Alia Bhatt turned heads at the screening of Umrao Jaan, not just with her elegance, but with a heartfelt tribute to Rekha’s iconic look from Silsila (1981). Dressed in a soft pink custom saree paired with feather earrings, Alia’s appearance was styled by Rhea Kapoor, who drew direct inspiration from Rekha’s cult classic style as Chandni in the Yash Chopra directorial.The actor complemented the look with dewy makeup and free-flowing hair, posing gracefully for the paparazzi at the event. The nod to Rekha’s style wasn’t subtle, it was a full-fledged homage that had fashion enthusiasts buzzing.Rhea Kapoor took to Instagram Stories to post a picture of Rekha in the original Silsila look as a reference point, confirming the homage. Fashion critic Diet Sabya also applauded the styling, writing, “Rekha ma in Silsila has given us fashion and heartbreak refs for ages… and the only way to pay homage is to do it correctly or not do it at all. Alia in TT custom couture baby pink (or is it lilac?) sari worn with feather earrings for the screening of Umrao Jaan tonight. Reference done correct. Modern. Styled by @rheakapoor.”A double celebration of Rekha’s legacyThe event also marks excitement around the re-release of Umrao Jaan, one of Rekha’s most celebrated performances. Restored by the National Film Development Corporation-National Film Archive of India under the National Film Heritage Mission, the film returns to theatres this Friday.Set in 19th-century Lucknow, Umrao Jaan follows the story of Amiran (played by Rekha), who is kidnapped and sold to a brothel, later becoming a renowned courtesan. The film also stars Farooque Shaikh, Raj Babbar, and Naseeruddin Shah, and is considered a cinematic and musical classic.Alia Bhatt, who has often expressed admiration for Rekha, will next be seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love and War opposite Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal, and in the YRF action film Alpha, which is part of the studio’s spy universe.
