THE WORLD OF MASABA
Fashion designer Masaba Gupta gets candid about the racism she faced while growing up, body shaming, being raised by her single mother Neena Gupta and why Ranveer Singh is her muse
The who’s who of Bollywood has donned her designs. Masaba’s signature looks are popular with Bollywood stars like Sonam Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Katrina Kaif, and more. But there is so much more to Masaba than her fabulous designs. In a candid chat with City Times on Saturday at the Vesimi boutique, Jumeirah, the daughter of former West Indies cricketer Vivian Richards and Indian actress Neena Gupta, spoke about the struggles of growing up as a mixed race woman, creating her fashion empire, her desire to create affordable clothing and finding courage after going through a divorce.
Tell us about your summer resort collection?
I wanted to create clothes which were fresh, easy, breezy silhouettes which are also very affordable and easy to pack in your bag. Since everything has become so ‘instagrammable,’ we wanted the patterns to be floral, bright and pastel colours and very much inspired by marine life and nature.
How did designing happen?
It happened by fluke because I was studying music in London and I was lonely, so I came back home. It was an awkward time of the year when all the admissions were made, but fashion was open; hence I enrolled. By the second year, I had already become a designer; I had my label; therefore I quit college mid-way. My inspiration comes from anywhere. It could be while talking to you or while I am travelling.
You also wanted to be an actor at
one point, right?
Literally for 15 days! I am not built for Bollywood. I can’t shmooze and go to parties and request for work. I also don’t have a traditional Indian face so that would limit my work. India is obsessed with particular type of features. Now it is changing with the boys, and I hope it improves with the girls as well. Rajkummar Rao and Vicky Kaushal are top actors today, who would have said that even two years back? I like being my boss, and I want to be master of my fate. My life shouldn’t be dependent on how many people I know, and Bollywood is a lot about that. I don’t make small talk.
You had a very public separation from Madhu Mantena. How did you find strength post that?
Me and my now ex-husband, we are best friends. Only two people know what is going on in their lives. We know where we stand, and we don’t need the validation of our separation from anybody. The aim is that anything that happens between us should happen in peace and it has to happen civilly, without screaming, shouting and being nasty at each other. Because even if you are married to someone for one year, ten years or ten minutes, something was there to cherish in different capacities. I think the whole concept of marriage in India has to change. What is the point of being in a realtionship that you don’t believe in? We both are good friends who have a ton of respect for each other. My strength comes from the fact that he is my best friend.
Your mother was a feminist even before the word was famous! When did you become aware of her strength?
I think when I started to have my own struggle with my identity. Until you are in your early 20s, you don’t know the definition of strong women. It’s a very loosely used term as it can have any meaning. I understood its meaning after getting married and meeting new people, I realised that my mother’s biggest strength is her vulnerability. I struggle with being vulnerable. Her power does not lie in the fact that she raised me alone but in the fact that she was vulnerable to all the happenings of her life. She was naive to the point that she was very happy because she never hurt anyone.
How important is it for you that Bollywood stars wear your clothes?
The masses connect with Bollywood, and if they see stars wearing them, then it is a significant endorsement for me. It is essential because stars drive a lot of engagement rates for us. People know my brand because of Bollywood stars. I owe a lot to Sonam Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Shilpa Shetty for wearing my clothes. Especially to Ranveer Singh for wearing them exactly like I design them. He is my biggest muse, and I love designing for him more than anyone else. He is ready to wear my vision without teaming my clothes with other things.
Manish Malhotra says that bridal wear is the most profitable. Since you design quirky clothes, do you have young brides wanting your designs on their wedding day?
Of course. My money comes from the people who cannot afford Manish Malhotra. Someone has to be there for people who cannot buy too expensive things. Manish does big marriages, and I do the small functions. But there is significant competition in his market. Thankfully, I am sitting in the sweet spot. Think about it - for a mehendi, cocktail, and brunch; no one is giving out an outfit for Rs15,000 other than us. I don’t want to sell my lehenga for Rs3 lakh. I don’t want people to sell their kidneys to afford my cloth. I have created my niche, and I take a lot of pride in it.
Society has set unrealistic beauty standards for females. Was it challenging for you to accept your curly hair and warm skin tone?
I was in a school where all the other girls had straight hair, no acne, and smooth skin. I battled with a lot of body issues, and I still do. Someday I feel bloated and somedays I am not. Somedays I am feeling ugly, and some days I am not. Somedays I have my bad hair days and some days good hair days. I have now decided to go with who I am, and I don’t care. Let me tell you that nobody looks like those magazine models. I just did a shoot with Titan, and I have tons of acne marks all over my body. I told them not to photoshop or airbrush my skin. I also told them not to make my arms or nose look smaller in pictures. We must flaunt who we are in the most real sense because once you put it out there, then you are okay with the reality because the world has seen it and you have nothing to hide.
Being a mixed-race young woman in India, did you find it hard to blend in?
Only in India, we don’t love mixed race babies. We are so culturally rooted as we want our hair to look a certain way, we want girls to have a delicate body, and we don’t allow them to wear what they want to wear. The word exotic in Bollywood will only remain a word; it will never be part of the gang. They treat exotic as something nice to look at but don’t want to touch.
I like being my boss, and I want to be master of my fate.”
Masaba Gupta