In a significant event that combined the magic of fashion with the power of human spirit, director Tahira Kashyap, renowned for her courage and resilience, took to the ramp three times for celebrity designer Manish Malhotra’s ‘Namo Bharat’ fashion show in New Delhi. This show was organized with a noble intent: it was dedicated to celebrating the courage of cancer survivors. Tahira, who is also the wife of Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana, became a shining beacon of hope and transformation as she showcased three distinct looks at the event.
During her first walk, Tahira boldly appeared with a completely bald look. The second appearance saw her donning a style with a little hair, while the third and final look featured her with dense hair, symbolizing various stages of her journey and personal transformation. Reflecting on her experience, Tahira shared, “My hair journey has been incredibly transformative. It’s taught me so much about vanity, beauty, and, most importantly, perception and perspective, showing me that nothing can be put in a box.”
The decision to embrace a bald look was a significant one for Tahira, as she lost her hair not by choice but chose to embrace the change. “I went through three distinct looks when I went bald, losing my hair not by choice, but I chose to embrace the bald look, and I genuinely liked how I looked. It really challenged conventional ideas of beauty, and, to be honest, I felt beautiful in that phase, too,” she added. The evolution of her hairstyles mirrored her journey, both personal and public, offering an inspiring message to many battling similar challenges. She reiterated that each phase of her hair growth represented a chapter of her transformative journey. “As my hair started growing back into a short crop, and eventually became long again, I loved that look just as much. I’ve since chopped it back, and I realise that my hair, in its various stages, has been a reflection of my personal journey”, she shared.
Tahira was diagnosed with stage 0 breast cancer in 2018 and underwent a mastectomy in 2019, a journey she has openly spoken about with the aim of raising awareness. Her participation in Malhotra’s show was another effort in that direction. She voiced her belief that walking the ramp for a cause as significant as this one amplifies the reach of the message being conveyed. “I believe when you have someone like Manish Malhotra involved, and then the PMO also associated with the project, everything naturally becomes bigger, the scale, the platform, and the message you’re conveying.
. It amplifies the reach and impact. Whether it’s a ramp walk or any platform, when the scale is larger, the message resonates more strongly with the audience because of the reach. So, with Manish’s incredible costumes and the platform we had, I really hope the message went beyond just the fashion, and I believe it did,” she noted.
The event was indeed a spectacle, graced by other celebrities like Sonali Bendre and Hina Khan, who joined Tahira to walk the ramp, symbolizing strength and empowerment. Kartik Aaryan and Triptii Dimri added further glamour as showstoppers, making it a memorable event dedicated to the resilience and courage of women, particularly cancer survivors.
Tahira also took this opportunity to emphasize the importance of women’s health, particularly the early detection of breast cancer. “The only advice is early breast cancer detection. If you are talking about breast cancer. Take your body seriously, if there are any changes don’t sit on it. Please reach out to your doctor at the earliest. Keep doing self examinations and apart from that keep your mental and physical health into consideration”, she advised, hoping to inspire action and awareness among women.
Beyond her advocacy, Tahira continues to make her mark in the film industry. Her directorial debut, ‘Sharmajee Ki Beti’, released on Prime Video in June, received critical acclaim and audience appreciation alike. This film starred notable actors like Sakshi Tanwar, Divya Dutta, and Saiyami Kher. Her previous work includes the direction of ‘Pinni,’ a Flipkart original feature film starring Neena Gupta.
Tahira Kashyap’s journey, both on and off the ramp, continues to inspire many as she relentlessly advocates for health awareness and self-acceptance, reflecting her indomitable spirit and courage. Her recent participation in Manish Malhotra’s fashion show serves as a testament to her strength and commitment to making a difference.
