Mohanlal's stylist Praveen Varma: Every attire in Bigg Boss Malayalam 7 was an extension of the superstar's persona

Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 7 will be remembered for many things: the controversies, the clashes, and the drama. But above all, one element truly stood out: the impeccable style of host Mohanlal. Breaking away from the looks of previous seasons, the superstar showcased a series of refreshing and striking ensembles this time around. Curious about the inspiration behind these sartorial choices, we caught up with none other than his stylist, Praveen Varma.“All credit goes to his unmatched aura and the incredible team of creative minds behind the scenes. A special mention to channel head Kishan Kumar and creative team member Anjana Nambiar. The brief we began with was simple yet challenging: every outfit should make viewers feel that Mohanlal is more relatable and closer to them. At the same time, the look had to be conversational, stage-worthy, and effortlessly casual.

Presenting him this way to an audience accustomed to seeing him in jackets and formal attire was no easy task, but I’m glad people embraced it as much as I did,” Praveen said in an exclusive chat with ETimes.Talking about the inspiration behind each outfit, Praveen said he drew cues from anything and everything.“We wanted to incorporate designs and fabrics that everyone could relate to. After all, you’re seeing them on a star you’ve admired for over five decades.

Each outfit was an extension of Mohanlal, his persona, his illustrious career, and his unforgettable characters. The real challenge for me was to maintain that essence across all 26 looks. In the initial episodes, we drew inspiration from the floral patterns inside the Bigg Boss house; later, from his philosophy of ‘go with the flow,’ reflected through the print of Japanese artist Hokusai’s painting.

Even ‘Sophie’s Vineyard,’ inspired by one of his iconic films, was designed as a continuation of his persona,” he explained.

Undoubtedly, one aspect that truly made him stand out was his appearance in the traditional mundu, the Kerala dhoti.“Just like his fans, my personal favorite look of his is also the mundu. When we create a design, we usually have a certain level of confidence that it will look good, but with Mohanlal sir, that confidence soars the moment he carries it with his unmatched aura. Seeing him in a mundu is truly a marvel. When the team suggested including it, he may have had a few doubts initially, but he stood by us and enjoyed every bit of the process.

Even with the mundu, we experimented with borders, textures, and even printed fabrics. He’s a true fashion enthusiast with an incredible sense of style, someone who wholeheartedly embraces new ideas and never hesitates to try something different,” Praveen added.The most talked-about outfit of the superstar host this season was the birthday special, a heartfelt tribute to Mammootty. The printed shirt featuring photos of the veteran actor not only went viral for its creative concept but also beautifully showcased Mohanlal’s affection for his Ichakka.“Just like us, Lal sir was equally excited about the idea. He even contributed a few suggestions and shared some of his favorite photos. The real challenge with such prints is that they can easily end up looking like a banner, which I wanted to avoid. That’s why I placed the images against a printed background to create balance. Every outfit has its own story, from the choice of fabric to the tiniest detailing, the process is intense.

And this one, in particular, was both the toughest and the most enjoyable to create,” he shared.

It’s just hours before the grand finale, and alongside the anticipation of the winner announcement, there’s one question every Bigg Boss fan is eagerly waiting to see answered: what will Mohanlal’s look be this time? Will he once again grace the stage draped in a mundu?Though Praveen remained tight-lipped about the specifics, he teased, “He will be in an absolutely elegant and opulent look on the finale stage. Fans can expect richness in both color and fabric. Will he be in a mundu? Wait and watch,” Praveen concluded.