Couturier Rohan Pariyar’s latest edit of corsets finely melds the sartorial and cultural preferences prevalent in Renaissance Italy with modern intricacies

The new collection has been crafted keeping in mind Italy and the influence of Renaissance on the world. The Medici family’s fashion choices and their contribution to art and architecture played a central role in inspiring the silhouettes and motifs. The colours are all solid dyes in dark natural tones, as was prevalent in the 16th century. Some of the motifs are even inspired from the Catholic influence in Florence in those days.

The idea is to blend contemporary silhouettes with traditional Indian craftsmanship and European motifs. The collection aims at bringing Indian craftsmanship on the red carpet. The previous collection, Louis XIV, was an extremely colourful one, featuring baroque motifs, while this new line is all solid colours and architectural motifs. The last collection featured avant-garde silhouettes and crinolines, while the latest one features designs that are a lot more relaxed and red carpet-friendly.

It is very easy! A corset fits all body types and is meant to accentuate the human anatomy. A corset paired with a sari goes as well as a corset paired with an A-line skirt. At the same time, pairing corsets with trousers, different styles of skirts and shirt dresses give it a new look every time.

Yes, it is true that a corset implies at an hour glass shape. But that is the case for all body types. Whether a size zero or a plus size, a corset embraces each and every body type and brings out the best of the wearer. Today, when I style someone with a corset, it pleases me to see how women of all body types are curious about this piece of clothing. To continue spreading the message of body positivity and acceptance, we would like to keep featuring corsets in different ways every time.

We do all shapes and styles of skirts; we work on custom bridal orders, cocktail dresses and formals. We are also trying our hands at men’s Western wear, which we plan to roll out very soon.

With a flagship store coming up next, we want to venture outside of Bengal and take our work and Bengals’ craftsmanship outside the state.

Celebration inspires me. It’s a very short life, we might as well celebrate every aspect of it.

Deepika Padukone. For some strange reason, I’ve been obsessed with her style and looks since her debut in Om Shanti Om. I feel that red carpet moment of her character, Shantipriya, in that film, inspired a lot of emerging designers like me.

There are three timelines in the film. One is a modern timeline. Another is the Binodini timeline and there’s yet another covering Chaitanya Deb’s timeline. I am acting in the modern timeline. My character is named Rai and she is a filmmaker. There are three characters in this timeline, played by Parno Mittra, Indraniel Sengupta, and I.

I don’t think there’s anyone who doesn’t want to work with Srijit Mukherji. I also wanted to for a very long time. Kaushik Ganguly and Srijit Mukherji were on my bucket list. I had worked with Kaushik Ganguly, and now, finally, I will be working with Srijit too. Producers Rana Sarkar and Srijit, both thought I would be a good fit for the role. I think the character is very different and fresh. It’s not as easy as it sounds to portray someone from the modern era. I am equally excited and scared, and obviously nervous. Hopefully, I will be able to perform well under Srijit’s guidance.

I am shooting for two projects simultaneously. One is Souvik Kundu’s family drama, Tejpata with Parambrata Chatterjee and Laboni Sarkar. The other is a small role in Eken Babu Benarasey Bibhishikha. My other film, Check in Checkout will release on April 18.

The good work that is happening around me inspires me. Bollywood sometimes comes up with great projects, Superboys of Malegaon is a recent example besides Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies. Even a few Bengali projects, that I’m not a part of, inspires me. I am very disciplined and focused about everything. I am always thinking how I can improve myself and be different in a role that is similar to the ones I have already enacted.

I am more spontaneous and instinctive as an actor. When I am in my costume and on the set with my co-actors, my instincts come into play. I have seen that a lot of the other actors use method acting, but I think I trust my instincts more. I cannot really murder someone in the name of method acting. I cannot live being one of my characters. Before I leave the floor, I have to leave the character behind.

I prefer simple silhouettes. So summer equals linen, pure cotton, and any soft fabric that will not irritate my skin. Both prints and colours work for me. I wear a lot of cotton shorts, cotton frocks, or long boho dresses. Summer means minimal makeup, minimal jewelleries, linen saris, cotton saris, mulmul saris, and maybe a shirt on top of sleeveless clothes for protection from the sun.

I hate wearing gowns. I find them very uncomfortable. I am not tall, so I have trouble carrying one. It’s also bothersome to sit down because of the cancan. I am more comfortable in a sari. I can even run and jump in saris. It can be ready to wear, designer drapes, or even cocktail saris. Salwars also work well but it has to be ethnic for sure.

I am not dressy, but I loved the corsets that we did. I will try to incorporate these in my wardrobe. I mostly have practical clothes in my wardrobe. I like wearing loose fitted clothes. I have a lot of casual clothes, pants that I like wearing. I am a Bengali, so I definitely have saris. And since I wear ethnics also, I do have kurtas and salwars in silk and cotton.

I like pastels throughout the year. Summer is great for softer colours, they soothe the eyes also. But I also gravitate towards prints. Brighter prints look nice at times.

I love juicy watermelons and muskmelons that are high in moisture content. I even carry shakalu (Mexican water chestnuts) with me to shoots. I drink a lot of water and have glucose drinks when I am shooting under the sun.