Saree Dreams

At 19, when Nafisa Ali was crowned Miss India 1976, people were captivated. The “water baby of Bengal” made headlines in her swimsuits. Nafisa, a state level swimming champion, had the perfect, athletic body, long before muscles were in!

Nafisa did a few movies in Bombay, including her first, Junoon, with Shashi Kapoor, but did not seem to have her heart in acting.

Nafisa Ali, since then, has devoted her time to many causes, including aids, in India. She has also worked on literary projects (see picture with Ms. Laura Bush below). She has also made a run for the Lok Sabha.

These days, Nafisa seems to enjoy wearing simple handloom “Taant” saris. And her scintillating smile is her best accessory!

Nafisa Ali, a follower of the Chinmaya Mission, is the daughter of a Catholic mother, and Muslim father. Her husband (who is Sikh) is generally known as Col. Pickles!

Bipasha Basu manages to sizzle - even in a demure white sari. The oversized chunky earrings interestingly offset the drapey chiffon sari with just a hint of embroidery in grey.

Kiron Kher looks fabulously accessorized with a multi-colored bag to match her blue silk sari with a rainbow hued pallu. The chunky necklace is a show piece - with a deep blue pendant strung on a multicolored rope with an ethnic look. The bindi, ringed with silver completes the outfit nicely!

Actress Farzana has a feline look as she perches on a rock in a wet sari. The simple black chiffon is nicely coordinated with a black and grey blouse which as stringy straps tied into knots. The simple black bangles are perfect accessories.

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Somebody pointed out to us recently that Rani Mukherji is being seen more and more in super low below the navel saris. Our demure Ms. Mukherji? No way we thought. And then we found a picture of her in a low-low red chiffon sari. Then she got an honorable mention on our sexy sari navel awards. And now here’s a picture of her showing off her stuff in a black chiffon.

To be sure, Rani does the low rise sari much more subtly than, say, Shilpa. She always keeps her pallu in place. But behind that chiffon, Rani is daring to bare a bit more these days!

Elizabeth Hurley and Cherie Booth Blair, wife of the former British Prime minister Tony Blair, donned elegant saris to honor powerful Asian women in a gilded reception in London. Elizabeth Hurley, since her marriage to Arun Nayar, has become very expert in wearing a sari. She shows off an ecru colored sari with gold sequins. A feminist and an independent thinker, Ms. Blair wears a complementary colored georgette with light embroidery.