Ugadi fashion 2026: 5 veshti styling looks inspired by South Indian actors

A veshti is a traditional men’s garment mainly worn in the South Indian region of India. It features a long rectangular piece of unstitched cloth, which is 5 metres long and wrapped around the waist and legs. It looks similar to a dhoti, but the draping style makes it different. This humble veshti has long been a symbol of South Indian culture, thanks to the leading men of the South Indian film industry. Today, let’s take inspiration from some and style a sleek piece that should be perfect for Ugadi 2026.

Rana Daggubati’s wedding look proved that veshtis can look ceremonial and regal if the silhouette stands out. The actor wore a white-and-gold blended Kanjeevaram silk veshti with a matching kurta and an angavastram, which is a shoulder drape. The richness of the silk silhouette instantly elevates the look; the sheen of the lighting makes everything feel rich and iconic.

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The most timeless looks in a veshti are often carried by South superstar Suriya, who is frequently seen rocking a crisp white piece with fitted shirts for public appearances. Apart from having the classic white veshti with a golden border, he has also been spotted in a white piece with a sleek red border, teamed with a matching red fitted shirt, which started the trend of adding colours to this traditional piece.

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Allu Arjun has always impressed the audience with his forward-thinking, fashionable looks. So, when he stepped out in a sleek white silk veshti and ditched the usual kurta or shirt look, people were left in awe of his take. He wore the piece with a knee-length, straight-fitted, full-sleeved kurta and layered a matching bandhgala-style Nehru jacket with subtle embroidery. Completing the look with a striking Chanda necklace from the label Sheetal Zaveri, he elevated the subtle ivory ensemble, making it suitable for festivals.

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Vijay Deverakonda’s wedding pictures with Rashmika Mandanna looked straight out of traditional heavens, where the duo resembled versions of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Laxmi in each frame. For his mehendi look, he wore a tonal, draped veshti-inspired dhoti drenched in dark blue hues with subtle floral detailing, coordinated with a contrasting green tucked-in kurta with golden borders. But his embroidered red and gold-patterned jacket with elephant, peacock, and miniature parrot motifs stole the show. And a kamarbandh with Swarovski elements was just the cherry on top.

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Stars like Ram Charan showed us how to make a veshti look poised and sophisticated when worn with clean pleats and precision. He wore a three-piece coordinated traditional ensemble featuring a crisp white veshti with the usual golden border, a short-fitted kurta, and an angavastram. Instead of rolling up the sleeves or wearing the angavastram loose, he kept things neat, pleating the angavastram on his right shoulder, which looked practical and on point.