Adorned in traditional jewellery and a Kanjeevaram sari, Sobhita Dhulipala celebrated her Telugu roots on her wedding day. And for one of the pre-wedding events, the actor decided to pay homage to her backpacking days in an archival ensemble.
“The skirt is adorned with antiqued zardozi and hand-painted mirror borders, paired with a handwoven cotton dupatta and the house classic ‘Kanthi’ blouse,” the designer described the outfit in an Instagram post. For accessories, Sobhita opted for a parandi, 22k gold ‘The East of Bengal Chandbalis’ from Sabyasachi Heritage Jewellery, and a pair of embellished handcrafted bellies.
Taking to the platform, the Made in Heaven actor wrote, “Pictures from a blurry night in Vizag (We called it Young people’s party / YPP. Lol) A Banjara-themed homage to my backpacking days that have shaped the very core of who I am. Archival Sabya for the bohemian soul. I felt seen. Beheld. 🖤.”
What is a chotu lehenga?
A ‘chotu lehenga’ is essentially a playful reinterpretation of the traditional lehenga, distinguished by its shorter length, often falling above the ankles or mid-calf, giving it a modern, flirty, and functional twist, said stylist Jhanvi Pallicha
“Designers like Sabyasachi have popularised this shorter lehenga for its youthful appeal and ease of movement, especially for women who want to dance and enjoy without the weight of heavy traditional attire. It’s a perfect blend of minimalism and statement fashion,” she told indianexpress.com. According to her, the term kanthi refers to a neckline that closely encircles the base of the neck, often resembling a choker-style or round, clean-cut neckline.
For fashion designer Nida Mahmood, the lehenga appears to be inspired by the Rabari lehenga or skirts Banjara wear, and the outfit possesses the “rawness Rabari work brings to the design”.
“‘Chotu’ refers to the lehenga’s shorter length and smaller panels, which offer a playful yet polished vibe. It’s intimate, youthful, and designed to let the bride breathe, twirl, and dance without tripping over layers of fabric,” said Rishi Raj, a stylist.
Story continues below this ad
He added that the Kanthi blouse is a statement piece inspired by timeless Bengali silhouettes. “For this Sabyasachi ensemble, the Kanthi blouse feels like a beautiful contradiction – clean and simple in shape but deeply ornate in its craft, making it the perfect canvas for heritage detailing,” said the stylist.
