TV characters might have typical behavioral traits, but their wardrobes are predictably tailormade to suit their reel roles. Here are some classic costumes that certain characters are always expected to sport in their soaps, irrespective of the airtime/channels.
Bad girls stream it up
TV's bad girls make a style statement of their own. These evil ladies flaunt the sexiest see-through sarees (net or lace), long locks cascading over their shoulders, blood-red lips and heavy eye make up.
Monica Bedi (Guman, Saraswatichandra) Monica Bedi makes her debut in soaps, as the manipulative sexy step-mom. She dons some beautiful see-through sarees with velvet border and matching accessories and oozes enough oomph to steal the scene from the female lead!
Simran Kaur Hundal (Anamika, Anamika) Small screen's gorgeous chudail Simran turns heads in black lace sarees, blood-red lips, manicured nails, dark eye shadow, long free-flowing locks and a choker. Evil never looked sexier!
Seema Mishra (Deepali, Madhubala - Ek Ishq Ek Junoon) Newbie actress Seema Mishra wears the best sarees, her hair a riot of salon-styled curls, her lips tinted with bright lip gloss and plays the bad girl with elan. It's possible to hate her, but ignore her? No way!
Singles in salwars On Hindi GECs, single middle class girls have to be vivacious, loud and of course OTT. And to ensure that the audience doesn't miss their 'bubbly' behaviour, their wardrobes follow a format —these they usually get to wear patialas-tees or anarkalis with long dupattas.
Drashti Dhami (Madhu, Madhubala - Ek Ishq Ek Junoon)
After playing a Punjabi kudi in Geet..., Drashti continues to live the same chirpy, cheerful look in Madhubala... Clad in typical anarkali chudidaars, pleated curls with a big smile on her face (tempered with the odd tearjerking scene), Drashti rocks the bubbly girl look. Ahaan!
Roopal Tyagi (Gunjan, Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke)
The pear shaped former choreographer is almost always seen in a patiala with blouses/tees, a big, infectious smile. Bright colours and junk jewellery with flat slippers complete her look.
Sanaya Irani (Chanchan, Chanchan)
Sanaya Irani is all set to play a happy-go-lucky girl (deja vu time, considering her last screen role Khushi from Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon? was uncannily similar) in her soon to air show. That explains the huge smile, patialas with tees and jacket along with traditional jholas.
Saree story for bahus
TV bahus are a predictable lot. They might appear simple and submissive but are usually extremely strong-willed (read stubborn). To accentuate their simplicity, you'll find them in single-tone sarees with the ubiquitous pallus placed firmly on their heads. Their accessories and make-up are suitably minimalistic.
Deepika Singh (Sandhya, Diya Aur Baati Hum) Deepika Singh has worn the same look (heavyduty sarees and silver jewellery mile long mangalsutra) for two whole years. The pallu has also stayed firmly on her head, much like her fixed expression — a hint of a smile playing on her gloss tinted lips during this time.
Toral Rasputra (Anandi, Balika Vadhu - Kacchi Umar Ke Pakke Rishte) The new Anandi carries off the simplistic ideal bahu look. Her sarees are bright bandhnis, her jewellery chunky, but the demure pallu is a constant on her head that is an indication that she's really the 'bindni'.
Suhasi Dhami (Sona, Aaj Ki Housewife Hai... Sab Jaanti Hai) Suhasi Dhami slips into the role of a spunky young homemaker out to prove her worth at home! Draped in silk sarees, minimal accessories and curly locks, she does present a refreshingly different picture.
Kratika Sengar (Aarti, Punar Vivah) Kratika Sengar likes to keep it simple and doesn't experiment much with her look. The pallu on head makes an occasional appearance, while the mangalsutra and flowing hair are constant.
Asha Negi (Purvi, Pavitra Rishta) Puffed sleeved blouses teamed with sarees draped the way Bongs used to in the 40s, big bindis, and an ever present smile, Asha Negi has a slightly different look. Until you saw the familiar mangalsutra that is!
Suit it right
In a daily soap, biz tycoons and young professioanls might not actually do more than hold a file, hit the laptop keys or attend the odd board meeting, but their wardrobes are inspired by Aamir Khan's Ghajini look (rolled up shirt sleeves) or a three piece suit (including a vest-coat) or a suit with a tie. P.S.: An occasional display of abs is required to amp up the hotness quotient from time to time.
Karan Singh Grover (Asad Ahmed Khan, Qubool Hai) He may rarely leave the living room or dining table to do some actual work, but Karan Singh Grover is always immaculately clad in three piece suits. A pity that the carefully cultivated formal look has been carried off to perfection before by Gurmeet Choudhary (Geet Hui Sab Se Parayi) and Barun Sobti (Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon). Arrogant biz tycoon have to resemble each other you see!
Gurmeet Choudhary (Yash Scindia, Punar Vivah) Gurmeet's look in his current show seems like a replay of his previous look (Mann Singh Khurana in Geet...Hui Sabse Parayi) — he wears waistcoats with shirt sleeves rolled up, hair neatly combed, a smirk and an arched eyebrow in most scenes.
Karan Tacker (Viren Singh Vadhera, Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna Hai) As a reel lawyer, Karan Tacker shows off his biceps and well-built body in a Ghajini-styled shirt teamed with formal trousers. The cute guy-next-door also wears a heartbreaking smile for an accessory.
Rithvik Dhanjani (Arjun Kirloskar, Pavitra Rishta) Rithvik Dhanjani essays the role of the NRI businessman with elan. He's also got an impeccable sense of fashion and is perfect eye-candy. Okay, the three-piece suit look is done to death, but he carries it off better than a lot of counterparts.
