Sonakshi Sinha’s complete style evolution

After bursting onto the Bollywood scene with Dabangg in 2010, Sonakshi Sinha's acting career began as a typecast of the traditional Indian woman. But the actor has an independent sense of style that revolves around retro-Bollywood and vintage Hollywood—and sometimes even playful sixties pin-up. 

Film career

After winning the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut, Sinha went on to star in films like Rowdy Rathore (2012), Joker (2012), Dabangg 2 (2012), Himmatwala (2013), Lootera (2013), Once Upon a Time in Mumbai Dobaara! (2013), Bullett Raja (2013), Holiday (2014), Force 2 (2016), Noor (2017) and Ittefaq (2017). Her latest releases include Kalank, Mission Mangal and Dabangg 3 in 2019.

Early years

Since 2012, the actor played it safe on the red carpet with simple saris. The traditional red bindi appeared to be her favourite accessory and Sinha toyed with colour as much as she worked with neutral looks in her wardrobe. Fast forward to 2014 and Sinha seemed to have comfortably worked out her own style language with a rigorous fitness routine to back it up. “My body adapts to any kind of workout very quickly, so my trainer makes sure I keep changing it up,” she told Vogue. The actor turned her style around with sleek and classic looks in Nikhil Thampi, experimented with fishtail gowns and spiked headbands from Gauri & Nainika and embraced her curves in waist-cinching gowns and A-line skirts.

2015 saw Sonakshi in a brave new avatar. The Akira star chopped off her signature mane of glossy locks for a care-free bob with red tips. Since then, we've seen her in Manish Malhotra lehengas and dark gowns, but her red carpet appearances have featured some novel picks too: think grungy jeans and sneakers for a movie screening, that belted Nishka Lulla gown, and her new fashion favourite Huemn.

Style files

 “My style has always been casual and simple,” said Sinha. “I've always been curvaceous and I take great pride in my curves even today. That's something I don't ever want to lose, so I try and dress accordingly.” In 2016, Sinha became a fan of athleisure, often pairing dresses with white sneakers. Bomber jackets were abundant at airports as were sweatshirts. 

The star never strayed far from her love of monotone. In the last year, the star favoured Indian designer labels like Manish Malhotra, Masaba, Nupur Kanoi and Anita Dongre amongst others. From commercially appealing choices to fashion-forward designer wear, Sonakshi Sinha style has come a long way.

New beginnings

In the last couple years, the 32-year-old actor began to experiment with Indian silhouettes and incorporated new-age designers like Arpita Mehta’s co-ord sets, Anamika Khanna’s ensembles and Masaba Gupta’s drapes. As she garnered a fashion-forward approach to her personal style, the star kept turning up with sharply-tailored pantsuits, cut-out bodycons and blazer dresses. Sinha also opened her horizons to a new colour palette of blush pinks and lime greens in Falguni Shane Peacock lehengas for celebrity-studded weddings and glamorous gowns by international designers for reality TV.