The disc-shaped, metal-shiny and light-reflecting glamorous embellishment, sequins — reminding one of the shimmering ’70s, the disco decade — has often been a favourite party pick. Last year, with the recent global trend of minimalism and the pandemic making parties restricted to the house, there was hardly any scope for sequinned outfits to make its way out of the wardrobe. 2021, however, saw the sparkling trend back in fashion, and not just limited to the party season. From international runways to designer collections, be it Chanel, Michael Kors or Dior, from athleisure to party wear, the year was about going all out with the sparkle and shine, reflecting a happy and cheerful mood to take over the long lingering gloom of the pandemic. With the party season on, The Telegraph creates a trendy lookbook with Sohini Sarkar and caught up with the actress for a heart-to-heart post-shoot:
Are you fond of winter?
My favourite is rainy season but for fashion it is winter. Rainy season is for the mood. Sit at home, enjoy and listen to music. But in winter, since there is no chance of sweating, we can explore with fashion and can wear any kind of outfits. And parties!
What do you look forward to most during winter?
Food! I am a huge foodie. I have a sweet tooth and look forward to nolen gur and oranges. I can eat six-seven oranges every day during winter. I make many plans during winter as it comes for two to three months only. On one of the days, I have to go for a long drive early in the morning to any suburb area near Kolkata. I love seeing these areas early in the morning engulfed in fog. Even the roads of Rajarhat gets filled with fog. I love watching the car cross through it. I am mostly a homely person but during winter months I don’t like sitting at home. I like going to the new cafes for adda with friends in the evening.
You love baking various winter delicacies. What is there on your list this year?
Every year, before the 25th, I make a Christmas-special cake at home. For that I soak all dry fruits in rum way ahead of Christmas. This time I planned to make a carrot cake that everyone loved. Specially my mother and Ranojoy (Bishnu) love the carrot cake. In winter, from December 25 to January 15, I always have plans to cook a lot of things. I am a patishapta specialist too. (Laughs) I love doing the Poush Sankranti ritual, where I make mung dal puli, coconut puli and patishapta puli plus nolen gur payesh. And starting from Christmas till the first week of January, I make around six to seven cakes for friends and family.
Winter is a time for parties. Are you a party freak?
I am not a party freak but I love house parties. I love partying with close friends on the terrace. These are the kinds of parties I love. I really look forward to The Telegraph party too. We had fun last time and wait for it eagerly.
What are your winter party fashion picks?
In a party we all go to chill, I really love wearing boots. I have a huge collection of boots too. Even if I wear a sari, I wear boots with it. I like a casual approach but it should be fashionable too. I don’t like to wear any outfit that veils my personality. I like to dress according to the approach of the event also.
Are you fond of sequins?
Yes, I love. I love it for evening parties.
Are you comfortable with experimenting with fashion?
I like to if it suits my body type. I don’t like to wear something that won’t look nice on me . At times I am a little rigid with my hair and make-up. I don’t like to experiment much with my eye make-up. Maybe I will do it just for a photo shoot but won’t go to a party with that.
How do you define your personal style?
Mood. My style reflects my mood. Where I am going and what is my mood at that time is very important.
When it comes to your films, we see that you love experimenting with different characters and have portrayed various kinds of characters on screen. What are some of your favourites till date?
I am still in the process. Some of my characters have become popular and some haven’t. But I have never looked back and thought about which character is close to my heart. I am acting in films since 2013, starting with Rupkatha Noy. The character I played there, Ahana, I loved playing that character around that time because I thought that character was a lot like me, the person I was around that time. But now, after seven -eight years, I feel the character is okay. So it keeps changing for me. It is difficult for me to say. Perhaps, after 20 or 30 years, when I become older, I can look back and say.
I want to do good characters. I am not in the space to look back and think how I performed so far.
We have seen you as an actress on the small screen as well as the big screen and you are still actively acting in theatre too. What do you love about being a stage actress?
There is a fear factor on the stage but overcoming that fear every moment is really fun. It is a live craft. If we make any mistake, there is no chance to rectify it. We have to progress with the mistake. As actors, we have various inhibitions also. Stage helps us to overcome that too. Stage also gives us the scope to rehearse the craft of acting. A singer or dancer can rehearse by themselves but actors can’t do that. For actors, the way they live life is their only way of rehearsing. How we are observing and thinking about it. I think theatre really enriches me.
Stage acting requires a lot of commitment. How do you manage time?
It is not a problem for me. We know about the show dates well in advance. So I keep my dates available like that. I don’t keep other commitments around that time.
If we look at your filmography in 2021, it has been a very promising year for you. In general, how has the year been for you?
