Designer Manish Malhotra, who has changed the way Bollywood stars dress up, says celebrity clients excite him as much as ordinary buyers.

"I make no distinction between celebrities and others. I do not change my designs based on where they are being marketed. I won't change my designs for the US market or as a Bombay designer for my Delhi clients," says Malhotra, who was here overseeing a fashion show.

Asked whether he designs around an attitude or a person, he says: "Clearly a person. People bring a certain personality with them. I like to work with them."

Ten years ago, filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma gave Malhotra the script of the film "Rangeela". Malhotra used that opportunity to redefine fashion in Bollywood.

The costumes for the film's lead actress Urmila Matondkar were described as hip, urbane and daring.

"That was perhaps the first time a film director had given a fashion designer an entire script. That worked very well because I could get into the mood of the characters," Malhotra told IANS in an interview.

"I have always loved Hindi films and I have always loved clothes. I had to combine my two passions," he says, recalling his foray into Bollywood.

"I learnt to cut cloth. That was the basic for any designer. But it was quite tough in the beginning trying to convince filmmakers about what I had to offer."

After modelling briefly to support himself in Mumbai, Malhotra began to get assignments.

Since the success of "Rangeela", he has designed costumes for some of the biggest names in Bollywood - Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Urmila Matondkar, Hema Malini and others.

"I take care to see that actors look good and not my outfits. My clothes are meant to enhance those who wear them and not the other way around," says Malhotra, who is turning director with a "simple romantic film".

Asked what drives his creativity, he says: "I design my clothes to reflect energy and exuberance. It is a younger, colourful and energetic take on fashion."

The Manish Malhotra label, which is about a year old, appears to have caught on at exclusive stores in Mumbai, Dubai and Singapore. The designer's collection is now available at Earth NYC, a lounge in Chelsea, as well as Sahil in Chicago.

In his spring and summer collection this season, Malhotra's preference is lime green and aqua blue. "I prefer animal prints mixed with shading. Some colours like pastel are overdone," he says.

He is not quite high on the taste of Indian Americans, saying they prefer very traditional Indian clothes with too much embroidery.

Malhotra sees Indian fashion making a significant global impact. "Indian fashion is being noticed globally, and in turn it is also keeping global tastes in mind. Indian fashion is ready for the world."

Even the sari is undergoing a transformation. "It is becoming more glamorous and yet easy to maintain."

--Indo-Asian News Service