Manish Malhotra Reveals Why Sanjay Leela Bhansali Stopped Working With Him After ‘Khamoshi’
Mumbai, India — October 29, 2025:
Renowned fashion designer and filmmaker Manish Malhotra, known for dressing some of Bollywood’s biggest stars, recently opened up about why Sanjay Leela Bhansali hasn’t collaborated with him since their first film together, Khamoshi: The Musical (1996).
During a candid chat on “Two Much With Kajol and Twinkle”, where he appeared alongside Sonakshi Sinha, Manish revealed that Bhansali chose not to work with him again due to his close friendships with Karan Johar and Aditya Chopra.
“He Thought I Was Too Friendly With Karan Johar and Aditya Chopra”
When asked by Kajol about his working relationship with Bhansali, Manish explained,
“I did only one film, Khamoshi. After that, we never worked together. I think someone once told him that I was very friendly with Karan Johar and Adi (Aditya Chopra) — that I belonged to that group.”
He further shared that he had confronted Sanjay Leela Bhansali about the misunderstanding.
“I told him, ‘Sanjay, I’m a professional. I can work with different actors and filmmakers.’ But sometimes, things just don’t happen, and then you make your own path.”
Despite the fallout, Manish expressed admiration for Bhansali’s artistry and the way his films celebrate Indian aesthetics.
Manish Malhotra’s Illustrious Journey
With a career spanning over 35 years, Manish Malhotra remains one of India’s most influential fashion designers and stylists. He began his Bollywood journey with the 1990 film Swarg, starring Govinda, Rajesh Khanna, and Juhi Chawla.
Since then, he has designed costumes for iconic films such as Rangeela, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.
Today, Manish has expanded beyond fashion into film production, marking a new chapter in his career. His upcoming venture, Gustaakh Ishq, stars Vijay Varma and Fatima Sana Shaikh in lead roles.
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