Anu Vardhan is an Indian costume designer and entrepreneur.[1][2]

Anu Vardhan
NationalityIndian
Occupation(s)Entrepreneur, Costume Designer, Celebrity Stylist
Known forCostume Design
SpouseVishnuvardhan
Children1

Career

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A graduate of visual communications from Loyola College, Chennai is a recipient of State Award for Best Costume Design and number of other awards. Anu Vardhan's first involvement in the film industry was through her family friend Santosh Sivan's The Terrorist (1997). She worked on costume designing, scripting dialogues, and also appeared in the film as a friend of the film's lead character played by Ayesha Dharker.[3] She then worked with Sivan again in Asoka (2001), as the Principal Costume designer. After extensive research on the historical period, Vardhan helped prepare 3rd century period costumes for the lead actors Shahrukh Khan and Kareena Kapoor.[4][5][6] Vardhan has worked extensively with actor Ajith Kumar, collaborating with him on his projects with Vishnuvardhan and Siva.[7][8]

In 2016, Vardhan worked on Kabali (2016), she styled Rajinikanth in two different looks - as a gangster wearing high-end suits and as a labourer in the 1980s. This film won her much appreciation and won her numerous awards[9][10][11] The success of the film prompted director Pa. Ranjith to sign her for his next film with Rajinikanth, Kaala (2018). In the film, Anu was tasked to primarily dress the actor in kurtas and lungis, with a black theme.[12]

Anu has also regularly used handloom products in her work, notably designing silk-cotton saris for Nayanthara for her role in Viswasam (2019). The popularity of the style prompted a demand for a similar products. She continued to design costumes with similar materials for Nayanthara in Bigil (2019) and Darbar (2020).[13][14]

Personal life

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Anu Vardhan is the granddaughter of Veteran Tamil actor N. S. Krishnan. Her husband Vishnuvardhan is a film director. The pair had met at Loyola College and had also worked on Santosh Sivan's The Terrorist (1997) together.[15]

Notable filmography

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As actress

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Year Title Role Notes
1997 The Terrorist herself debut as actress

As costume designer

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As producer

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Year Title Platform Notes
2020 Fingertip ZEE5 [16]

References

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  1. ^ "Meet Anu Vardhan, the Costume Designer behind Rajinikanth's styling in 'Kabali'". Firstpost. 7 July 2016.
  2. ^ "July Vignette: Anu Vardhan - Looks Like It Matters". Kanakavalli.
  3. ^ "Weaves of fortune". The Hindu. 5 December 2001.
  4. ^ "rediff.com, Movies: The Myth. The Truth. Unveiling Asoka". www.rediff.com.
  5. ^ "Image-makers". The New Indian Express.
  6. ^ Rooney, David (23 September 2001). "Asoka".
  7. ^ "Anu Vardhan Interview: "Ajith sir has always been there for me & Vishnu, as our well-wisher"". Only Kollywood. 28 July 2016.
  8. ^ "Ajith's dashing white suit! - Times of India". The Times of India. 15 January 2017.
  9. ^ Lazarus, Susanna Myrtle (2 May 2016). "Who created Rajinikanth's 'Kabali' suits?". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
  10. ^ Anantharam, Chitra Deepa (24 April 2017). "Stylist of the stars". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
  11. ^ "Our style is on fleek, yo!". 29 December 2016.
  12. ^ "Kaala costume designer Anu Vardhan on how challenging it was to make Rajinikanth powerful in simple clothes". 6 March 2018.
  13. ^ Rao, Subha (29 March 2019). "Handloom at the movies". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
  14. ^ Lazarus, Susanna Myrtle (25 October 2019). "Channel Nayanthara's 'Bigil' look with this capsule collection". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
  15. ^ "NS Krishnan 108th birth Anniversary". Behindwoods. 29 November 2016.
  16. ^ "'Fingertip' Trailer Video: Akshara Haasan and Gayathrie starrer 'Fingertip' Official Trailer Video ►". The Times of India. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
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