Five-and-a-bit days. That’s all Sitaare Zameen Par needed to claw back ninety-one per cent of its ₹120-crore budget, elbowing its way into 2025’s top-ten Hindi earners and sending cinema managers scrambling for “House Full” signs. Success this raucous deserves a premiere that glitters just as hard, so Aamir Khan rang up design duo Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla with a deceptively simple brief: dress everyone. Genelia D’Souza? Sorted. Ten excitable neurodiverse debutants? Bring the sparkle. The result is a miniature galaxy of ivory chikankari, star-spangled bandhgalas and even a guerrilla attack of blue-and-pink hair streaks. Below, the designers talk instinct, inclusivity and why chikan never quits.
What made you say yes to dressing the entire cast for the premiere, from Aamir to the young stars?
This was an instinctive yes. We admire Aamir’s work as actor and filmmaker, and dressing Genelia was a delight, but the real joy was styling the ten gifted, enthusiastic neurodiverse youngsters.
Aamir is known for keeping it simple. How did you make his look feel special without going over the top?
We wanted classic AJSK elegance, so we built on our signature chikankari. Aamir wore hand-embroidered ivory chikan with a single brooch for quiet flair.
Some of the kids wanted full Bollywood glamour. How did you bring those dreams to life?
We created black bandhgalas and short sherwanis, embroidered with stars to echo the film title. Heritage linings in bandhani and Ajrak kept things rooted, while one young lady twirled in a starry skirt-and-blouse fit for a princess. A few boys even rocked metallic blue and pink highlights because why not.
How did you make sure everyone looked great but also felt comfortable?
A premiere needs formality, so we stuck to classic silhouettes and breathable fabrics. Nothing trussed-up, nothing forced.
The outfits feel united yet personal. How did you balance matching and individuality? Why the star motif?
The star is the film’s heartbeat. We repeated it in different embroidery styles, letting each wearer shine in their own orbit.
You have dressed practically every big name. What made this experience stand out?
The energy. Meeting Aamir after years was delightful, but the children stole the show—hair, nails, endless ideas. Pure, unfiltered joy that reminded us why we began.
