Harmann Kaur: From Allu Arjun to Vijay Deverakonda, She's the Stylist to South India's Biggest Stars

Be it Vijay Deverakonda posting about the chic Amit Aggarwal suit he wore to the South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) in September 2024 or Allu Arjun sharing his striking promotional looks for Pushpa 2 (2024) — there’s one name credited at the bottom of all their Instagram posts: Harmann Kaur. In eight short years, she’s become the go-to stylist for some of the biggest names in Indian cinema.

Stylist Harmann Kaur.

“I hadn’t planned on becoming a stylist,” she reveals with a smile, though she’s glad she did. While training to be a pilot, a senior recommended she try working with Wizcraft International Entertainment Agency for the IIFA (International Indian Film Academy Awards) awards. It was there, in 2017, watching teams hustle at the IIFA Utsavam and IIFA Awards New York, that she was convinced to take up a styling course. “When I returned, my friend Sonia [Thapa], who was working as [Allu] Arjun sir’s hairstylist, told me that he was looking for a personal stylist,” Kaur recalls.

“I met him in his vanity van around the same year and told him that this was going to be my first time styling an actor. I’d just done jewellery brand campaigns and magazine covers at the time.” But the actor caught her by surprise when he responded that he actually preferred that his stylist start with a clean slate. “He has a potential to recognise talent, if I may say so, at the risk of sounding pompous!” Kaur says with a laugh.

Soon after, she styled Deverakonda for Time’s ‘Most Desirable Man of the Year’ in 2018 and parts of Geetha Govindam (2018) before taking over his fashion game entirely. “It was a domino effect,” she says. “Because since then, I’ve styled everyone in the South and worked with Saif Ali Khan, Arjun Kapoor, Sidharth Malhotra, Aditya Roy Kapur and Rajkummar Rao in Bollywood.”

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The Hollywood Reporter India sits down with the seasoned stylist, diving into the nuances of juggling different film industries, her days spent dressing A-listers, and what she truly loves about her job. Kaur jumps to answer the last one, saying, “There’s an army of a hundred people behind every movie, and that’s what I love — well, that, plus the stories I tell through the clothes.” And to think, had she been a pilot, she’d be stuck in the same uniform every day!

THR: What do you find to be the biggest difference while working in South Indian versus Hindi films? 

Harmann Kaur: There’s no difference in their approach to fashion per se, but the culture can be a bit different — people are warmer in the South, while they are more reserved in Bollywood. It’s very work-centric in the South and more flamboyant in Bollywood. Not to say that they aren’t professional there as well, but everyone in the South Indian film industries is very punctual — early risers who are on set before the call time. They don’t think about how they’re looking as long as the character comes together. At the same time, Bollywood actors always make the effort to click pictures after they’re styled, so everyone’s given due credit. Clicking professional photos before every event isn’t the case in the South yet, though some actors do, like Vijay Deverakonda and Dulquer Salmaan. Rana Daggubati doesn’t, and we have to chase [Allu] Arjun sir to do so. Crediting the stylist, hair and make-up artist, photographer, and designer is essential because everyone comes together to create a look. Though they’ve started now!

THR: Do actors pitch in with costume ideas? 

HK: Hundred per cent. [Allu] Arjun sir was very involved when we were putting together his character for Pushpa 2 (2024). Even Vijay Deverakonda pitches in. There’s a collaborative meeting between the director, stylist, actor, hair and make-up artists to sketch the character out. For Pushpa 2, once the script came in, [Allu] Arjun sir met us…even before [director] Sukumar sir did. He told us about the character and how it looks. [Costume designer] Deepali Noor styled him for that, I just took part in some of the discussions with her and [character designer] Preetisheel Singh. For instance, when he shifts from being a woodcutter to a smuggler and gets some money, he goes from wearing acid-washed shirts with dirty pants to printed shirts with accessories.

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THR: Does cultural authenticity come into play? 

