Most stylists are not paid by actresses for travelling, sourcing the attire and accessories, and returning the stuff to the designers in good condition.
Being a fashion stylist of a heroine in Tollywood is an "unpaid" work. (Pic for representation purpose only/CreativeCommons)
Did you ever wonder about the amount of hard work a fashion stylist does to make a star actor put his/her best foot forward?
Clad in the latest designer outfits and accessories, when a hero/heroine turns up for a film promotional event, the look indeed is put together by a stylist.
Wondering what exactly fashion stylists do? They are not fashion designers. They actually offer fashion advice to the actors, pick and coordinate the outfits, choose the accessories and prepare them for the shoots.
But, sadly, these stylists don’t get paid for travelling, sourcing the attire and fashion accessories and returning the stuff to the designer in good condition — we’re talking about stylists working for actresses here.
Pic for representation purpose only. (Creative Commons)
Well, the heroines do give their stylists credit by tagging them on social media pages. Nevertheless, at the end of the day, only negligible followers turn into potential clients for these stylists.
The female leads, in turn, not only get publicity but also earn revenue with every picture they post on their Instagram or Twitter pages.
The Telugu film industry has many fashion stylists who are struggling to make their mark. Their services are being utilised but they are getting dropped like hot potatoes.
A stylist who supplied ghagras for the daughters of an ageing Telugu hero rued that the blouses were torn when returned. The daughters feigned ignorance and refused to compensate. So, the stylist had to pay the designer from her pocket.
The fashion stylists do know that they won’t be paid. Yet, they source garments because they want to expand their network.
They hope that their work will be noticed someday and the star will offer them a promotional event, if not a film for personal styling; but neither of that happens.
Meanwhile, the stars keep changing their stylists and this is a vicious circle.
Rakshita (name changed on request), an up-and-coming fashion stylist in Tollywood, wanted to dress up a starlet who is popular on digital media; she hesitantly agreed to work without pay.
Her job was to get the designs approved, take the costumes for measurements and trials (wherever the star is shooting), and return them carefully to the designer along with the accessories.
Pic for representation purpose only. (Creative Commons)
However, Rakshita was in for a shock when she was refused payment by the starlet for the footwear. The stylist pleaded that no shoe store takes back stuff once purchased.
However, the heroine did not entertain Rakshita further since the latter asked for compensation.
Ironically, the very actress doesn’t mind paying for the courier, dry cleaners and other damages incurred, if any. Also, she doesn’t mind paying remuneration to the fashion stylists hired from Mumbai or Chennai for her promotional events!
Interestingly, heroes pay their stylists or get the producers to pay. It’s no secret that the star heroes draw the crowds to theatres and the movies run because of the craze they demand among the masses. Hence, they are paid well.
Not just stars but even the upcoming heroes do throw tantrums on delivering a box office hit and make the producers pay for their personal expenses.
Moreover, most actors prefer taking a share in profits instead of remuneration which is why they have a say in everything.
A fashion stylist chooses the right attire and accessories for the actors and prepares them for the shoots. (Pic for representation purpose only/Creative Commons)
But this isn’t the case with heroines. However, most leading ladies do compete with their male counterparts and make the producers pay not only for their garments and fashion accessories but for other expenses, too.
For instance, a non-Telugu heroine who was once popular in both Telugu and Tamil film industries eats a pizza in Mumbai and submits the bill to the producer in Hyderabad.
In another case, a mid-budget well-established heroine in Telugu collects soaps and shampoos from different hotels she stays as a part of shootings and uses them throughout the year.
But neither of them pays their stylists!
Geetha, a popular fashion stylist (name changed) who works for a reputed production house in Tollywood, said most stylists are called for last-minute adjustments or emergency events when a person of their choice or brand is not available.
She noted that Tollywood directors these days are recommending their wives as stylists for the films they helm.
“The better halves might have a talent for picking clothes but that isn’t enough. The film industry has a Union for the 24 crafts. Only those who hold the Union card can work in that particular capacity,” Geetha explained.
For instance, director Srinu Vaitla’s wife Roopa Vaitla worked as a stylist in most of his films. Similarly, director Ramesh Varma’s wife Rekha Varma worked for his flick Rakshasudu.
Right now, actor Nani’s sister who turned director is reportedly styling for his films. No one questions if they hold a Union card!
Fashion stylist Gauri Naidu, who is now working for writer-director Sasi Mohan Ubbana’s forthcoming flick Sasivadane, concurs.
Stylist Gauri Naidu. (gaurinaidu/Instagram)
A director can do his job without a Union card but it doesn’t mean his family can do a stylist’s job. In fact, no person should work free of cost since it undermines the value of the person and his/her skills, she observed.
Nevertheless, the producers are giving in to the whims and fancies of the actors. Since they don’t want any stumbling blocks at the pre-production level, they say “yes” to everything, Gauri Naidu pointed out.
“Of late, actors are recommending their friends and acquaintances for styling and are not willing to utilise the services of the fashion stylists roped in by the producer for the entire cast,” the stylist added.
Gauri is known for her work in Khaidi No 150, Rangasthalam, Akshara, Suryakantham, Gaddalakonda Ganesh, and Khiladi, to name a few. She also has Ari and Flashback in her kitty.
In any big-budget film featuring stars, the power play begins when they start dictating the terms. They refuse to shoot or attend promotions if there isn’t a stylist of their choice.
There is no vigilance mechanism/system to check if the producers are signing stylists registered with the Union. Moreover, a producer employs an executive producer to do such jobs.
Moreover, the heroes/heroines are not questioned when they submit bills — worth several thousand/lakhs of rupees — for the attires and accessories picked by the fashion stylists they hire from Mumbai and other metro cities.
In recent times, particularly when the shootings were halted in Tollywood in August last year due to unresolved issues prevailing in the Telugu film industry, the stylists in Tollywood brought their issues to the notice of the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce.
They also resolved to not work without remuneration and compensation for the expenses incurred.
Following this, the Active Telugu Film Producers’ Guild announced that the personal styling bills will henceforth be borne by the actors. But the decision has not yet been implemented in Tollywood, leaving the fashion stylists hopeless and helpless!
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