Not just a style statement, the red rose has stood for beauty, power and passion every time a female protagonist has worn it in her hair. The Bollywood filmmaker who has championed the red rose is Sanjay Bhansali — even the first look of his debut web series Heeramandi on Netflix had Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha and Aditi Rao Hydari wearing red roses on their locks. We take a look at some of the red-hot red rose looks.

Taapsee Pannu

The Haseen Dilruba and Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba actress wears a red rose in her hair throughout the 2021 romance thriller and its dramatic sequel, which premiered on Netflix a month ago. In almost every frame, while facing any challenge and emotional upheaval, Taapsee’s Rani has the red rose in place. In both the films, Vikrant Massey plays Taapsee’s husband.

Alia Bhatt

In Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s 2022 film Gangubai Kathiawadi, Alia Bhatt’s all-white sari look as the powerful Gangubai is enhanced by a gajra of red roses around her bun, matching her big red bindi. Deceived and sold off to a brothel at a young age, Gangubai’s story is all about how she fights the odds to live life on her own terms.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

The red rose was the most prominent in Bhansali’s 2010 film Guzaarish, in which Aishwarya Rai Bachchan played the beautiful nurse Sophia to Hrithik Roshan’s Ethan, a magician who appealed to the court to end his life after being paralysed in an accident. Aishwarya dressed up in black all through the film, with a bunch of red roses adorning her long hair, while lighting up Ethan’s life with her zest.

Rani Mukerji

Though in a minuscule role, Rani Mukerji’s Gulabji, a courtesan in Bhansali’s 2007 film Saawariya, wore a red rose in her hair while serenading Ranbir Kapoor’s Ranbir Raj.

Priyanka Chopra

As a woman who lost her beloved husband, the Maratha Peshwa Bajirao, to the warrior princess Mastani, Priyanka Chopra’s Kashibai held her ground with grace and dignity in Bhansali’s 2015 film Bajirao Mastani. In one of the sequences, Priyanka dazzled in a violet sari accessorised with red roses in her bun.