Renowned as India’s most successful fashion designer, Manish Malhotra has reshaped Indian fashion over a 27-year career. From iconic looks for Bollywood stars to his eponymous label, his designs exude elegance and glamour. Recognized with numerous awards, his journey began with a childhood passion for fashion and evolved into a celebrated career in Bollywood and beyond.

Childhood & Early Life

Born on December 5, 1966, in London, Manish Malhotra showed an early love for fashion, experimenting with styles and ideas on his mother. Despite lacking formal fashion training, his talent for sketching and painting guided him. Initially a model, he transitioned to the fashion industry, gaining experience at Equinox in Mumbai. Despite initial resistance from his family, his passion prevailed, leading to a breakthrough in Bollywood with his designs for Urmila Matondkar in “Rangeela,” establishing him as a prominent designer in India.

Career Highlights of Manish Malhotra

Throughout his career, Manish Malhotra has left an indelible mark on the fashion industry:

• 1991: Debut fashion show received overwhelming response, selling out 70% of designs within weeks.
• 1998: Launched high-profile couture store Reverie-Manish Malhotra, drawing in elite clientele.
• 1999: Earned acclaim for glamorous ensembles at his first fashion show, showcasing traditional colors and craftsmanship.
• 2004: Introduced India’s first dedicated diffusion label “Manish Malhotra,” known for unique style and rich colors.
• 2005: Hosted talk show “The Manish Malhotra Show,” offering fashion tips and celebrity interviews.
• 2015: Presented “Mijwan – The Legacy,” a fashion show featuring Bollywood stars in his creations.
• 2016: Partnered with Etihad Airways for a Virtual Reality fashion experience at Lakme Fashion Week.
• 2017: Outfits from his 2013 couture collection featured at Philadelphia Museum of Art, spotlighting the Phulkari technique.

Awards & Achievements of Manish Malhotra

Filmfare Awards:

• 1995: Filmfare Award for Costume Design – Rangeela

Filmfare Glamour & Style Award:

• Not specified

Bollywood Movie Award:

• 1999: Bollywood Award for Costume Design – Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
• 2002: Bollywood Awards Designer of the Year – Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham
• 2005: Bollywood Awards Designer of the Year – Veer Zaara
• 2007: Bollywood Awards Designer of the Year – Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna

Zee Cine Award:

• Zee Cine Award for Costume Design
• Zee Cine Award for Best Costume for Mohabbatein
• Zee Cine Award – Zenith ‘London’ for Best Costume in 2008

IIFA Awards:

• 2001: IIFA Award for Best Costume – Mohabbatein
• 2002: IIFA Award for Best Costume for Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham
• 2004: IIFA Award for Best Costume for Kal Ho Naa Ho
• 2017: Wizcraft Samsung IIFA Award for Costume Designing

Filmfare Awards South:

• 2010: Filmfare Awards South for Costume Design – Enthiran

Masala Awards:

• 2010: Masala Awards for International Asian Designer of the Year
• 2012: Masa Awards for Fashion Personality

Bollywood Fashion Awards:

• Designer of the Year: 2002, 2004, 2005
• Best Costume Designer: 2004, 2005

Other Awards:

• Showtime Opinion Poll Award for Raja Hindustani
• Rok Glam Award Zoom for Contemporary Wear Design – Women in 2007
• Siemen’s Viewer’s Choice Award for Dil To Pagal Hai
• Stylish Designer of the Year at the Elle Style Awards in 1999
• Indo American Society Award for contribution to Fashion Designing
• Indira Priyadarshini Memorial Award for contribution to the fashion industry
• Felicitated by National Institute Of Fashion Technology
• Fashion Icon of the Decade 2013 at India Leadership Conclave 2013
• SAIFTA in 2013 for Outstanding Contribution to Cinema & Fashion
• International Film Festival Of India – Goa for Excellence Award
• Rajiv Gandhi Awards for designing in 2002
• Hall of Fame for HELLO in 2014
• Rang Sadhana for Costume Designer in 2008
• AICOG Achievers Award
• MOET & Chandon Champagne for tribute to Asian fashion designing in 2006
• Power brands & Fame & Planman for Styling new India in 2012
• Hindustan Times for Most Stylish – Delhi Season 6 in 2016
• Pratham, USA for Excellence in fashion in 2016
• The Antwerp medical team for noble cause in 2006
• Lycra MTV Style Awards for Celebrity Style in 2006
• Lyrca MTC Style Awards for Bollywood designer of the year
• FICCI – Speaker in 2014 for Changing facade of fashion industry in India
• Clariden LEU for appreciation for creativity
• Magzimise Awards 2016 for creative fashion & fashion accessories

Trivia: Manish Malhotra’s Philanthropic Initiatives

Manish Malhotra is dedicated to promoting regional handicrafts and rural workmanship in India. He collaborates with the ‘Mijwan Welfare Society’– an NGO founded by Late Kaifi Azmi and led by Shabana Azmi and Namrata Goyal. Since 2010, he has been actively involved in initiatives like ‘Mijwan Sonnets in Fabric’, aiming to empower rural communities.

Malhotra has adopted the Kaifi Azmi Sewing and Embroidery Centre in Mijwan, creating employment opportunities for local women. Through ‘Chikankari by Mijwan Welfare Society’, he showcases the exquisite craftsmanship of Mijwan women, revitalizing the traditional craft with his contemporary design sensibility.