Why Is Deepika’s Stylist Getting More Attention Than Ranveer?

The call to change Deepika Padukone’s stylist seems to be getting louder.

Deepika Padukone with stylist Shaleena Nathani. (Photo courtesy: Instagram)

Remember that one statement made by Sonam Kapoor on Deepika Padukone’s fashion sense, while on Karan Johar’s Koffee With Karan?

Deepika has upped her game, but it’s all thanks to Anaita Shroff. Anaita has done a great job on her.

Sonam Kapoor

As Sonam’s approval spread like wildfire, so did the news of Anaita being Deepika’s personal stylist, ever since Cocktail. As the actress toured the world with her Hollywood debut - xXx: Return of Xander Cage - she’s been seen experimenting with her outfits whether at the MTV EMAs, various red carpets, or during the promotions of xXx. But, what’s interesting is that it isn’t Anaita who’s been styling Deepika in Mexico for the xXx promotions, or for the award functions, but Shaleena Nathani.

Now, for those of you who do not know who Shaleena Nathani is, well, she is the mind behind all the casual, airport, ethnic, magazine cover, ad campaign, red carpet, and award function looks that Deepika has recently donned.

What’s really interesting here is that Shaleena used to intern at an export house when she got an offer to intern with Anaita. As Anaita taught her the sleek tricks, in no time, Shaleena was seen styling stars from Hrithik to Shahrukh. In an interview, Shaleena recounts the experience of working at an export house at the age of 16, before interning with Anaita.

It was my dad’s friend’s (export house) and I would go there two to three times a week. Soon, I got an offer to intern with Anaita Shroff at a fashion magazine. One thing led to another, and before I know it I was designing for the stars. Anaita taught me to let my work speak for itself and eventually good work doesn’t go unrecognised.

Shaleena Nathani, in an <a href="http://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/bollywood/121116/deepika-padukones-battle-green.html">interview</a>.

Not only did the DDLJ stylist offer Shaleena an internship at Vogue, but also a first job at Anaita’s company, subsequently sending her to London to work with Deepika and Saif on the sets of Love Aaj Kal.

Now, Deepika’s Vogue BFF stylist seems to have been replaced by Shaleena in terms of a BFF in real life as well. The lucky girl now talks about her shopping adventures with the star as her stylist and about Deepika offering to share stuff which Shaleena may be unable to buy.

However, the recent drastic experiments on Deepika’s outfits haven’t gone down well with her fans. Deepika’s look at the MTV EMAs was slammed by the Daily Mail as a “Bollywood Blunder”.

After the Piku actress’ red carpet look at the Star Screen Awards, Deepika’s fans took to Twitter and demanded that Anaita be restored as Deepika’s stylist.

One fan even took to writing a long letter to Shaleena narrating how scary it is to watch Deepika nowadays, especially after seeing her struggle to speak with the media due to the big black pillow-like rose attached on the right side of the gown.

The demand for a change of Deepika’s stylist also made it to an online poll:

And the barbs continue. Some of Deepika’s fans had a problem with the flashy pants the actress had on for Shahid Kapoor’s birthday bash recently.

Wow! It sure looks like Deepika’s stylist is getting more attention than even Ranveer Singh these days.

Wonder what Shaleena has to say about all the negativity she’s been getting from Deepika fans online, and will the actress pay heed to all the sartorial criticism coming her way?

(Meehika Barua is a freelance writer, editor, lifestyle and entertainment blogger, who’s been published in various digital magazines online.)