For this V-day, Richa Sharma and her daughter Aashna’s choice of colour is pink, ditching the quintessential red. This is the duo’s second shoot with The Telegraph and they posed wearing their confidence on their sleeves. Post the exclusive shoot of this special lookbook in the hot and cute colour, The Telegraph caught up with them for a heart-to-heart chat while they were having a day out in the city.
“This time Aashna was very keen about the The Telegraph shoot. She was very happy with the theme,” said Richa, recalling the mother-daughter duo’s first shoot with us in 2019 when she had to convince her daughter to pose in front of the camera. “This time I felt like a grown-up. Last time everyone was saying a lot of things regarding my face and make-up and everything else but this time no one had anything to say,” added the bubbly 20-year-old who studies in the UK and was in Kolkata on vacation.
Aashna, did you love Barbies while growing up?
Richa: She had almost 30 to 40 of them!
Aashna: Yes, I loved playing with Barbies. I had about 27 Barbies and their own closets; I used to sit and play with them and make up my own stories about how I wanted to set it up. I used to spend hours playing with just Barbies. They used to wake up and sleep with me.
Richa and Aashna cut a cute picture together in Shipra Karnani’s Barbie-styled outfits inspired from the memories of childhood days. The t2 camera captured a fun moment between the two while posing for this shot. The mother-daughter duo twinned in short, off-the-shoulder, tiered balloon dresses made of polyester, rendering the bounce to the ensemble. The bows elevate the cute factor! The looks are completed with complementing gloves, retro pony and bun hairstyle made pretty with hairbands and shiny-dewy make-up with a hint of pink on the lips.
Now that Aashna is a bit more grown-up, does she have a fashion and style taste of her own? Or does she turn to you for approval?
Richa: It is still the same. She is not going out till I nod my head and she has to take my opinion. If I ask her to add or remove something, she listens.
Aashna: I was very indecisive back then (2019). And when it comes to me choosing clothes, I become more indecisive. When someone else is wearing, I can easily give my opinion but when it comes to me, I am very indecisive. Even in the UK I used to worry who to show my outfits to. I need her to approve , I need that look on her face “Yeah! You look nice girl!” (Both laugh)
Aashna, was mom liberal with you while you were growing up?
Aashna: I think this woman has killed it in her timings. She was strict when she had to be and she has been liberal when she had to be. Since I was a child she told me that everything has a certain age and in that age she gave me everything that I deserved.
Do you share your secrets with each other?
Aashna: Yes, we know about each other more than anyone else does!
The mother-daughter duo cut a smart frame together in outfits from Estree by Priyanka Bhalotiaa. On Aashna, a statement solid-colour look with enhanced flap sleeves. The hair is tied up into a high pony. Bright shades like pink and purple on the eyes along with glossy lips accentuate the looks. Richa complemented Aashna’s look in a blazer dress with zipper detailing and raised shoulder style. Her hair is left open and the make-up is colourful.
Does that include your romantic interests as well?
(Both laugh)
Aashna: Yes! I tell mom. Even from UK I used to tell my mom, today I fell in love with five boys.
How do you react to that Richa?
Richa: I just tell her okay send me the pictures and then I tell her today it is five of them and tomorrow there will be another five of them!
Aashna: She tells me beta kabhi toh number reduce karo (reduce the numbers for once)! (Both laugh)
Richa: Now, I take it casually. I know these are infatuations for her. But I can reveal a secret. When she was 14-15 years old she liked someone and till now that has not changed. That was crazy! He was such a chocolatey boy (laughs).
Aashna did you share this with her or were you caught having a crush on this person?
Aashna: No, she found out. But that was one stepping stone when I started opening up to her. She was not mad at me and we started becoming frank.
Richa do you share your secrets with Aashna too?
Richa: Yes, everything! She understands my moods well. Sometimes when I am sad, she asks me to share my troubles with her. I open my heart out and feel relieved, and honestly sometimes she gives very good advice too. That way we are more of friends.
Richa and Aashna sported vibrant looks in wrap dresses from Your Silq. On Aashna, a short silk wrap dress with frilled hemline. Her hair is worn open with a matching band and shades of pink complete her make-up. On Richa, a long silk wrap dress with ruffle detailing on the neckline and sleeves. The neat bun hairstyle with shades of pink on the face complete the glam look. The ensembles are perfect for a cocktail date night with a loved one!
Aashna are you revealing any of her secrets? Mom has already revealed one of yours...
Aashna: She loves her name in general but then she loves to be called by the certain someone... (laughs)
Richa: Oh no! Not this one!
What is your favourite advice on love and friendship that you have received from each other?
Aashna: One thing I learnt from her is to give unconditionally, which is a good thing but also a bad thing sometimes. This woman will always go out of her way for every single person even though she has got so many reasons not to and I got this from her. She has always told me that it is always unconditional or it’s nothing when it comes to love or friendship.
Richa: Like two years back she came to me and said, 17 years of your life you gave it to your parents. Almost 18-19 years you gave to this family, you brought me up but now please live your life. Do what you love... and that was very sweet of her. She has always been a very understanding and mature kid and always thinks from my point of view. It is not that I have not lived my life before but the way she said was special.
Aashna were you ever caught making sneaky V-day plans?
Aashna: V-day has always been about parents for me for some reason. It has never been about boys or anyone else. I have always spent the entire day with my family. It could sound a bit cliched but the first person I fell in love with was my mom...
Richa: I have tears in my eyes now... for me the same... my all-time love is Aashna, and will always be so. The first time when I saw her, when she came out of my womb...
What are your favourite V-day memories?
Aashna: My mom secretly checking my phone to see if any boy messaged me(both laugh) and me pushing her to go out with papa (Manish Sharma).
Richa: And I remember, there were bouquets that used to come in since morning and in the evening we were supposed to go out and before stepping out I could see her counting all the bouquets. She came and said, mamma 71 and I am so proud of you but out of 71, around 20 don’t have names! (Both laugh) I used to tell her okay then tell me out of those 20 who could send which one. For her gifts, she always finds out who sends what!
Now that Aashna lives in London, what is your favourite way to bond with each other?
Aashna: Calling her for cooking instructions and ranting about my life at the same time. She talks to me but remains more focussed on whether I burn the food or not!
Richa: But this is something she loves. She has always seen me eat healthy, so she cooks there.
Pictures: Pabitra Das
Location: AltAir, Capella
Styling: Soumya Nandy
Hair: Abinash Bhowmick
Make-up: Moumita Naskar Das
Jewellery: Adro’s
