As Karisma Kapoor marks her birthday today, we find it timely to reflect upon a time long ago when there were no Instagram reels or influencers or viral TikToks to establish the fashion trends; they were set by movie stars, in particular, one star – Karisma Kapoor, that shaped an entire generation.
For every 90s kid raised on a strict diet of Bollywood movies and music channels, Karisma was far more than an actress; she was a fashion icon and the girl that all young girls aspired to look like, dress like, and have as much confidence in themselves as she did.
Celebrity style is picked apart on the internet within just minutes of their appearance; but in the past, when Karisma appeared in a popular song with a new haircut, salons across the entire country were flooded with calls requesting her hairstyle. Karisma’s feathered layers, soft bangs and smooth wavy hair became the most imitated hairstyles during the decade. If you were between the ages of twelve and nineteen during the 90’s, more than likely you or someone you knew had a hair style inspired by Karisma.
But her influence didn’t stop at hair.
Karisma was born in a time of boldness and colourfulness in Bollywood fashion; therefore, she accepted all of it fully. She incorporated everything, neon clothes, crop-tops, denim combined with denim on denim looks, matching coordinated outfits, small shades, accessories for coloured hair, and glamorous dresses, into her everyday wardrobe.
In retrospect, some of these outfits appear to have been extraordinarily spectacular; however, that was the magic of the time. During this period, social media had not been developed or used yet; specifically, curated feeds and aesthetic planning for photos for your feed. Fashion was something to play with, and Karisma had understood the point of fashion long before that term became popular.
Finally, say what you will about her confidence; it is potentially her most important accessory.
Her screen pairings with famous Indian film actors and her films where she led the show, she had an incredibly large presence that could easily provide the key and guide many high-tempo and energetic dance performances, romantic scenes, emotionally charged scenes, and comedy with the same energy and ease.
Another thing that made her popular was that she seemed unattainable but still shown as “aspirational”. One day she dressed exquisitely in high fashion and the next day she wore a simple salwar suit that looked chic. You felt she was the “cool girl” you wanted to have as part of your social circle, but her influence on “pop culture” is undeniable. She was one of the preeminent influences in Indian cinema throughout the ’90s, whether through her fashion choices as featured on magazine covers, or the countless “dance numbers” replicated around the world in schools or at family weddings.
She still has such strong influence on pop culture. So, it would seem logical that so many people continue to admire her today as they did 30 years ago. Before social media gave rise to the concept of “influencers” and how they reach those they do, Karisma Kapoor was already an influencer in the way she influenced an entire generation through her hairstyles, fashion choices and unforgettable performances on-screen!
Happy Birthday Lolo!