2021 started well with the shoot of Mandaar in January and shoot of another web series in February. In April, I shot for a Kaushik Ganguly film so it was good. But post-April the scenario changed. We lost so many people of the fraternity also. Someone I was working with passed away three days later, which was a shocking news. In May, I left for the hills for two months. In 2020 also we had made many plans about which film to shoot in which month but everything changed in a moment. 2022 is around the corner but I have no expectations this time. Even though there are expectations in my heart but I keep denying it. The fact that I am alive is a huge surprise for me. 2021 taught me that even if you plan, you never know what you are destined for.
You love travelling a lot. Do you have any travel plans this winter?
I want to go somewhere this month itself. Last year, for New Year’s my mother, Rano and I went to Sikkim. It is going to be one year since that trip. So, I have to go with my mother first somewhere for four-five days. Going with my mother is like a 24-hour job, so post that trip I want to plan a trip for myself.
What are your upcoming releases?
Indraadip Das Gupta’s Agantuk will release on an OTT. It will not be possible to release it in the hall but we just want people to see it. Hoichoi’s Srikanto will release and Kaushik Ganguly’s Kabaddi Kabaddi.
This year, there were so many rumours around that you are going to tie the knot soon. Are there any plans?
No no, not at all! (Laughs) Our friends spread these rumours out of their love for us (laughs), I don’t make plans any more. And we are anyway staying together either at his (Ranojoy Bishnu) house or at my house. What difference will a marriage make? (Laughs) And so many marriages around are ending in divorces. We are staying together, having fun, going for trips together and staying like friends, this is only nice. If we ever feel like, we will. No planning is required. And working in Tollywood industry, we don’t make much money that we will plan a destination wedding which will need months of planning! (Laughs)
What is your New Year’s resolution?
Last five years I made many resolutions but I fail to keep it. So nothing!
1A sequinned body-con dress with fringe detailing is a staple in the party wardrobe for a cute, fun and charming look that Sohini sports in this frame. This red crepe body-con from Mahek Talreja is detailed with rainbow tube work fringes, perfect for capturing that Insta twirl. “Sequins are no longer limited to parties but are a party favourite. Everything has a bright and shiny version during winters. It is the perfect time to take your sequin dress out for a spin. Don’t hesitate to go glam with sequins. The sequin trend has also upgraded with various kinds like patterned sequins. Sequins dominate everyone’s December wardrobe and can glam up the look instantly,” said Mahek.
2Sohini cut a bold and smart picture is this outfit with a power dressing appeal. Arrakiie’s blazing berry sequin co-ord with bell-bottoms and wrap-around torso set from Sixth Avenue is perfect for your New Year’s work party too.
“Sequins being the perfect party recipe, sublimely fits in for all your shindigs. With the party season being bigger and dresses being dressier, sequins are in full swing this year. All brands, be it fast fashion, high-end designers or the regular e-commerce brands have sequin pieces incorporated in their collection. So sequin has definitely taken over this year and probably will stay for the cocktail and party collection in the coming year as well,” said Puja Bubna, owner, Sixth Avenue.
3Sequins and silver make a classy combination. This look on Sohini is an amalgamation of the vintage and contemporary styles. The Nandita Thirani sequinned jacket with cutdana and tassels is embroidered on net with a tie-sash in the front and paired with a pleated grey silk maxi skirt. The look is completed with a retro hairstyle. “As the ’70s and ’80s trend is back in fashion, we have got sequins and cutdana drama and glamour all in one outfit. To tone down a bit, we have paired it with a simple and elegant grey pleated silk skirt,” said Nandita.
4Say ‘cheers’ to the year that’s bidding adieu and the year that is waiting ahead, in classic gold! Sequin in classic gold is the ultimate stunner look for the party season. Sohini sports a Komal Sood georgette structured long tube gown with gold sheeting embroidery.
“Sequins and glamour go hand in hand. Sparkle is the new comeback trend of fall 2021 — on international runways, every label is filled with gold, metallic, crystals and sequins. These optimistic collections reflect an anticipation of a collective mood for celebration in winter. The sparkle reflects the glistening spirit post the morbid pandemic period,” said Komal Sood.
5Sohini channelled a vibrant jazzy and edgy look in this Harsh Vardhan Jalan turban-to-toe multicolour sequinned jumpsuit designed with diagonal lines.
“Sequins are a fun and bold way to add some glitz and sparkle to your wardrobe. In a situation like this when we are mostly restricted to home during holiday season, I feel we need to celebrate where we can, and something sparkly might just be what we need to keep our spirits high during these times. It is hard to be sad when you’re wearing sequins,” said Harsh Vardhan Jalan.
Pictures: Pabitra Das
Styling: Neha Gandhi Binjrajka
Hair and make-up: Abhijit Paul
Jewellery: Divinus
Location: Ozora