Cocktail has etched its name in the history of cinema as the film that finally shed light on the exceptional talent that is Deepika Padukone. Touted as her breakthrough performance and a turning point in her career, Cocktail indeed was a mishmash of adult friendships and relationships that went wrong well -concocted with all the trials and tribulations that come in the roller-coaster ride we called life.

There are various reasons to root for a film like Cocktail. It was refreshingly honest and a melting pot of modern-age storytelling that made the audience relate to it. Deepika Padukone who essayed the role of Veronica was feisty and a go-getter. She was fierce in her opinions and perceptions but at the core of it all was a deeply emotional girl who wanted simple things and had all the ordinary wishes of a girl who wants to find happiness in life. Other than the portrayal, it was Deepika’s wardrobe in the film that garnered a lot of attention. Fabrics, silhouettes, loud colours, accessories and beauty looks – all had a contributing role to play in shaping her onscreen persona and making the characterization stand out through the art of fashion.

Here’s highlighting all the spotlight-worthy fashion moments of Deepika Padukone as Veronica from Cocktail that, even in its 11th year, is of prime essence.

Crop Tops, Tank Tops and Prints

Veronica’s free-spirited demeanour was abundantly reflected in the casual outfits chosen for her. Instantly upping the chicness of the entire get-up by pairing solid colours with funky prints. The boho-chic avatar was retained and gave a quirky touch to it. Be it the iconic grey knotted crop top with the sequinned print mini skirt or the colourful orange printed flared pants with the mint green tank top in the fan-favourite song Daaru Desi. Deepika Padukone’s svelte frame further complimented the casual everyday look while in perfect tangent to how easy-going her character was.

Fun Accessories

Take a cue from Veronica on how a simple ensemble can get the upgrade it deserves only if your mix-and-match game is an ace. Veronica always found herself oscillating between playing good cop and bad cop. Her fedora hats, chic belts and thin-rimmed glasses spoke volumes of the rebelliousness that adorned her onscreen personality. Other than how well it looked from the styling perspective and accessories playing a concluding factor in a curated wardrobe pick, her non-conformist attitude in her was all about going all-out and opting for an out-of-the-box accessory game.

Sequins galore

The shine of the sequins was reminiscent of all the bling that Veronica’s life radiated on the outside. She lived a larger-than-life, a complete party animal, with tons of friends and life was a party in itself. While she battled her inner demons, it was what was on the outside and visible to the crowd that surrounded her that looked normal. Her sequin outfit in the beginning frame of the film was ironically also the first outfit she donned as her entry into the frame. Strutting in wearing a transparent black sequined number or the golden bodycon number with the same fabric, there are ample instances where she sports the glittering ensemble.

Bold colours

One of the best elements to represent a feisty personality is to opt for a bold and vibrant colour palette. Veronica sported a range of colourful outfits from peaches, turquoise green, reds, cut-out dresses with neon accents, to name a few. Not only the silhouettes but the colours also represented her gutsy avatar. Towards the more sombre scenes of the film, Deepika is seen wearing more muted outfits with lots of greys, nude colours and raven black. The varying hues indeed played a very important role in showing the range of emotions Veronica goes through as the character demands.

Edgy Hairstyles

Never underestimate the power of beauty and fashion in equal proportions on how they can elevate the storyline of a film. Deepika as Veronica was the perfect skeleton for representing how every minute detail added up to showcasing the various layers of her psyche. The messy hair doesn’t care style was prevalent for the larger part of her hairdo in the film. Edgy side braids, loose waves and a lot of volumes highlighted the impulsive and outgoing nature of her character. Towards the more serious and unsettling part of the plot, she is seen sporting a lot of neat high ponytails or brushed hair kept open. A quick transition from the salt-pepper hair to a cleaner outlook.
Chunky Jewellery

Be it traditional or the spunky western look she portrayed, jewellery was an important finishing touch to it all. There are a handful of scenes where she is seen wearing ethnic wear. The one scene where she believes looking more like the perfect Indian bride would get her brownie points from the potential mother-in-law. The quintessential red salwar suit with a bindi, dainty jhumkas and red bangles. The concluding song – Second Hand Jawaani sees her in a black ruffle saree and she only complements it with a maangtika, adding the much-needed spunk to an Indo-western look. Veronica almost brought back the trend of stack-up jewellery with her character. She is seen pairing up several metals together from bracelets to bangles that added a flair to her Western attires while she kept it basic and relatable with her jewellery to go with the limited Indian fits. The perfect semblance of character appropriation with that of wardrobe picks.

11 years down the line and one of Deepika Padukone’s most loved characters – Veronica from Cocktail continues to be the guide to how to marry fashion with character representation. Several references are made to date not only because the style statements started a revolution of sorts and inspired the young crowd out there to get similar outfits made, but it was also a lesson on letting an iconic character standout by the sheer usage of clothes and accessories. Needless to say, the efforts put in have left a lasting impression as we look back at it as Cocktail celebrates another year gone by.