Sharmila Tagore’s recent birthday celebration on December 8 was made even more special with a surprising Pakistani connection. The actress, known for her elegance, wore an outfit from the local Pakistani brand ‘Wear Manto’—a stunning Anarkali frock titled ‘Hayat Anarkali’.
This choice not only showcased her distinctive style but also highlighted a unique cross-border influence. The frock featured intricate Urdu calligraphy along the edges of the dupatta, which included poetic verses, adding a beautiful cultural dimension to the outfit. Sharmila Tagore complemented the look with a striking red beaded necklace.
What was especially intriguing about this celebration was that seeing Sharmila Tagore wear an outfit from a local Pakistani brand left social media users and even the brand’s owners surprised. The brand, ‘Wear Manto’, is not a well-known name, yet its beautifully crafted designs have gained a unique place among consumers, particularly for their calligraphy-detailed motifs. The brand’s sole outlet had recently opened in Karachi’s Defense area, and it had only around 328,000 followers on Instagram.
Despite the modest size of the brand, the outfit made its way to a Bollywood legend, leading the brand’s owners to express surprise in response to social media comments. They speculated that the outfit might have been gifted to Sharmila Tagore, as they were unaware of how their creation reached her.
The outfit, titled ‘Hayat Anarkali’, is available on their website for 6,950 Pakistani rupees. With the addition of the dupatta, the complete price of the outfit is 9,500 Pakistani rupees. When converted into Indian rupees, the outfit costs just around 2,900 Indian rupees, reflecting Sharmila Tagore’s preference for choosing clothing that reflects her personality over luxury.