Ace fashion designer Manish Malhotra, whose creations have shaped Bollywood’s style legacy across generations, believes that adaptability and collaboration are essential to lasting success in the industry.
Having worked with top stars and now designing for the next generation, the designer-turned-producer notes that rigid creative hierarchies are becoming obsolete. According to Manish Malhotra, “Today’s generation responds to conversations, not instructions. ”
Manish Malhotra On Collaborating With Stars Across Generations
In an interview with Hindustan Times, Manish Malhotra said, “I’ve worked with Chunky Panday and now Ananya Panday, from Sridevi to Janhvi Kapoor, Shah Rukh Khan to Suhana Khan. That journey is only possible when you don’t approach work by saying you know better because you’ve worked with the previous generation.”
Sharing his thoughts on Gen Z actors and star kids, Manish Malhotra said, “The minute you stop being collaborative, the process breaks down. Today’s generation responds to conversations, not instructions,” he said, adding that he has rarely faced issues of professionalism on set.
He added, “They are extremely invested in their work and very open to learning. What I see in them is a strong sense of self and a real desire to be part of the creative process, not just the end result.”
Manish Malhotra On Connecting With New-Gen Actors: ‘I See My Role As A Bridge’
Sharing about what helps him to connect with every generation of actors, he said, “I see my role as a bridge, someone who understands the classic language of Hindi cinema but can also speak the contemporary, visual, and cultural language that this younger generation connects with.”
He went on to add, “None of us knows better. Every day is a new day, and if you want to move ahead with time, you have to listen and evolve.”
According to Manish Malhotra, these changing dynamics have reshaped the filmmaking process, making the industry more open, collaborative and creatively energised. Reflecting on the evolving dynamics of the film industry, the designer-turned-producer, who has produced Saali Mohabbat and Gushtaakh Ishq, pointed to a larger shift in the filmmaking process.
He said, “Cinema today is far more democratic than it used to be. Ideas don’t just come from the top anymore. They come from every corner of the set, rather than only from the top. That shift has changed the way films are made, and it’s made the industry more open, collaborative, and creatively alive,”
The Indian designer also said that audiences have become more diverse and discerning, which has pushed actors and creators to be more mindful, reflective, and self-aware in their work.
