After leading ladies of Bollywood such as Kareena Kapoor and Bipasha Basu, having dabbled in fashion designing, it’s actor Lara Dutta Bhupathi who has turned a fashion designer with the launch of her first Indian wear collection. “Fashion has always interested me. I wanted to create a brand that’s affordable but exclusive. I have collaborated with Chhabra 555 for the same,” she says.

Lara, who gave birth to her first child, daughter Saira in January this year, says that she is not looking to compete with established designers. “I am not competing with the likes of Manish Malhotra and Tarun Tahiliani. I just want to bring my personal style to the mass market.”

Ask her why she chose to begin with ethnic wear, and she says, “It’s exciting to design Indian clothes. I have seen the collection to the finish.” Lara, who is visiting the Capital today to launch her line, admits, “The time that I spent with Saira at home allowed me to come out with this collection. It wasn’t easy, but it was a lot of fun…A lot changes when you become a mother.”
 
And what does she think of celeb moms being scrutinised for their weight gain? “One should not let others affect you. If you want to get rid of baby fat do it for yourself and not because you are under pressure,” she says.