Manish Malhotra Reminisces About Winning His First Filmfare Award in 1995

April 12, 2025: Ace fashion designer Manish Malhotra took a nostalgic trip down memory lane as he reflected on a landmark moment in his illustrious career—winning his first-ever Filmfare Award for Best Costume Design in 1995 for the film Rangeela.

Taking to Instagram on Saturday, Malhotra shared a black-and-white throwback photograph of himself proudly holding the iconic Filmfare trophy. The post also featured a vintage video capturing the moment veteran actress Rekha presented him with the award on stage.

In a heartfelt note shared in the third slide of his post, Manish wrote, “My first Filmfare came with Rangeela, the same year they decided to introduce the Best Costume Design category. It felt like the industry was finally beginning to see costume not just as clothing, but as storytelling.”

The designer captioned the post, “The first-ever Filmfare Award (@filmfare) for Costume Design. It feels so nostalgic…”

Having spent over three decades in the fashion and film industry, Manish Malhotra has cemented his legacy with his costume work in iconic films such as Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, and Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani.

Expanding his creative pursuits, Malhotra launched his film production banner, Stage 5 Productions, in September 2023. Under this label, he has already produced multiple films including Bun Tikki, Train from Chhapraula, and Ul Jalool Ishq.

From revolutionizing Bollywood fashion to stepping into film production, Manish Malhotra continues to inspire generations with his storytelling—both through style and cinema.