5 style lessons from Amitabh Bachchan’s iconic wardrobe

Men’s red-carpet fashion often feels like an endless sea of identical black tuxedos. Safe silhouettes rule the night, making most appearances entirely forgettable. Then, there is Amitabh Bachchan. For decades, the megastar hasn't just worn clothes—he has commanded them with a singular, imposing presence. His wardrobe ignores whatever fleeting aesthetic is currently trending on social media algorithms.

Instead, his approach relies on a fascinating mix of strict discipline and quiet rebellion. He wears traditional garments with the exactitude of a military uniform, only to deliberately subvert the whole look with a wildly eccentric accessory. Here are five enduring style lessons from the legend himself that go far beyond the standard suit and tie.

While the rest of the world defaults to the western tuxedo for a high-profile evening, Bachchan relies heavily on the tailored discipline of the classic Indian bandhgala. He is frequently spotted in custom Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla creations. A well-structured, high-collar silhouette inherently commands more authority than an open lapel ever could. It quite literally forces the wearer to stand taller and project dominance. He proves that leaning into regional heritage isn't merely a nod to tradition. It is a deliberate, razor-sharp styling maneuver designed to stand out in a room full of predictable black-tie suits.

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Bachchan doesn’t just wear luxury watches. He uses them to spark conversations and disrupt expectations. He is famously known for occasionally wearing two watches at once. This quirk started as a highly practical way to track different time zones during international shoots, but it quickly evolved into a signature eccentricity.

Accessories should have a pulse. Whether you are wearing a rare vintage piece or pulling an unconventional styling move like double-wristing, your timepiece shouldn't just sit quietly on your wrist. It should broadcast a clear message about who you are, demonstrating a sheer willingness to break the unwritten rules of classic menswear.

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Pay close attention to his winter or evening appearances. You will almost always notice the deliberate use of heavy, intricately woven shawls. Think Kashmiri pashminas or rich regional silks draped effortlessly over one shoulder. Nailing the drape adds an instant, undeniable gravitas to an outfit. It acts as a brilliant, sophisticated layering technique that doesn't rely on stuffy overcoats or standard vests. Throwing a heritage textile over a sharp, monochromatic base adds necessary visual weight, complex texture, and a kind of old-world regality that modern fast fashion could never hope to replicate.

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As he transitioned into his later decades, Bachchan made bold, thick-rimmed glasses and softly tinted lenses an inescapable part of his facial architecture. If you require glasses, make them the focal point. Treat them as a defining feature rather than an unavoidable afterthought. Tinted lenses in warm amber, light blue, or rosy hues do an immense amount of heavy lifting. They soften the gaze, cleverly mask fatigue from long hours, and add a persistent layer of cinematic mystique to otherwise standard daytime looks.

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A very fine line exists between looking like a distinguished elder statesman and a velvet-draped lounge singer. Bachchan lands safely on the right side of it every single time. He frequently experiments with deep jewel tones—emerald, midnight blue, maroon—rendered in rich velvets or heavy silks for his jackets. The trick to pulling off loud fabrics lies in anchoring them with completely quiet basics.

Keep the cut absolutely immaculate and ensure your trousers and shirts remain entirely muted. Luxurious textures then become a marker of refined confidence rather than a desperate cry for attention. You don't have to surrender to beige and grey as you get older. You just have to master the rules well enough to rewrite them.

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