Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt turned heads at the special screening of the restored classic Umrao Jaan on Thursday evening, paying a heartfelt tribute to veteran actress Rekha by recreating one of her most iconic looks from the 1981 film Silsila.
Styled by Rhea Kapoor, Bhatt arrived at the event in a delicate baby pink saree by TT Custom Couture, paired with a high-neck blouse, feather earrings, and minimal dewy makeup. The ensemble was a direct homage to Rekha’s portrayal of Chandni in Silsila, a role that has since become a benchmark for elegance in Hindi cinema.
Fashion commentator Diet Sabya praised the recreation, stating, “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. Reference done correct. Modern”.
The screening, held in Mumbai, marked the theatrical re-release of Umrao Jaan (1981), directed by Muzaffar Ali and starring Rekha in the titular role. The film has been meticulously restored by the National Film Development Corporation and the National Film Archive of India under the National Film Heritage Mission.
The event was attended by several industry stalwarts including Rekha herself, who appeared in an ivory-and-gold ensemble by Manish Malhotra. Other notable attendees included Aamir Khan, Tabu, Hema Malini, Anil Kapoor, and AR Rahman, making the evening a celebration of cinematic legacy and timeless style.
Alia Bhatt’s tribute was widely appreciated not only for its aesthetic fidelity but also for its emotional resonance, bridging generations of Bollywood glamour. The actress is next slated to appear in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love and War and the YRF action film Alpha.
