Farah Khan and Sania Mirza on fashion, friendship and Pakistan

Dubai: They say one cannot have a permanent enemy or a permanent friend in the film industry, perhaps this is one of the reasons that friendships outside the industry are comparatively long-lasting. One such friendship is between India’s leading film director Farah Khan and ace tennis player Sania Mirza. Not only do they enjoy each other’s company but their collective sense of humour becomes a source of entertainment whenever they interact with the media together, throwing the wittiest of one-liners back to back.

Sania and Shoaib Malik were recently in Dubai to launch ‘The Label Trunk’ – a clothing and accessories exhibition led by Sania’s sister Anam Mirza. Sania is also the brand ambassador for the fashion platform. So obviously she was around to support her sister and incidentally so was her friend, Farah Khan; in fact, Farah had traveled with Sania to support the label.

Something Haute’s Dubai correspondent, Sadiq Saleem, got a chance to speak to these influential women about their fashion choices, their friendship, and the Pakistan connection.

The first question that came to mind, while they both were seated on the couch, was a predictable one. How did they become such thick friends?

Farah took that one and said, “I wanted Sania as a guest on one of my shows but somehow we were not able to arrive at a common date due to our schedules. So when she came back to India, she came over to my house for a coffee and we chatted about almost everything under the sun and I never felt that I was talking to her for the first time. It is interesting to have a bond with someone who is not from the film fraternity as it broadens the scope of your conversations. We instantly connected.”

Do you believe that opposites attract, I asked Sania since she and Farah were so different.

“I think yes,” Sania replied. “I cannot dance to save my life and Farah cannot play any sport. Hence we are fit for each other.”

So many biopics have been recently made on sports personalities but we haven’t heard anything about yours? Who are you reserving the rights for?

“Well people have been talking a lot about it but I have not given the rights to anyone,” Sania replied. To this Farah said, “I’ll make one; I have the rights without even her permission.”

Directing my next question at Farah Khan, I asked whether she had ever thought of visiting Pakistan, knowing that there are countless Pakistanis who loved her work.

“I hope someone takes me there one day,” she replied. “I would love to visit Pakistan and I know there are so many people from Pakistan who love me. You know Mein Hoon Na just completed 10 years and it had a great message of unity between the two countries. I still get messages from people across Pakistan that how much they enjoyed the film and they keep on sending their love. I will come to Pakistan one day.”

Are you both fashion and brand conscious?

“Thankfully we have a good team of stylists who work so hard on us and sort things out for us that we look a little bit fashionable,” Sania answered. “My sister has a good sense of clothes and she does my styling most of the time. But independently we are not that great. Imagine, Farah wanted to wear sneakers with this dress. I think that says a lot,” she said jokingly.

Farah at her wittiest best responded, “Bhai the more I can walk, the more I can shop.” Having said that, she clarified that, “In most of my films I have given a lot of input in styling for not only the heroines but also for the heroes. That is why I ensure Shah Rukh takes off his shirt in each of my film.”

Do you have a fashion pet peeve, Farah? One thing that you don’t want back in fashion?

“I think low rise jeans. What’s their point? It’s just a useless piece of cloth that shows more than what you want to. The second one is Size Zero. I hope it never comes back because I cannot become one clearly.”

I asked Sania to share one of Farah’s habits that she wants her to let go off?

“I think Farah puts a lot of pressure on you when you are getting ready, especially when she is already done with her makeup and all. She wants you to leave right away if she is ready. She doesn’t even let you finish.”

Coming back to the exhibition/trunk show, we caught up with Yasmin Kassam, one of the best PR and celebrity managers in Dubai; Yasmin was also the force behind this exhibition.

“Pakistani designers have a lot to offer when it comes to fashionable clothing and wedding season and this exhibition wouldn’t have been complete without their presence,” she said.

– Sadiq Saleem is a Dubai based entertainment journalist. He is also an Instep and Something Haute correspondent and can be contacted on his page fb/sidsaidso.

• This article was first published in Instep on 23/11/17.