It’s all in the Jeans!

Of all things made popular by Hollywood and Bollywood films, denimology definitely scores high. The humble jeans first worn by traders and cotton plantation workers in the US, has tread a unique path from dustbowl cowboys to high fashion models worldwide. And the credit for it can go to the movie industries — abroad and at home.
The love affair with the big screen saw the popularity of the material reach dizzy heights.Its adoption by the rebellious 60s and 70s generation on screen made this material the ultimate symbol of ‘cool’. It lent gritty glamour to icons like Bing Crosby, John Wayne, John Travolta and Robert Mitchum.
Back home, Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra and Feroz Khan led the jeans brigade in the 70s and 80s with élan. Leading ladies Zeenat Aman, Parveen Babi, Neetu Singh turned up the fashion quotient notches with their well-fitted denims. “While Zeenat looked hot, Neetu Singh in jeans looked cute,” says designer Rick Roy.
“Thanks to denims, Big B managed to popularise the angry young man image” says designer Asmita Marwah. “The jeans along with the jacket lent him a distinct look that was imitated by numerous fans. Dharamji’s tough guy image was enhanced when he wore jeans,” adds Marwah.
The younger generation too seems to be proclaiming its love for the fabric. Abhishek Bachchan makes maximum public and stage appearances in jeans. Hrithik Roshan’s denim clad Dhoom 2 posters adorn the walls of every young girl’s room. SRK and Aamir Khan go about their publicity blitz in denims and Akshay created a furore with his ‘unbuttoning act’ for a jeans brand . The ladies too set the pulses racing in their jeans. “Bipasha Basu is the best wearer of denims in the Indian film industry,” opines designer Agnimitra Paul. “She has the perfect body and looks, sensual yet cool,” says Paul. “Figure-hugging, ripped and shredded jeans gives the actor a sexy look. Posterboys Salman, Hrithik and Sanjay Dutt look hot in jeans, thanks to their physique,” says designer Sayon Mitra.
The 70mm tells a whole different story about the evolution of jeans. “Hindi cinema is a great study on how jeans have changed with time. From bell bottoms, baggy to drainpipes and skinny jeans — one gets to see them all,” says Rick.
Ripped, shredded, stonewashed —the styles are different. But one thing that remains constant is filmdom’s love affair with this cotton twill textile.