Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla, the nearly three-decade-old brand known for their larger-than-life designs, are going “trendy” for Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2015 edition. They open the Week with an off-site show on August 25.  

Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla showing pret — that’s a surprise...

This is our first time at Lakme Fashion Week. It is a completely new line that we have created for Lakme. And we are having great fun. It is a trendsetting line from Abu and Sandeep. We do this once in a few years. We rethink, reimagine, rework and we come up with something brand new. There is no bridal happening here. It’s funky, ’70s and ’80s. The working title is ‘Jawani Jaaneman’. The disco bits, Funkytown… it’s all happening in this show. So, let’s see where it ends up. 

We don’t associate you with funky either...

We are not old yet. We are not ready to retire. All alive and kicking! 

When Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla become funky, what does funky become?

Funky becomes really acceptable and wearable I think. It’s trendsetting. 

What do you have in mind?

Something like what Sonam (Kapoor) wore at Cannes… the blouse that she wore, that is a part of the collection. There are almost 10 lines that we are showing, but the colour palette will be off-white to beige to a hint of colour. No gold zardozi… the Abu-Sandeep couture wedding pieces… none of it. It’s got more sequins, more bugle beads and threadwork. It’s of course got the Abu-Sandeep sensibility, but just gone sexier, younger and may be shorter or longer, but it’s not an Anarkali. It’s got volume of course because that is our trademark again, but it’s not only about the Can-can. We’re fed up with that. 

Do you see this collection as a challenge for the brand to stay young?

It’s a thought that Abu and I had… we may be doing wonderful, beautiful things and enjoying our classic reputation for too long. Abu-Sandeep is a classic brand basically. So we said, ‘Let’s change the demographic a little bit and let’s go trendy and just crazy’. 

Seventies fashion is really big right now. Is there anything you loved personally back then?

Oh! The flared bell-bottoms that had us all mad. We were in school and were not allowed to wear more than an 18-inch flare and people were wearing 25-inches and 32-inches. We wanted to wear them too. I was in a boarding school. Abu was of course a fashion player! India in the ’70s was very nascent in fashion. Women wore kaliwala kurtas and whatever Bollywood did at that time. The ’60s were much better fashion-wise, but then again Zeenat Aman and Parveen Babi are all inspirations. 

The brand is almost three decades old. What do you think is the secret of sustaining something for so long?
It’s a lot of hard work, never taking ourselves and our customers for granted and constantly trying to reworking and doing better for ourselves. We’ve had lots of sleepless nights… we still have and will continue to have. 

Are partnerships more difficult to sustain… 

Everything is difficult in life. Nothing comes easy. Yes, partnerships are difficult. We disagree to agree. And we respect each other. That is most important. 

What is the inspiration?

One philosophy we have always agreed upon is, the bigger the better. It’s not less is more. People have become so mundane in their lives. We want to be constantly excited in our lives and that comes through in our designs. We have revived chikan, taken it to the another level,

And, they are all very grand… Some of the grandeur comes from your Kapurthala roots as well…

It comes from Abu and my dreams (laughs). We’ve always dreamt big. Hollywood, musicals and Bollywood, in it’s own way… Pakeezah has played an influence in our lives, Meena Kumari is a favourite. It’s an amalgamation of so many different things. And, we still enjoy having a great meal. Food is pleasure. If we come to Calcutta, we have to go to Kewpie’s for dinner. 

When it’s Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla, we have to ask you about the bride. What are the things a monsoon bride should look at? 

Monsoon is always about colours. So, the brighter the better. And may be, well put together. Nothing too heavy too, and it has to be more about flare.

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On the brand and the Bachchans 

They are true believers of our brand. They are wonderful friends. We met up through clothes. We are constantly inspired by them.

Amitabh Bachchan: Extremely inspiring as a person. He reinvents himself all the time. A motivator. He is edgy and timeless at the same time.   

Jaya Bachchan: Classic. We love everything Bengali and she has been an influence in our lives.

Abhishek Bachchan: Trendy.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan: Beautiful.

Shweta Bachchan: Trendsetter.