Alia Bhatt’s blush Tarun Tahiliani sari was a nod to Rekha’s iconic Silsila look

For the special screening of the re-release of Rekha’s legendary film Umrao Jaan in Mumbai on June 26, 2025, Alia Bhatt made her appearance not dressed for the occasion, but dressed for appreciation. Her choice? A custom Tarun Tahiliani sari that was both stunning and symbolic. But rather than recreate the past, she reinterpreted it in a way that felt revered, relevant and entirely her own.

The screening of the musical drama saw several names like Janhvi Kapoor, Tabu and Hema Malini among many others from the film fraternity. The protagonist of the award-winning movie and the host of the evening, Rekha, stood tall in a bespoke ivory and gold lehenga by Manish Malhotra that was a subtle nod to her titular character. In a striking homage to cinematic nostalgia, Bhatt embraced the veteran actor’s ethereal look from Silsila, but with a distinctly contemporary take in her blush pink drape in flowy chiffon.