Just as it’s any designer’s dream to dress up actor Amitabh Bachchan, it could also end up in sleepless nights. But for designer Leepakshi Ellawadi, the name instrumental for Big B’s funky look in Bbuddah Hoga Tera Baap, getting the veteran actor to look the way she visualised was a cakewalk.

The 28-year-old designer who keeps shuttling between London and Mumbai has grown up idolising the superstar. “But I felt that in the last 10 years he missed colour even though he was flaunting nice cuts and sober colours,” says Leepakshi, adding, “His character was such in the film that it gave us a lot of liberty and all credit goes to him for allowing us to experiment.”

The young designer says that Big B’s look was conceived step by step. “I went shopping with Mr Bachchan to London. We opted for a lot of florals and paisleys since they are ‘in’ internationally. He also opened up his entire wardrobe and I threw in a lot of scarves from an amazing collection that I have. We’ve used a lot of turquoise, fuschia pink, yellows but it’s a sensible use of colours,” the designer informs. Leepakshi recollects the moment she was told who she would be dressing up. “I was completely blank and I must say he takes the cake for being stylish. He wears his scarf with a signature knot and every time I would tie that, my hands would shiver. He was like a blank canvas and just allowed me to paint,” she says.

Leepakshi takes pride in the fact that she’s designing for Bollywood. “Though I’ve done my masters in designing from London, Bollywood has taught me a lot. I must say I fancy it. Where else would one find an icon like Mr Bachchan?” She feels that the money being spent on styling, look and feel of films in Bollywood is huge. “There is money and liberty in terms of creation and inspiration — something not easy to find in work zones,” says the designer who is also working on director Puri Jagannadh’s next project as well as director Ram Gopal Varma’s forthcoming film.