Alia Bhatt Channels Rekha’s Iconic Silsila Look at Umrao Jaan Screening

Alia Bhatt wore her love for Rekha on her sleeve—quite literally—at the special screening of Umrao Jaan this week. Dressed in a delicate baby pink saree styled by Rhea Kapoor, Alia paid tribute to one of Rekha’s most iconic looks from Yash Chopra’s Silsila (1981).

The saree, paired with feather earrings and soft, dewy makeup, was a clear nod to Rekha’s memorable appearance as Chandni in the classic romantic drama. With her hair left open and a natural glow, Alia looked radiant as she smiled and posed for photographers at the event.

Stylist Rhea Kapoor even shared side-by-side images of Rekha’s original Silsila look on Instagram, highlighting the thoughtful homage. Fashion commentator Diet Sabya also praised the tribute, writing, “Rekha ma in Silsila has given us fashion and heartbreak references for ages. Eons. Centuries. And the only way to pay homage is to do it correctly or not do it at all. Alia in TT custom couture baby pink (or is it lilac?) sari worn with feather earrings… Reference done correct. Modern. Styled by @rheakapoor.”

The screening comes ahead of the re-release of Umrao Jaan, which returns to theatres this Friday in a restored version by the National Film Development Corporation–National Film Archive of India under the National Film Heritage Mission. Set in 19th-century Lucknow, the film follows the journey of Amiran (Rekha), a courtesan navigating love and loss in a complex world. The film also stars Farooque Shaikh, Raj Babbar, and Naseeruddin Shah.

As for Alia, fans can look forward to her upcoming roles in Love and War and the YRF action thriller Alpha. But for now, it’s clear she’s taking a moment to honour the timeless elegance of Rekha—one saree at a time.