Dame Judi in desi chic

Dame Judi Dench won a BAFTA (British Academy and Film and Television Arts) Awards dressed in an Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla chikan ensemble.

At the BAFTA awards in London recently, Dame Judi wore an exquisite pale lilac chikan embroidered outfit designed by the duo. She won Best Actress Award for the film Iris.

Ismail Merchant and James Ivory were named for the BAFTA Fellowship Award, for their contribution to cinema, too. A star-studded event, BAFTA was graced by artistes like Nicole Kidman, Kevin Spacey, Kate Winslet, Russell Crowe and others.

Meanwhile, Dame Judi expressed great pleasure over her outfit, "Not only are Abu and Sandeep's clothes works of art, they are exquisite to look at and the most feminine clothes I have ever worn."

"She picked up the ensemble a while ago and her wearing the lilac chikan to the BAFTA was a surprise to us. This is the second time lucky for her in our creation and we are delighted," says the designer duo, who have earned plaudits among the design community for their revival of chikan.

In March 1999, Abu-Sandeep became part of Oscar history when Dame Judi received the Best Supporting Actress in one of their dhaka-embroidered creations.

At Oscar Awards 2000, Dame Judi wore another Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla gown to present an award. Lindy Hemming, winner of the Oscar for Best Costume Design also received her award in the duo's stunning Shikargah outfit.

In 2001, Dame Judi once again wore a dazzling red and black Pakeezah Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla gown when she was nominated Best Supporting Actress.