey, from the beginning.
Sukriti Grover: I hail from Delhi, where I pursued my undergrad in Fashion Communications at NIFT Delhi followed by a Masters in Fashion Styling at Istituto Marangoni in Milan. Prior to that, I worked on two Hollywood projects shot in India – Bollywood Hero and Eat Pray Love, as a graphic designer in the art team. When I came to Mumbai, I then met Anaita Shroff Adajania and started working on movies.
Dhoom 3 kickstarted a string of projects as a styling assistant, and then came Fitoor, Tamasha, and Cocktail. Eventually, Dhoom paved the way for independent projects like Jagga Jasoos and Tiger Zinda Hai with Katrina. And that’s how it all began!
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ELLE: Three core skills to make it as a stylist in India.
Sukriti Grover: Your research has to be fantastic. The more you delve into what collections are being made, who’s making it, and actually pinpointing trends, that’s what sets you ahead of everyone else. To stay a step ahead, you should be on point with the latest collections.
Second, you need to be very proactive on set. You should know last-minute hacks, fix things on the fly.
And third, you need to be incredibly hardworking. There’s no substitute for dedication. Without sincerity, this job won’t take you far.
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ELLE: What was your ‘I made it’ moment that really set things in motion for you, professionally?
Sukriti Grover: That’s a tough one. Honestly, I still don’t feel like I’ve ‘made it’ – there’s always room to grow and improve. But if I had to pick a moment, it would probably be when I landed my first independent film project as a costume stylist for Jagga Jasoos, working with Katrina Kaif. It was pretty early in my career, around the age of 25 and Katrina was already a huge star.
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ELLE: A Hollywood celebrity you’d love to style and why.
Sukriti Grover: Hailey Bieber. I’m captivated by her effortlessly chic personal style.
ELLE: How would you describe your personal style?
Sukriti Grover: Casual, easy, a sneaker girl! I need to be comfortable. I live in a top knot, tying my hair up, it’s a very ‘me’ thing.
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ELLE: Take us through some exciting projects you’re currently working on / are looking forward to being a part of, in the near future.
Sukriti Grover: I wrapped up the styling for Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya (TBMAUJ) alongside the promotional looks a while ago, and now I am focusing on styling for events and brands at the moment. I’ve got some exciting fashion events on the horizon – stay tuned for some amazing looks!
ELLE: Three songs you have on repeat.
Sukriti Grover: At the moment, I can’t get enough of Akhiyaan Gulaab from TBMAUJ, Little Things by Jorjia Smith, and I’m Losing It by Fisher.
Also Read: Off The Rack: Ayushmann Khurrana’s Stylist Isha Bhansali On Her Styling Journey And More
