The industry is abuzz with an all-out sartorial war between designer Manish Malhotra and newly married Anushka Sharma. The designer was conspicuous by his absence at Anushka and Virat Kohli’s wedding reception in Mumbai. A favourite with the film industry’s heavyweights, Manish is known for his bridal-wear designs. He’s also designed a number of outfits for Anushka herself in many of her movies. However, the actress was not seen donning any of Manish’s creations at either her wedding in Tuscany, or the reception events she had in Delhi and Mumbai.

So, what happened between the two, who have worked professionally, for things to be so sour, that Anushka completely decided to boycott Manish? A source close to the developments says that the feud goes back to the time of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. Anushka had reportedly left the designer fuming when she said she did not like her bridal lehenga in the movie. She even tweeted around the release, “Lehenga was too heavy. I was looking like a beautiful bride, and not feeling like a beautiful bride.” That did not go down well with Manish, who replied saying she was looking very beautiful. “But Anushka had decided during Ae Dil Hai Mushkil that she wouldn’t wear any Manish Malhotra outfits for her wedding. It was nothing personal. But Manish chose to take it otherwise,” says a source close to the designer.

Manish Malhotra

Anushka chose to favour Sabyasachi’s elegant designs throughout her wedding ceremonies and receptions, while Manish fumed. The source adds, “It’s pretty ironical that at the reception itself, everyone from Sridevi to Prernaa Arora wore Manish Malhotra, but the bride did not.” Others who chose to don the B-town favourite’s outfits were Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Katrina Kaif, Richa Chadha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Kriti Sanon, Vaani Kapoor and even Sidharth Malhotra and Karan Johar.

Karan, as it turns out, is feeling the heat with Anushka and Manish’s war. Says a little birdie close to Karan, “He is close to Anushka, and even closer to Manish, who designs most outfits for Dharma Productions. The Anushka-Manish cold war has made Karan very uncomfortable. He’s made a number of attempts to sort out their problems. But at the moment, neither Anushka nor Manish is willing to make the first move.”
— With inputs by Sanskriti Media