HELLO! India Exclusive: Why Anaita Shroff Adajania is India's stylist supreme

HELLO! India: Would you say styling is about reading people right?

Anaita Shroff Adajania: Styling, for me, is not just about reading people — it’s also about reading the room. It’s about understanding the assignment, giving it context, and really thinking about the person I’m working with. Who are they? What’s their personality? What do they genuinely enjoy wearing? Authenticity is key, whether I’m dressing a character, or preparing someone for a public appearance. All of that, combined with trusting my own instinct, is what guides me.

HELLO! India: One look from 2025 that you’re most chuffed about?

Anaita Shroff Adajania: I don’t usually look at my work in terms of years. But if I had to think about it, I’d say Kiara Advani’s swimwear look and the love song in War 2 made really strong statements. Styling three incredible, independent, individualistic women for the Met Gala were also defining moments for me this year — whether it was Isha Ambani with Anamika Khanna, Natasha Poonawalla with Manish Malhotra, or Kiara with Gaurav Gupta. Each was a powerful statement in its own right. 

HELLO! India: You’ve said that modern bridal looks are expressions of a bride’s personal brand...

Anaita Shroff Adajania: I never believe weddings should follow a formula. Every bride, every groom, every family is unique — as are their dreams. I begin by listening, by understanding who they truly are and what they hope for. My work is to weave those dreams into reality, to create looks they may have never seen before, yet somehow always imagined. And then I like to take it further — adding a touch of more beauty, a hint of more drama, a spark of magic.

HELLO! India: As one of the Ambani family’s favourite stylists, which expressions of the ladies would count as your favourites?

Anaita Shroff Adajania: Isha is beautiful inside and out. She has a remarkable clarity of vision and the confidence to make every look her own. Together, we’ve been able to create looks that feel authentic, graceful, and truly memorable... I feel extremely privileged to have worked with the Ambani ladies, especially during Radhika and Anant’s wedding. It was never just about styling looks, but about being part of moments that were deeply personal and meaningful to them.

HELLO! India: You changed the game in cinema with your styling of Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Dhoom 2. Today, such looks are all over the movies…

Anaita Shroff Adajania: As a costume designer for films, I’ve been very lucky to bring my own interpretation to certain characters — whether it was the Dhoom series, Cocktail, or more recently, War 2. It’s always about having fun with the world I get to create. In War 2, for instance, the boys were loved for their sheer machismo, while Kiara brought in a softer, romantic note — and, of course, that unforgettable bikini moment. Call Me Bae got my real fashion magpie side out.

HELLO! India: Today, every conversation around couture seems to be decolonising visual narratives. The Parsi gara embroidery, for instance, got a new lease of life on Natasha Poonawalla this year, with Manish Malhotra tapping into its detailed charm for the Met Gala… Tell us about your connect to this beautiful fashion legacy.

Anaita Shroff Adajania: Taking the gara to the Met was such an iconic moment. But it wasn’t just about the embroidery — it was the gara, the pearls, the memories of all the elegant women in my family who wore them. It felt like carrying a piece of my heritage onto one of the biggest fashion stages in the world. For me, honouring India’s crafts is deeply personal, and I’ve always tried to bring that into my work — seamlessly blending Indian and international fashion to create looks that are aspirational yet true to where I come from.

HELLO! India: You’ve often said the credit for a look goes only to a designer, while a stylist gets sidelined. Can you help us understand the dynamics of this?

Anaita Shroff Adajania: People often don’t realise that the idea of a look very often starts with the stylist — or at least is a true collaboration between the designer and the stylist. From there, it evolves with jewellery, hair, makeup, attitude and body language. Everything comes together as a cohesive vision. We work as a close-knit team. Yet, after an event, the credit usually goes only to the designer. That’s what I meant when I said it’s not fair. Designers who are true to themselves know exactly who brings what. It’s a team effort, and I think it’s important to honour that team every time.

This interview was featured in the September '25 issue of HELLO! India. For more exclusive stories, subscribe to the magazine here.