Chennai Express released almost 13 years ago, and yet Meenamma’s sarees continue to find mentions in our fashion conversations. Padukone’s vibrant South Indian-inspired wardrobe turned out to be as iconic as the soundtrack. Bold sarees, vintage jewellery, jasmine gajras and bold blouses coming together to create a look that felt festive without being overly formal.
Fashion design director Manish Malhotra crafted each outfit to stay true to South Indian silhouettes and colour palette, without making Deepika seem old-fashioned or out-of-touch. Today, several looks from her glamorous wardrobe would work seamlessly at a wedding, festive function or perhaps even a holiday destination. Scroll down for five that stand out the most.
1. White and Gold Kasavu Saree
Out of all Meenamma looks, the white-and-gold saree she wears in “Titli” is easiest to recreate. With a basic white saree and broad golden border, this look has the aesthetic of a traditional Kerala Kasavu saree. Paired with Deepika’s red bindi, gold jhumkas and flowers in her hair, the ensemble is effortlessly elegant.
There’s nothing too over-the-top about it—amp; that’s what makes it remain relevant even today. Swap out the blouse for a contrasting colour and amp up the flowers for a wedding or Anam-inspired look.
2. Midnight Blue with a Magenta Blouse
Deepika in a midnight blue saree with a pop-of-colour magenta blouse taught us how powerful a colour combination can be when dressing traditionally. The saree sported a zari border while the magenta blouse prevented the outfit from looking too uptight. If there’s one thing to take away from this look, it’s that your saree doesn’t always have to feature heavy embroidery to stand out.
Pair this style with minimal jewellery to modernise the look.
3. The Red- and-Gold Kanjeevaram
Meenamma wore several heavily embroidered sarees in Chennai Express, but if you’re seeking wedding inspo, red saree du it is. The deep red-and-gold Kanjeevaram-style saree paired with temple jewellery and a jasmine gajra gave Deepika a traditional South Indian bridal look.
It’s a testament to how a few key pieces can give you a timeless look that isn’t dependent on fleeting trends. Whether you are a bride, bridesmaid or wedding guest, you could pull off something similar today.
4. Orange and Pink Half- saree
Padukone sports a half-saree, or davani, in this brightly coloured outfit from “Kashmir Main Tu Kanyakumari.” She wore orange and pink with a blue blouse to create a striking contrast.
With its playful colours and simpler silhouette, this look feels young. That, paired with a modern hairstyle and minimalistic jewellery, could work for a millennial mehendi, haldi or even a college fest function.
5. Orange, Yellow and Green Half- saree
This another fun Meenamma look that deserves a spot on your inspo board. Bright orange paired with yellow and green—with the green pallu as a final punch of colour— defies the norm of sticking to one colour while dressing traditionally. With its cheery colours, this outfit feels celebratory.
Deepika’s Chennai Express wardrobe works because it’s fun. It honours South Indian fashion silhouettes without making them feel burdensome or outdated. More than ten years later, Meenamma’s sarees still exemplify what modern fashion quite struggles to be—joyful, youthful and completely wearable Indian clothes.
