When About Shanti about released in 2007, it wasn’t just the reincarnation drama and its larger-than-life sets that made headlines — it was also the film’s painstaking attention to 70s Bollywood nostalgia. Now, years later, director Farah Khan has revealed a fascinating detail about the film’s iconic retro costumes: every single outfit worn during the film’s 70s portions was an original costume once donned by a legendary Bollywood star.In a recent interview with Radio Nasha, Farah shared that the team behind Om Shanti Om didn’t just replicate the era’s fashion — they sourced actual costumes worn by actors from that time, no original costume was made for that era. She revealed that the memorable blue trouser-jacket paired with a multicoloured T-shirt, worn by Shah rukh khan in the song Main Agar Kahoon, was originally worn by Rajesh Khanna in the film Aashiq. The outfit, with its quintessentially 70s flamboyance, became one of the visual highlights of the song sequence set in a film studio backdrop.Farah went on to add another gem: the checkered jacket Shah Rukh sports in Aankhon Mein Teri was actually worn by Rishi Kapoor in the 1975 comedy Rafoo Chakkar. The costume’s classic, slightly oversized silhouette and vintage charm perfectly captured the spirit of Bollywood’s golden era.She credited fashion designer Manish Malhotra for slightly tweaking the costumes for modern filming, but maintained that the essence. “Manish might have tweaked them a little, but they were the same costumes,” Farah said.This attention to detail not only added authenticity to Om Shanti Om’s first-half setting but also served as a heartfelt tribute to the stars and cinema of the 70s. The film’s meticulous recreation of the era — from its dialogues to its costumes — remains one of its most loved aspects, and this behind-the-scenes revelation only deepens fans’ appreciation for Farah Khan’s dedication to getting every detail just right.
