After dressing up celebrities and designing uniforms for leading hospitality chains around the country and overseas, Arshiya Fakih Eappen, director and creative head of design house Araiya, is now trying her hand at creating costumes for Bollywood. Maruti Mera Dost by the Contiloe Films is a period animation movie for children with three real, non-animated characters. While Chandrachur Singh has been chosen to play the lead role of a Rajput king, the roles of his wives are yet to be finalised. The film is in the pre-production stage and Eappen has already finished her share of the work.
“I think it all started when we designed outfits for Konkona Sen Sharma at the Lakme Fashion Week last year. We got a lot of positive reaction at that time and ever since film and television work has been coming in,” says the 32-year-old. For the film, Eappen gives the three characters a classic look. “Since the movie is set in Rajasthan and is a period film, the look has to be regal and old-worldly. I have worked keeping that in mind,” she says.
Even as she makes her debut on the silver screen, reality shows on television have been keeping Fakih busy. Over the last few months, she has designed costumes for all the judges and participants of Voice of India and Chhote Ustad. Now she has started work on Chak De Bachhe, yet another such show. “I enjoy working on reality shows. The pressure is tremendous, and you constantly need to come up with new looks, but I like the challenge of it,” she smiles.