HK: Yes, we do thorough research, especially for actors like DQ [Dulquer Salmaan], who’ve acted in movies based in the ’50s and ’80s. We go to particular regions to take real-life references of how people dress there. Pre-production of costumes starts months before the movie starts shooting. I styled Rana [Daggubati] for Kaantha (2025) which is set in Chennai, then Madras, in the ’50s. I can’t say much, but we took into consideration the weather of Madras at that time and, therefore, didn’t layer him as much. I sourced the watches, glasses and prints that were in fashion back then — combing through vintage stores all over the country. Chor Bazaar in Mumbai is where I find a lot of these gems. 

THR: Do you keep up with fashion trends?

HK: When it comes to their promotional looks, especially award shows and red carpet looks, I’m very fashion-forward. I read a lot of journals, so I know the trends, colours and silhouettes of the season. Then, I approach specific brands to get them. I remember Dulquer was attending an awards function [HELLO! South Awards] last year, and I couldn’t find anything exciting for him to wear in India. At the last minute, we found an Alexander McQueen piece in Dubai just two days before the event. We bought the suit at the McQueen store, got it sent to Ahmedabad and then I got it picked up and brought it to Hyderabad. He’s so particular about fashion that even though it ended up costing a lot, he wanted to wear it. And so he did.

THR: On that note, what was the craziest thing you’ve done to source an outfit?

HK: In 2018, we were shooting a conference scene for Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo (2020), and the options we had didn’t work. Straight from the set in Hyderabad, I took a flight to New Delhi at around 9pm and reached at midnight. I had requested people at the Dior store in DLF Mall, Vasant Kunj, to keep the suit I had selected online ready. I collected it, came right back to the airport and then went directly back to set. We used it at 8 the next morning. It also went on to be the look for [Allu Arjun’s] wax statue at Madame Tussauds Dubai. I know the measurements of all the actors I work with like the back of my hand, be it Allu Arjun, Rana or Vijay, because sometimes we get just a day’s notice to style them.

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THR: Telugu cinema, in particular, is known for intense action and song sequences. How do you balance style and comfort?

HK: We work with stretch fabrics and do trials beforehand. Everything is custom-made and the designers we work with are also specific to stage performance costumes. They know to use fabrics that allow the actors to move around while fitting the brief at the same time. We’re particular about choosing comfortable shoes — even a very flashy outfit is often paired with sneakers if they’re dancing.

THR: Have you ever had creative differences with the actors?

HK: There were a lot initially, but we always reached a middle ground. It’s very important to keep the actors’ comfort in mind because sometimes, as a stylist, I may feel something would work better, but if they are not fully convinced, it doesn’t work. Their confidence matters, so I always leave room for their input.

THR: Tell us about some of your favourite looks so far.

HK: Last year at SIIMA 2022, Allu Arjun’s Manish Malhotra outfit was really talked about. Vijay was at that event, too, and I styled both of them. Everybody told me that they thought these two were the best dressed at the event. This year at SIIMA, I got great feedback for Vijay’s Amit Aggarwal look.

THR: Amongst your celebrity clientele, who’s got the best personal style?

HK: Dulquer’s personal wardrobe gives me a complex! He travels a lot, and he shops when he does. He has all the latest styles and knows a lot about the brands, which is why I have to ensure that his looks are on point. He accessorises his looks very smartly, adding a hat or a stack of bracelets — not to mention his watch, shoe, and, honestly, even car collection is to die for.

THR: What’s your fashion forecast this season?

HK: After Covid-19, people have moved towards comfort. Even in the fashion circles, it’s all about oversized clothing. Heroines are wearing suits and denim with vests. Even their airport looks are more normal [or understated] — athleisure has taken over.

Kaur’s Top 5 Style Takeaways from Cinema’s Leading Men

1. Allu Arjun: Effortless

2. Dulquer Salmaan: Stylish and a step ahead of everyone’s fashion game

3. Vijay Deverakonda: Experimental, risk-taker (and totally owns it!)

4. Rana Daggubati: Classic — makes the simplest look stand out

5. Siddhant Chaturvedi: Gen Z fashion role model

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