Manish Malhotra on Sridevi, handloom, and dressing Janhvi Kapoor
Synopsis
Manish Malhotra's latest Instagram post is more than a styling showcase — it's a quiet tribute to Sridevi, handloom heritage, and the women who shaped his eye. Dressing Janhvi Kapoor in a gilded Kanchipuram brocade saree, he recalled a 1990s Chennai shopping trip with Sridevi that deepened his love for India's textile traditions. The post connects three generations of memory through a single weave.
Key Takeaways
Manish Malhotra shared photographs of Janhvi Kapoor in a pre-draped Kanchipuram weave brocade saree in a gilded amethyst hue on Thursday .
He recalled working with Sridevi on a Malayalam film in the early 1990s and shopping for handloom textiles together in Chennai .
Malhotra credited both his late mother and Sridevi with deepening his lifelong admiration for Indian handloom weaves.
His mother, Sudarshan , passed away on 19 March 2026 at the age of 94 ; he had recently paid tribute to her on her would-be 95th birthday .
The post highlights the cultural resurgence of Kanchipuram silk, a GI-tagged Indian textile, in contemporary fashion.
Celebrity costume designer Manish Malhotra has shared a heartfelt account of how a Malayalam film he worked on with the late actress Sridevi in the early 1990s deepened his lifelong admiration for handloom textiles — a connection he says he now sees echoed in Sridevi's daughter, Janhvi Kapoor. The reflection surfaced as Malhotra recently dressed Janhvi in a traditional Kanchipuram weave brocade saree, sharing the photographs on his Instagram.
The Kanchipuram Moment
The pictures, posted on Thursday, show Janhvi Kapoor in a pre-draped, stitched Kanchipuram weave brocade saree in a gilded amethyst hue, styled into what Malhotra described as a 'modern sculpted silhouette while preserving the soul of the traditional weave.' The designer noted that Janhvi 'carries Sridevi ma'am's legacy and looks effortlessly beautiful.'
Sridevi, Chennai, and a Lasting Impression
In his caption, Malhotra traced his love for handloom to childhood memories of watching his mother wear handloom woven sarees to weddings. 'The richness of Kanchipuram weaves, the beauty of Panchampalli saris, and the elegance they carried left a lasting impression on me,' he wrote, recalling iconic heroines who wore them on screen.
That admiration, he said, was further cemented when he worked with Sridevi on a Malayalam film in the early 1990s. 'She and I went shopping in Chennai,' he recalled, describing the experience as one that deepened his appreciation for 'these incredible textiles and the culture they represent.'
A Personal Thread Running Through the Work
The post carries a personal dimension beyond craft. Malhotra has spoken openly about the formative influence of his late mother, Sudarshan, who passed away on 19 March 2026 at the age of 94. He had earlier paid tribute to her on what would have been her 95th birthday, sharing rare childhood photographs on Instagram — one showing a young Manish kissing her cheek, another a candid selfie from a family gathering.
The convergence of these memories — his mother's sarees, Sridevi's warmth during a Chennai shopping trip, and now Janhvi in Kanchipuram silk — gives the post a layered emotional texture that resonated widely with his followers.
Why This Matters Beyond Fashion
Malhotra's post arrives at a moment when Indian handloom is receiving renewed cultural attention, with designers and celebrities increasingly using their platforms to spotlight traditional weaves. Kanchipuram silk, one of India's most celebrated Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged textiles, has seen a revival in contemporary styling — and a post from a designer of Malhotra's stature carries considerable reach. Notably, this is not the first time he has used a high-profile styling moment to advocate for heritage textiles; his runway work has consistently woven handloom into mainstream fashion conversations.
Point of View
In Malhotra's framing, actively carrying it forward. Whether that framing serves the handloom sector or primarily the designer's brand is a question worth holding alongside the sentiment.
NationPress
30 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Malayalam film did Manish Malhotra work on with Sridevi in the early 1990s?
Manish Malhotra has not named the specific Malayalam film in his post; he referred to it only as a project from the early 1990s during which he and Sridevi went shopping for handloom textiles in Chennai. The experience, he wrote, deepened his admiration for India's handloom tradition.
What saree is Janhvi Kapoor wearing in Manish Malhotra's Instagram post?
Janhvi Kapoor is dressed in a pre-draped, stitched Kanchipuram weave brocade saree in a gilded amethyst hue, styled into a modern sculpted silhouette. Malhotra described it as preserving 'the soul of the traditional weave' while giving it a contemporary form.
Why did Manish Malhotra say Janhvi Kapoor reminds him of Sridevi?
Malhotra said Janhvi 'carries Sridevi ma'am's legacy' and noted that dressing her in the Kanchipuram saree brought back memories of the late actress. He did not elaborate further, but the sentiment was central to the emotional tone of his Instagram caption.
Who is Manish Malhotra's mother, and when did she pass away?
Manish Malhotra's mother, Sudarshan, passed away on 19 March 2026 at the age of 94. He recently paid tribute to her on what would have been her 95th birthday, sharing rare childhood photographs on Instagram.
What is the significance of Kanchipuram silk in Indian fashion?
Kanchipuram silk is one of India's most celebrated handloom textiles and holds a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, recognising its origin in the Kanchipuram region of Tamil Nadu. It is prized for its durability, gold-thread brocade work, and cultural significance, and has seen a revival in contemporary styling by leading Indian designers.
