How Did Sonam Kapoor's ‘Aisha’ Redefine Fashion in Bollywood?

Mumbai, Aug 6 (NationPress) It's been 15 years since the launch of the film Aisha in Hindi cinema. Sonam Kapoor, an actress and fashion icon, revealed that while creating the film, she and her sister Rhea Kapoor aspired to explore fashion, making it stylish and accessible to everyone.

Aisha marked Rhea Kapoor's debut as a producer and featured Sonam Kapoor, Amrita Puri, and Ira Dubey, directed by Rajshree Ojha.

Reflecting on the film, Sonam expressed: "While making Aisha, we never aimed to make a significant cultural impact. We were simply two girls wanting to create a film that we would enjoy watching, something Bollywood wasn't offering at the time."

She continued: "People resonated with this, recognizing the film as a defining piece for the youth of that era."

"From the beginning, we envisioned a film that would play with fashion, making it appealing and accessible to everyone."

Sonam shared that both she and Rhea were passionate about this vision, noting, "We understood that everyone was interested in fashion, but there hadn't been a film that was so boldly focused on creating a chick flick centered around style."

"We had no idea how Aisha would influence cinema and impact pop culture as well as the mindset of the youth in our country and among South Asians globally."

Discussing how Aisha initiated dialogue about fashion in Bollywood, Sonam stated: "For the first time in Bollywood, fashion took center stage, sparking mainstream discussions about style and self-expression through clothing—values I've always championed."

What makes Aisha special for Sonam?

Sonam explained: "That's why Aisha holds a unique place in my heart and the hearts of many girls from my generation; her character is relatable and embodies every young woman on a journey of self-discovery, unapologetically."

"She’s stylish and intelligent yet vulnerable and imperfect, yearning for love, much like all of us have at some point. That relatability perhaps makes her timeless, continuing to resonate in pop culture, wardrobes, and hearts even fifteen years later—what a wonderful gift that is for us all!"

Aisha was co-produced by Rhea Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, and Sunil Manchanda. The film tells the story of Aisha, who enjoys playing matchmaker despite her friend Arjun's disapproval, setting her sights on the simple Shefali. However, her matchmaking attempts jeopardize her close friendships.

Set in Delhi's elite society, the film adapts Jane Austen's 1815 novel Emma, sharing a similar tone with the American movie Clueless, which is also based on Austen's work.