Fashion designer Raamz, who is known for styling the who’s who of Tollywood with his exquisite menswear collections, is back facing the arclights with Fighter Raja. The actor, who was last seen in the crime thriller Pachchis, will be seen in his sophomore project after a hiatus of three years.“I play a stuntman and body double who works in the film industry, and the plot revolves around his struggles.Since I began my stint as a technician in the industry, I could resonate with the character. The only difference is that I chose the good way, Fighter Raja takes the wrong path.”
When asked if it was a conscious decision to take a break, the Hyderabad-based designer tells us, “I want to have versatile characters in my trajectory, even if the number of films is less.” Interestingly, Raamz has also doubled up as the costume designer for his character. “I have always believed that the clothes, look, and hairstyle of a character have to be appealing to connect with the audience. For instance, Fighter Raja is not someone who would go to a mall to shop for his clothes. So, I bought jeans from the market, washed them, and wore them.”
Talking about the difference between designing for a film and for his collection, he says, “When it comes to films, I work more like a technician.
Even on the sets, I behave like a costume designer. When a director narrates a character to me, I explain why the character should wear a particular colour, when he should have a transformation in his looks, etc. On the other hand, when I am crafting my collections, it’s my baby entirely.”
Elaborating on the evolution of men’s fashion over the years, Raamz says, “Earlier, people used to complain that men had very few options to explore.
Today, that’s not the case. It’s been 10 years of Chandrika Raamz’s (Chandrika is his wife) journey, which focuses on creating timeless menswear. We sort of created a revolution of sorts in men's fashion in the South. There are many upcoming actors in the industry who want to dress well. But are scarce because most designers want to give their clothes to the big stars. Having said that, getting clothes from big designers is not a cakewalk. As I hail from the South, I understand the industry well. ”
Raamz has in his repertoire some of the top actors in the industry, including working for Rajinikanth’s Endhiran. “We created some of the best looks for actors in the South, be it Vijay Devarakonda, Ram Pothineni, or Rana Daggubati.”
Quiz Raamz who he thinks has a great sense of fashion in the industry, and pat comes the reply. “Pawan Kalyan! In the early stages of his career, he started wearing something that was never tried and tested in Indian cinema. And he carried himself effortlessly. Even today, I admire his fashion statement. His loose fits and layering are all quite unique. There are a lot of actors, including Rajinikanth and Vikram, who have a great sense of style.”
Giving a peek into the latest in men’s fashion, Raamz states, “Monochrome is in. When people ask me for suggestions, I ask them to go for classics, as they never go out of style. Style has to be simple but elegant.Look at the pictures of your parents or grandparents, the kind of suits, bootcut pants, and oversized glasses are all trending today. You can layer the clothes, but don't go with too many cuts. Style has to be simple but elegant. If you're dressing in the right way, and have the right posture, you will feel good and confident.”
And what's next after the last edit, Dawn and Dusk? “We are working on a wedding collection. We are done with the clothing and are awaiting the shoot. I like to come up with quirky names for my collection, and this one, too, will be on similar lines.“