Having had the opportunity to style actors such as Arjun Kapoor, Anil Kapoor and Ajay Devgn, Neha Menghwani believes that understanding an individual’s personality is at the heart of good styling. According to her, every actor has a distinct personality and aesthetic, to the point that “you could crop out their heads and still recognise them by their gait and the way they dress.” She emphasises that keeping their individual style in mind is particularly important during ad shoots, where an actor’s personality needs to come through. “Every actor also has their own favourite brands and preferred fits,” she says.
Recalling her experience of working with Anil Kapoor, she describes him as someone with a “larger-than-life personality.” Her first meeting with the actor was at his home, where she found him to be incredibly relaxed and approachable. She says what she enjoys most about styling actors is the collaborative process, as they are often actively involved and have a clear understanding of what works for them. “Styling someone isn’t about imposing your own idea of what looks good on them; it’s about understanding the visual language they already have and finding ways to elevate it,” she explains.
When it comes to constantly changing fashion and beauty trends, she believes that people should not blindly follow what is currently popular. Trends, she points out, are cyclical, with Y2K fashion currently making a strong comeback. She jokes that she is glad she held on to some of her old clothes from her childhood and that they still fit her.
However, she believes that understanding one’s body type and comfort level is more important than simply following a trend. Describing herself as a “fashion chameleon,” she enjoys experimenting with different aesthetics, from menswear and even wearing a lungi in New York to embracing a maximalist, fairy-inspired dress for a picnic. For those who are more reserved, she suggests starting small. “Give yourself one new thing to try,” she says, suggesting that someone who rarely wears colour could begin by introducing a small pop of colour through an accessory and gradually become more comfortable with it. The same approach, she believes, can be applied to silhouettes, textures and other trends.
For her, making fashion accessible does not mean making everyone dress alike. Instead, it is about understanding the essence of a trend and finding a way to incorporate it into one’s own wardrobe, lifestyle and comfort zone.
Working across beauty, fashion, lifestyle and travel has also allowed her to explore different subjects without compromising her individual voice. She says she does not rely heavily on external validation and believes that having a strong sense of self naturally reflects in one’s online presence. “I have my own idea of what looks ‘well-styled and put together,’ even though those things can look vastly different,” she says, adding that she enjoys embracing both ultra-feminine and masculine aesthetics. For her, style exists on a spectrum, and uniformity can diminish the possibilities of self-expression.
Although the subject matter may shift from beauty to fashion or travel, she believes that the perspective through which she approaches each subject remains distinctly her own. “The subject can change completely from beauty to travel to fashion but the lens through which I approach it is still mine,” she says, adding that this consistency of perspective allows her to experiment with different formats without losing her identity.
On the pressures of social media and the expectation to constantly look perfect and remain relevant, she admits that her own journey has had its ups and downs. There have been periods when she felt completely on top of her game, as well as phases when she felt lost. For her, authenticity does not necessarily mean sharing every aspect of her personal life online. Instead, it means being honest about what she genuinely likes, believes in and wants to create, rather than constantly changing herself according to what she thinks will perform well.
She credits lockdown with giving her an opportunity for introspection and helping her understand that it is okay to feel low and that such feelings eventually pass. When anxiety creeps in, she prefers to disconnect from social media and binge-watch a television show. “Detachment does work for me,” she says, explaining that stepping away gives her the space to eventually feel inspired again.
Looking back at her transition from working behind the scenes in fashion to becoming a creator in front of the camera, she recalls an amusing but telling incident from her styling days. She remembers working with an A-list actor who was bending while posing when an A-list photographer yelled at her after noticing creases around the shirt placket. “Any placket with buttons is going to crease when you bend, how was that my fault I wondered,” she recalls.
Today, she finds it surreal to be the person standing in front of the camera and receiving the most attention in the room. But the journey has also taught her that being her own boss comes with its own challenges. “Being your own boss is a blessing, but it’s also extremely difficult,” she says, explaining that it requires managing her own schedule, learning multiple creative disciplines and ultimately becoming a “one-woman army.” Her biggest takeaway has been the confidence that she will find a way through whatever comes her way.