From his early days as a struggling actor to his current status as a cultural icon, Amitabh Bachchan's fashion sense has undergone a significant transformation. Here are some of his most notable looks:
The late 1970s marked the peak of their on-screen pairing. This was the disco era, and the fashion was bold, experimental, and vibrant.
As their on-screen collaborations waned, their individual style galaxies expanded. Amitabh became the face of —a dignified, minimalist elder statesman. His Kaun Banega Crorepati look (dark blazer, open-collar shirt) reset the dress code for Indian television hosts.
Off-screen, their public appearances became style laboratories. At film award nights, Amitabh pioneered the —a look that read as both powerful and melancholic. Rekha, never one to follow, countered with kanjeevarams in royal blue and emerald , worn with antique temple jewelry. She also experimented with pre-draped saree gowns —a fusion innovation that many thought daring but she wore as if born in it.
But it was Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978) that became their style landmark. Amitabh’s set a template for the “mafia don” chic. Rekha, in response, wore a gold zari saree with a deep-cut blouse and heavy jhumkas , her hair left open in waves. The two didn’t just stand next to each other; their fabrics conversed—his matte velvet against her metallic zari, his severe collar against her bare shoulder. That frame remains a masterstroke in contrast styling.
Amitabh Bachchan are not just actors; they are the ultimate style architects of 1970s and 80s Bollywood. Their visual chemistry combined "Angry Young Man" grit with ethereal, classic glamour, creating a blueprint for Indian fashion that still resonates today. 🎥 The Style Era: Iconic Looks
The decade began with Amitabh in his Zanjeer avatar—rugged, raw, and revolutionary. His fashion vocabulary was utilitarian yet iconic: . The unbuttoned, loose-collar shirts became a symbol of blue-collar rage. Meanwhile, Rekha was shedding her earlier chiffon-and-feathers image. In Do Anjaane (1976), she introduced the muted georgette saree —worn with a low back and a tiny bindi—a look that whispered rather than shouted.
Rekha, meanwhile, turned her saree into a second skin. She famously standardized the , gajra in her bun, and the unmistakable heavy kohl-rimmed eyes . Her style became ritualistic—unchanging, yet forever fresh. At Amitabh’s 60th birthday party, she arrived in a cream and gold patola saree while he wore a black bandhgala with a white pocket square . The media noted: they hadn’t co-starred in years, but their style symmetry remained instinctive.