Costume Analysis: Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani

In a story about opposites attract, it's costume design shows how the characters communicate in loud colors.

Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani is about a flamboyant Punjabi, Rocky and intellectual Bengali journalist, Rani falling in love despite their differences. Upon facing family opposition, they decide to live with each other's families for three months before getting married. Shenanigans happen, songs are sung, hearts are changed and soon, both get married to each other.

In a film about opposites attract, it stands as a challenge to show characters’ respective personalities while also representing their growing attraction towards one another. Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani manages to overcome that challenge and present their love story beautifully through clothing.

Rocky’s brash personality is mirrored in his over-the-top ensembles that are at times, borderline tacky. In comparison, Rani looks graceful and sophisticated with her traditional sarees that reflect his insightful mind. They are complete opposites with different perspectives on life and seemingly nothing in common, especially the difference of intensity in personalities. But, it’s the exact loudness of character about Rocky’s personality that appeals to Rani and that attraction is matched in the bright colors both seem to favor.

While Rocky is overt about seeking attention - shown in his flashy outfits filled to the brim with logomania that accentuate his body, Rani is more covert about wanting attention. She’s a news anchor, which means, at the risk of generalizing, she loves having all eyes on her. She also cannot stay quiet and mind her own business when something she disagrees with happens in front of her.

Her personality may not be “attention seeking” in the general sense, but her behavior points to her tendency to not be shy about sharing unsolicited opinions or being present where not invited. This personality type fits right in with being a journalist. The fact that she’s not afraid of confrontation also means that she’s very good at her job.

Her styling too makes it clear that be it colorful lehariya sarees or backless blouses, she’s not afraid to show the world who she is as a person and fearlessly wears her sexuality on her sleeve. We’ll simply have to overlook the fact that everything she wore was a tad too flashy for a newsroom. It’s not realistic, but it’s a KJo film.

On the other hand, Rocky’s character goes through an entire emotional journey and learns to embrace his masculinity in a different way. From gaudy star denim jacket and pants to lime green sequined kurta-jacket, Rocky spends the entire film wearing flamboyant outfits plastered with high-end brand logos, but it’s the red anarkali that he wears for his kathak performance when he truly comes to life.

As he takes multiple rounds on the stage with his skirt flying beautifully around, he has never had that sort and level of attention in his life, and it is all being given to him as he finally comes into himself.

Both Rocky & Rani seem only opposite on the surface, but regardless of how many Versace or Prada outfits he wears or traditional sarees she wears, they can’t hide the fact that they are both same in the way they embrace their innate loudness. This intensity is where they both relate with one another and that comes across beautifully in the costume design.