It was a night of nostalgia, as Alia Bhatt joined Bollywood’s veteran actress Rekha to celebrate the re-release of the 1981 classic Umrao Jaan.The event, held to mark the 4K restoration of Muzaffar Ali’s cult film, saw Alia paying tribute to the screen legend by recreating her unforgettable and chic Silsila look.Draped in a soft pink saree paired with feather earrings, red bindi and dewy, minimal makeup, Alia channelled Rekha’s character Chandni, as she hit the red carpet and struck poses for photographers.Taking to Instagram after the event, the beauty shared a series of photos and video clips, including a touching image of herself posing with Rekha for photos as they flipped through a special limited-edition coffee table book created to honour Umrao Jaan. The book is said to be a limited edition, collector’s item, featuring rare behind-the-scenes photographs, original costume sketches, and other intimate anecdotes from the film’s set.“An ode to a living legend… there never, was, is or will ever be another like you, ReMaa,” Alia captioned her post.Celebrity stylist Rhea Kapoor confirmed the inspiration behind Alia’s ensemble, sharing a side-by-side of Rekha’s original look on her Instagram Stories. “Rekha ma in Silsila has given us fashion and heartbreak refs for ages. Eons. Centuries. And the only way to pay homage is to do it correctly or not do it at all…” she captioned the post.Speaking at the screening, director Muzaffar Ali reflected on the film’s enduring cultural significance. As quoted by IANS, Ali said, “Umrao Jaan was not just a film; it was a journey into the soul of a lost culture, a forgotten tehzeeb. I had actors who brought a lot of heft to their characters, and then there was Rekha, who lived Umrao Jaan and truly immortalised it. I am thrilled that the film is back on the big screen for a whole new generation to discover a time and culture that’s very much a part of our being.”Originally released in 1981 and based on Mirza Hadi Ruswa’s 1899 Urdu novel Umrao Jaan Ada, the film follows the poetic rise and emotional turbulence of a Lucknow tawaif. It went on to win four National Awards, including Best Actress for Rekha, and is widely regarded as one of Indian cinema’s most iconic period dramas. The 4K restored version is now playing in theatres from June 27.On the work front, Alia Bhatt is set to star in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love and War, alongside Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal, and will also headline YRF’s ambitious spy thriller Alpha.
