Biography

Aki Narula is an Indian fashion and costume designer, and stylist in Bollywood, who is well-known in the industry for his styles in some of the hit movies including Bunty Aur Babli (2006), Dostana (2008), Rockstar (2011), and more. The designer is popular for designing eclectic clothes that are bright, fun, and cool. Akis speciality is his variation with drapes and texture.Narula revealed in an interview that he found his passion for apparel designing when he was pursuing graduation. At the time, Aki started designing clothes for concerts, college plays, and for his annual college fest. The designer has no formal training in fashion designing. He added, [6]The Telegraph While studying commerce at St. Xaviers College, Calcutta, I was completely taken up by fashion. And despite no formal training in fashion designing, I began to design outfits for my friends..After completing his graduation, Aki joined the Lintas Group as a management trainee and worked there for ten months. He then got himself enrolled at Arizona State University to pursue a course in communications. In 1992, Narula returned to India and joined a cost accountancy programme. [7]Indobase.In 1994, Aki Narula finally switched his career to fashion designing after he was named the Best Fashion Designer from Kolkata at the Damania Fashion Awards, held by Damania Airlines across five Indian Metros cities. [8]AFA India.Within three years of stepping into the fashion industry, Narula launched his namesake fashion brand label AKI in 1997, the collection for which was showcased at his first fashion show at Melange, a designer boutique at Opera House, Mumbai. In the subsequent years, Aki started retailing his designs at 11 stores across the country. His fashion label introduced the chic style in the industry. [9]Indobase.He was also a part of the first India Fashion Week in 2000, organised by the Fashion Development Council of India (FDCI). Akis collection received an overwhelming response that pushed him into the limelight in the fashion industry, and Selfridges, a high-end department store in the UK bought Narulas complete collection. He also remained a part of Lakme Fashion Week from 2000 to 2008. [10]The Telegraph.In February 2002, Narula was appointed as the Design Director of Sheetal Design Studio in Mumbai. A year later, he started selling his collection internationally at Zingara, Cannes, and St. Tropez. [11]Indobase.The fashion designer also presented his collection at the Grand Finale of India Fashion Week in 2004. [12]Indobase.In 2005, Aki made his Bollywood debut by styling actors for Mira Nairs film Monsoon Wedding. The designer landed the project after receiving appreciation for his collections at various fashion shows. Soon after entering the film industry, Narula got the opportunity to work with different actors in some movies; however, according to him, he first received fame as a wardrobe stylist in Bollywood with Yash Raj Films Bunty Aur Babli in 2005, which was directed by Shaad Ali. Rani Mukerji and Abhishek Bachchan styled by Aki Narula in Bunty Aur Babli After his big break, Aki started to be known as the designer who redefined Patiala salwar and Kurtis, which landed him a number of film offers. [13]The Telegraph When the stylist was asked in an interview about entering Bollywood and his initial experience in the industry, Narula said, [14]MissMalini I hated it. Coming from the fashion fraternity into films, I absolutely hated my first day on a film set. Just the whole process seemed different and the experience wasnt pleasing at all..Akis move from fashion designing to styling in films, apparently, pushed him away from the mainstream fashion industry, including international Fashion Weeks. Narula commented on this shift in an interview: [15]The Telegraph Its films more than anything else that drives me. I think I am having a good time here. There are multiple projects happening at the same time, and I am required to be on set and travel. I dont miss fashion designing but I often think about it. Fortunately, in some of the films, I do get an opportunity to create my own line. I miss my label and the shows, but for me to do that would be missing out on whatever I am doing for the next two-three releases that I am going to have this year..