Prateik Babbar Upcycles Smita Patil's Kanjeevaram Sarees For Manthan Screening: 'It Was Challenging'

Actor Prateik Babbar turned heads with a unique style choice at the Mumbai screening of his late mother Smita Patil’s film, Manthan. He wore a suit-pant made from her Kanjeevaram sarees, designed by Rahul Vijay. The designer expressed gratitude to Prateik for the opportunity to create this special outfit.

Rahul shared on social media about delving into Smita Patil’s archives for inspiration, blending her iconic style with Prateik’s look. He wrote, “Thank you @_prat for letting me dig into the archives of your late mother, and the very iconic #SmitaPatil. When Prateik called me up asking me to dress him up for the Indian premiere of #Manthan, #SmitaPatil’s first movie that was shown at the recent Cannes Film Festival, I knew I had to bring in elements of Smita Patil’s style into his look. Now this was challenging because we were getting womenswear pieces & moreover we didn’t know what we would end up finding from Smita Patil’s wardrobe that would match Prateiks style.”

Rahul further shared that Prateik’s aunt played a significant role in helping them choose two precious silk Kanjeevaram sarees from the family’s collection, carefully preserved through the years. The idea was to marry traditional Indian textiles with contemporary silhouettes, and to bring this vision to life, he collaborated with Monica Shah from Jade by MK.

The result was a stunning cropped double-breasted tuxedo in rich black silk, with the delicate pinstripe pattern from one of the sarees artfully crafted into wide-legged pants. The striking red border of the second saree was skillfully incorporated into the design, adding a touch of sophistication and grace to the overall ensemble. This unique blend of heritage and modernity in Prateik’s outfit truly showcased a brilliant fusion of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary fashion sensibilities.

He continued, “We wanted to keep the silhouette very very modern considering we were recycling Indian sarees. I always like the juxtaposition of Indian textiles on modern silhouettes. And finally we decided on a cropped double breasted tuxedo in plain black silk & we recycled the second pinstriped saree into wide legged pants and used the red border of the saree as trims on the sleeves ( the design was lifted from a recent look that the brand did for their couture collection)”.

He also emphasized, “Sustainable fashion with an emotional connection, this look has it all! Thank you to everyone at Jade involved with this project and my super super team @disha_punjabi and @simranbhatia28. Never thought I would recycle two sarees into menswear.”

During the screening, Prateik was accompanied by his girlfriend and fellow actor, Priya Banerjee, who added a heartfelt personal touch to their appearance. Priya adorned herself in Smita’s exquisite saree and jewelry, paying tribute to the legendary actress in a touching way.

Expressing her gratitude on Instagram, Priya thanked Prateik for the privilege of wearing his mother’s beautiful saree and jewelry, and for entrusting her to honor it with grace. She reminisced about the history behind the saree, revealing that it was a Tanchoi saree worn by Smita Patil during an event for the Nargis Dutt Cancer Foundation. Recalling the poignant moment when Smita wore the saree with the Pallu draped elegantly in the front, Priya shared how Smita walked down each aisle, holding the Pallu in her hands as she urged people to donate, creating a truly touching and memorable scene that resonated deeply with all who witnessed it.

The restored edition of Shyam Benegal’s iconic movie, “Manthan,” featuring the esteemed late actress Smita Patil, triumphantly reclaimed its well-deserved place in the limelight with a prestigious screening at the Cannes Film Festival. Originally released in 1976, the film holds a special significance as it draws inspiration from Dr. Verghese Kurien’s pioneering milk cooperative movement, a transformative initiative that played a pivotal role in making India one of the leading milk-producing countries globally. The movie was elegantly presented as part of the Cannes Classics selection, celebrating its enduring impact and relevance in the world of cinema.