Genelia Deshmukh’s kurta set celebrates Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla’s popular embroidery styles like gota, vasli and marodi

Genelia Deshmukh wore a red hand-embroidered short kurta with patiala pants, and pushed the comfortable pants style, popularised by movie characters of the early aughts, back into the public consciousness. Immediately following that headline-making look, Deshmukh attended Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla’s 40th anniversary party held at its recently-opened store in South Mumbai’s iconic Dhobi Talao neighbourhood. She wore a gilded look from the label that was a testament to the revivalist work that the designers have carried out across four decades since they launched in 1985.

Deshmukh layered a sleeveless organza embroidered kurta over a long full-sleeve brocade one that superimposed metallic embroideries over one another. The tops featured traditional marodi embroidery alongside details in gota, vasli, thread work and sequins—all techniques that have held a firm place in AJSK’s embroidery universe. She paired the kurta with a Hyderabadi khada dupatta woven in jamdani style and inundated with tone-on-tone floral motifs. The dupatta that has a rich, 400-years-old history was recontextualised for modern-day wearing by shortening it from its original 6-yards length to that of the current-day styles.