On a sunny Sunday morning, Gaurav and Arjun Chakrabarty walked into fashion designer Surbhi Pansari’s Loudon Street store for a fashion shoot for t2. And the moment we uttered “fashion”, Arjun pointed at elder brother Gaurav!
Here’s why…
Does this happen always?
Arjun: I am not finicky about what I wear. Obviously, they have to be fitted…
Gaurav: He is not only not fussy, he just doesn’t care…
Is that good or bad?
Gaurav: Bad! I keep telling him, don’t wear this and don’t wear that. Especially when we used to stay together, I used to drive him mad. I used to give him some of my clothes… everything doesn’t fit him… he is larger than me.
Arjun: I am most comfortable in full-sleeved tees and joggers, which obviously you cannot wear everywhere. Ekhon ektu suit-toot achhe… koriechhi. I got it made during my wedding. I looked up a picture of Daniel Craig from Skyfall… him in a grey suit. I figured that’s the kind of suit I wanted. If I have to dress formally, I pull out those only. I have been a fan of casual shirts and chinos. I basically don’t invest a lot (laughs), which I should!
Gaurav: At one point, he had built a wonderful physique, but he was like, I don’t want to show it off! So, even during summer, he would wear full-sleeved shirts and baggy clothes!
What about you, Gaurav?
Gaurav: I used to be exactly like him…
Till you met Ridhima (wife)!
Gaurav: Till I met Ridhima! (Laughs) I met her during the shoot of Rang Milanti. Gourab Chatterjee was also a part of the project. These two people were instrumental in changing my wardrobe! The first thing she said was, ‘Throw away your baggy clothes’. I used to wear really ill-fitted jeans and tees because they were very comfortable. I later joined the gym because of Arjun. Gourab gave me his jeans to wear for the film. I developed an interest in fashion. I started reading up and it is important to gather knowledge about anything. Now, I am a little particular about what I wear.
Arjun: I try to look smart. I don’t wear baggy any more. Till 18, I wore baggy clothes, then I started wearing fitted jeans. I hate anything that is too fitted though. I dress up for occasions, but otherwise it’s joggers and full-sleeves.
Gaurav, what are you most comfortable in?
Gaurav: In jeans and T-shirt obviously, but I like slim fit. With my body toning up, I thought fitted clothes would look nice.
Would you brothers share clothes as kids?
Gaurav: That used to happen till an age… then he outgrew me, but we have shared… may not have got the perfect fit but I have given him my clothes.
Arjun: Shirts, especially…
What do you like from each other’s wardrobe?
Arjun: His collection of shoes is envious. I invest more in casuals. It is a good thing that he is particular about his watch and shoes… the fit of his shirt. May be I could learn a thing or two.
Gaurav: I love his collection of casual shoes. He keeps buying them.
Arjun: Online…
Gaurav: And, his collection of sweatshirts also.
Were you both influenced by dad Sabyasachi Chakrabarty?
Arjun: We liked the fact that he kept it simple. I think that’s brushed off more on me. Porlei holo! As long as there are no holes in your T-shirt and your pants are not falling off. He has a great frame, which we’ve both inherited partially.
Gaurav: Which, unfortunately, I have not. I am of a small built.
Arjun: Baba is 6’1.5’’, which neither of us are…
Gaurav: You are 6ft.
Arjun: Just about…
Gaurav: I remember when we were kids, Baba used to do this television series, Rudra Sener Diary. Anjan Dutt was the director. Baba used to play a very cool private investigator. He used to wear all black— black T-shirt, black leather jacket, black pants, black shoes, black sunglasses… I used to like that look a lot! My mother (Mithu) has a picture. Very smart. I have tried it but couldn’t pull it off as well as him.
What about his Feluda look?
Gaurav & Arjun: That’s iconic.
Gaurav: I love the simple jeans-kurta-shawl look. Aami toh majhe modyhe ektu shujog pele, especially sheetkale kurta pyjama pore shawl ta niye ektu ainar shamne darai! (Laughs)
Arjun: I am also loving the kurta-pyjama look, more so in summer. I don’t like to wear it with denims. It’s always a churidar or an aligarh-cut pyjama.
Any fashion phases?
Arjun: I have worn a lot of six-pocket trousers at one time.
Gaurav: I actually bought a couple of bell-bottoms! There was a huge influence of Amitabh Bachchan… then Hrithik Roshan brought it back in fashion post-Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai. That’s one phase that I regret.
What are you wearing a lot right now?
Arjun: I am still in love with my full-sleeve tees. Some day I plan to have an envious collection of 500 full-sleeve tees at… Star Wars, plain, solid… all kinds.
Gaurav: I am going through a formal phase — slim-fit suits.
Arjun: You can never go wrong with suits!
Gaurav: And thankfully, the winter is lasting this time… so, shujog pelei porey nichhi!
Style inspirations Arjun: International footballers have a good collection of sneakers. That’s always attractive. They also wear well-fitted suits.
Gaurav: I am a huge fan of Amitabh Bachchan. I wanted to be as tall as him, but that was not in my control! Everything else I wanted to try! The jacket from Muqaddar ka Sikandar, the denim jacket from Sholay….
Arjun: The Sara zamana jacket…
Gaurav: Now, that’s difficult to pull off! I really like Ranbir Kapoor’s sense of style — simple and casual.
Stylish actresses
Arjun: Deepika Padukone is very elegant, so is Priyanka Chopra… but I don’t follow them a lot.
Gaurav: I like Alia Bhatt a lot and I really like the way she dresses.
Saionee Chakraborty
Pictures: B. Halder
