Straddling the screens of Tamil, Telugu and Hindi films, Tamannaah Bhatia, popularly known as Tamannaah, is a trailblazer of Indian cinema. Here, unlocking her vibrant aura on a radiant day for the First Look cover, the pan-Indian star talks about rooting for defiant characters as she plays the rebel in red-hot looks at the historical Laxmi Vilas Palace, which is still the residence of Vadodara’s royal family.
(Edited excerpts)
FL: What are your favourite style hacks from contemporary fashion trends?
Tamannaah: Here are a few style hacks that always come to my rescue: Use a hair tie to fix loose or tight jeans; pair baggy and tight clothing smartly to get a proper dimension; choose pieces that would add length to your body – for instance, high-waisted flared pants, which touch or cover your toes, lend an illusion of height; match your purse to your belt or shoes, not to the entire outfit; organise your closet so you know what you exactly have and also what you can play around with; any kind of jewellery can definitely make or break a look.
FL: Do you think reviving retro fashion is an inspiration for modern designers?
Tamannaah: Yes, absolutely. In the recent past, fashion from the 1900s has made a comeback, which is now termed as ‘modern fashion’. In fact, in 2021, retro fashion was the hottest trend – whether it was in terms of the silhouettes, accessories or even in the spectrum of hair and makeup. I also believe it’s become a form of self-expression because retro pieces bring in a sense of individuality.
Embroidered Lehenga Set – Seema Gujral 
FL: Which styles inspire you from Indian cinema? Have you adapted any in your personal life?
Tamannaah: The idea that I have always loved to borrow from Indian cinema is how to go glam with a sari; Bollywood glam diaries always take me back to the quintessential style book of the Hindi film heroine and her timeless chiffon saris, stunning party saris, or simply a nice, glittering sari paired with a petite blouse. It packs in glamour and grace so effortlessly.
FL: Talking of Indian cinema, what is the major difference that you have experienced in Bollywood and Tollywood?
Tamannaah: Well, speaking of it, Hindi films have always been a lot more exposed to what we could term as ‘new-age’ or Western dressing; so, I feel fashion in Hindi cinema has always been ahead of the south when it comes to dressing up in Western clothes. The Hindi film industry was early to adopt the Western influence. On the other hand, the south has stayed more grounded; a lot more rooted to their own culture. As a result, I have worn a lot of half-saris on screen, and a lot of Indian outfits. In fact, even when I wore Western outfits, they tended to be more beauty-driven, feminine rather than edgy. Films are not the medium to channel fashion per se; the character has to be dressed authentically to make them believable. The south has been focussed on telling stories of its own people; so, if I were to play a college-going girl in Chennai, it meant I could wear a bindi and a T-shirt, as it’s something which a real-life college-going girl could wear there.
FL: You have starred in distinct genre films like Babli Bouncer, Plan A Plan B and the worldwide celebrated Baahubali, what are the biggest takeaways?
Tamannaah: When Baahubali happened, nobody knew about ‘pan-Indian’ films. You have to do stuff, which feels authentic to you, which you believe in and not because it appears cool. What I love about the character, Babli, is that it sort of blurs the line between what is expected of a female as per society’s standards and what she can do. There was no set definition to how a female bouncer could look or feel. Even in Baahubali, the warrior princess, Avantika packed a punch. So, for me, the idea of what is feminine and what is not, has been broken largely through these films.
FL: What is your personal notion of beauty?
Tamannaah: I definitely feel that we look our beautiful best when we feel healthy, not just physically but also mentally and emotionally, and when one feels healthy in all these three arenas, one would automatically start exuding that energy. For me, my personal code of beauty is minimal. If there’s a principle of beauty, which I follow, it is: Don’t try to fix what’s not broken. So, when I tick these dimensions, I exuberate beauty; it is when I am normally at my beautiful best.
FL: What is your personal code of style?
Tamannaah: Formal, preppy, sharp, minimal. I love clean and simpler silhouettes. And, I tilt a lot towards power dressing; it’s my innate sense of style.
FL: What is the one thing that you do to take a pause from your fast and famous life?
Tamannaah: Meditate, vegetate, and hibernate.