Sabya dresses up Saloni for the season finale of Band Baajaa Bride

“I’ve put oil in my hair. Which I’m not going to wash off. And it’s too humid to leave my hair open.”

Does that sound like Sabyasachi Mukherjee the designer? No. Is it him? It is.

And not just the designer. It’s Sabyasachi Mukherjee the seasoned TV pro.

On the sets of Band Baajaa Bride, he is B.U.S.Y. In front of the camera. Behind the camera. In his office. (Come on, it’s May and you know which red carpet keeps the designers busy, don’t you?)

In Season 3, Sabya is quite the TV natural. Even his long hair looks more tamed. Sometimes he does turn up in white Keds but when someone makes clothes as breathtaking as he does, we can ignore the Keds (even if they are white).

t2 talked to the designer in between takes as he shot the finale episode of BBB at his Topsia studio.

How was Season 3 different from Season 2 for you?

I had more days of shoot so it was much more stressful!

Thankfully there are no knuckle-fillers [tightening of the skin over the bride’s knuckles] this season! How did you manage to avoid it this time?

If I had my way there should have been no fillers at all!

Sabyasachi accompanies Saloni, the BBB season finale bride, to the mandap. “Saloni Mehta is a Gujarati girl marrying a Bengali. This kota sari is my take on the traditional red-and-white panetar (a Gujarati wedding sari). It fuses Gujarati and Bengali sensibilities,” said the designer

There’s a trend of you choosing the underdog bride. Is that deliberate?

No bride on the show is an underdog. They are all people with very strong stories. And when you read about them, they are all victims of either circumstances or fate and they have all made a progressive effort to try and overcome it. When you have a problem, and you share your life on national TV, it is commendable.

A favourite anecdote? I wear a heavily-quilted bandi (waistcoat) and a kurta pyjama, which has almost become my uniform for the show. We shoot under very harsh spotlights and no air-conditioning. Something that keeps Ambika (Anand, co-host) and me going through the shoot is Caramel Frappuccino from Starbucks!

I got my hair tonged — and I looked ridiculous! I bonded with the brides’ mothers. I also get mobbed at airports now because people recognise me!

Does it get stressful sometimes?

It does. Sometimes we take three months to deliver a lehnga but on the show we have to deliver it as early as three days! And try dressing up a weight-loss bride — you don’t know what her measurements will be till the last day!

Any wishlist for the future seasons?

Well, TBZ (Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri) has been a great addition in Season 3 and brides can now afford to wear good jewellery. Their trousseau comes from Alka Nishar. I think we could do with a whole lot of gifting. I would like to take the show to a level where the bride could get an apartment and also a new car! Hopefully some day it should happen.

You seem much more comfortable in front of the camera now…

Ambika has taught me survival tips. She has told me never to touch anything on the show because then they will take a close-up of your hand. So, now I try to keep my hands in my pocket!

What will you most about BBB?

Caramel Frappuccino! (Laughs a lot, very loud!)

ten commandments for brides-to-be

A moment from Chand Bibi, Sabya’s iconic bridal collection. Indrani Dasgupta strikes a pose

1. Do not stress.

2. Bond with your family. It just changes your aura.

3. Look after your skin. No good make-up can compensate for bad skin. So, drink lots of water.

4. Do yoga for a month before your wedding. If you don’t feel good from within, you won’t look good from outside.

5. There’s nothing better than Ayurveda.

6. Don’t go for anything that is too chemical when it comes to hair dye, beauty etc.

7. Invest in traditional clothing.

8. Wear jewellery that complements your skin colour. Diamond in most cases is cold, instead pick jadau or gold which is more antique.

9. When it comes to your shoes, make sure they are comfortable. Break into them before the D-Day.

10. Finally, don’t be embarrassed about being who you are and where you come from. Whether you are rich or poor, believing in your roots makes you a much better bride.

What would you as a bride-to-be like to ask Sabya? Tell t2@abp.in' t2@abp.in

10 things learnt on the sets of bbb

Bharat and Ambika on the sets of BBB

1. It’s not easy being the BBB bride. In the middle of not being late for your own wedding and stressing (and sometimes being all bridezilla), the bride also has to learn lines for the show!

2. “I need a pat.” Are the four most oft used words on set.

3. Because it’s HOT. The aircon is off. Because it interferes with the audio.

4. You have to be your own mirror. If you think you didn’t do well or can say your lines better, just do it. Again.

5. It’s all about window dressing. A concrete slab can be converted into the most decadent dresser. All it takes is a metre of red Benarasi, few flowers, some diyas and a mirror.

6. Nothing is a coincidence. That flickering of the candle isn’t by chance. It was strategically placed in the frame for that soft, diffused effect.

7. It’s all about attention to detail. A carelessly left mobile phone in the frame, or the click of a camera can annoy the director.

8. There is no hardbound dialogue handed out. Sabyasachi is REALLY the guru that he comes across on the show. Bharat Arora (co-host) REALLY is that charming, de-stressing the bride to make her smile. And Ambika Anand is REALLY that gorgeous — and skinny — in real life.

9. Sometimes full books are read on set. “It’s an acquired art. You have to learn how to switch off in between shots. You can go crazy otherwise,” says Ambika.

10. This reality show is really real! The bride did get married. We also went for the wedding. (And ate. A. Lot).