Malaika Arora | Words: Deepali Singh
TMM | Malaika Arora | The Boss Lady, We have always found it hard to put a label to Malaika Arora. Is she a fashion influencer? Yes. A fitness icon? Absolutely. A performer? A smashing one at that! What about an entrepreneur? Tick that as well. And guess what, the lovely lady prefers to keep it that way. “If you enjoy what you do, it reflects in the quality or in the outcome of whatever you are doing. I don’t look at my work as a chore and I always feel everything new I dabble with is an experience and something new for me to add to my repertoire,” she says, adding that she feels blessed to have gotten these opportunities that keep her on her toes. “When I grow old and have a conversation with my kids and grandkids, I can always say I kept multitasking and experimenting. That’s probably why I feel my life is that much more interesting,” says the artist, who is associated with the clothing brand The Label Life and is also the co-founder of Diva Yoga.
You have one of the fittest bodies in showbiz. Has fitness always been a part of your personal journey?
Malaika arora | Yes, I think it has but the levels and the intensity have changed with time. I started dancing very early in life and it’s very essential to be able to have a certain level of fitness to be able to dance. But when you are younger, you tend to take some of it for granted. When you hit a certain age, you realise that these are things you need to prioritise in your life. I remember telling myself that if I want to have a great run for the next 40 years or enjoy life at 60, then I have to make that effort now. Somewhere, post 30 and having a child, I realised I can’t take my body for granted. In the last 5-6 years, it’s not just about working out anymore. It’s become a space I turn to that gives me so much of solace and sense of well-being.
Malaika Arora How did yoga become a part of your life?
It’s become a part of my life in the last 7-8 years. Earlier, I probably dabbled with it but I didn’t really go to the depths of trying to avail of the benefits of yoga. Eventually, a couple of injuries while working led me to pursue yoga and I saw it made such a huge difference to me. Also, everybody goes through a phase in life when you have certain upheavals, whether physical, mental or emotional and I think that’s where yoga really played my guiding light. I felt new and there was a sense of clarity. There was so much confusion in my head and I needed a way to clear my way through that clutter. I’m so grateful to yoga as it gave me a different perspective of everything.
Is that what Diva Yoga stemmed out of? To take it to others?
Yes of course. It just became so important to me. One thing led to another. I met Sarvesh Shashi and our ideologies and what we want to do with yoga aligned so beautifully, and all that led to
Diva Yoga.
You are a fashion influencer and all your looks are closely followed. Where do you get your sense of style from?
I wish I could say I got it from my mamma! (laughs). Although her love for saris, bindis, and denim did influence us in our growing up years, I think most of it I learnt on the job. Also, thanks to travel because that’s a huge influence in my life and I don’t think I would be half the person I am without them. I can’t really take the credit and say I was born with it (smiles). I made my share of mistakes, learnt from them and tried to improve. You have to keep evolving and I try and do that.
How much of yourself do you bring to The Label Life?
I have been involved with it right from the beginning. It’s another area which really intrigued me. There are some business decisions you make purely because you follow your gut and see how things pan out. I really love The Label Life. I’m not involved in the everyday running of it but I really do enjoy the process of creating and putting stuff out there. It’s very affordable clothing. We really pride ourselves in styling and putting things together. From an online space to having a full-fledged office where there is a team working, that itself speaks volumes about the company.
Any plans for expansion?
Well, malaika arora you always want to expand. Earlier, we started as an online space. We didn’t think we would do instore merchandise but we have that now in Mumbai and a few other cities. Our first standalone store is in Mumbai. We have had some amazing tie-ups, and there is a lot more we want to do with the brand.
The year has almost come to an end. What is your forecast for fashion in 2020?
I think some of our emerging designers are fantastic. At the end of the day, you borrow from fashion, whether east borrows from west or west borrows from the east. So, there is always an inspiration and stuff to look out for. Right now, movies, people, travel, movements, all of it inspires fashion. That’s the whole point to creating and to look forward to what’s coming up next in the coming season.
As a performer, what do you think of the digital space and would you like to try your hand at it?
I think that’s something I would really love to do. I’m obsessed with OTT shows. They are so fantastic! I would love to be part of some great content or probably produce some great content for it. I would love to explore it considering I haven’t done that.
Is there a motto you have always followed?
I have always said live life queen size. That’s pretty much the kind of person I am. Every time I fall flat on my face, I pick myself up and make sure I better myself and go out there with double the gusto. Nothing and no one can keep me down!
MALAIKA’S CHOICE
Your favourite fitness drink? Infused water
Your fashion inspiration? Jennifer Lopez
A travel destination you can’t get enough of? Maldives and New York
Your fashion inspirations? Madonna and Kate Moss
A statement neckpiece or a bracelet: Statement neckpiece
A dance number of you love shaking a leg to? Every time I see Shah Rukh in the room, I feel like dancing on Chaiyya Chaiyya because for me, that’s just the most special and nostalgic song.
Designers you like? I love Chanel and Gucci. Among the Indian designers, I would say Rohit Bal.
For a relaxing holiday, you would head to? Maldives. It’s the one place I can completely unwind.
Credits :-
Pic 1
Photo Credit: Diva Yoga
Pic 2
Photo Credit- Mohit Varu
Outfit: Iris Serban
Stylist: Tanya Ghavri
Assisted by: Karishma Shaikh
Fashion & Lifestyle PR Agency: Brooklyn PR
Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Celebrity manager: Ekta Oberoi
Pic 3
Photo Credit: Bhushan Bagadia
Outfit: Manish Malhotra
Make up: Mehak Oberoi
Pic 4
Photo Credit- Vaibhav Pandey
Make up: Mehak Oberoi
Stylist: Maneka Harisinghani
Outfit: Mandira Wirk
Pic 5
Photo Credit- Swapnil Kore
Outfit: Annakiki
Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Stylists: Aashi Purohit and Shubhra Sharma
Make Up & Hair: Meghna Butani
Cover Photo
Photo Credit: Swapnil Kore
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