Renaissance Man

best for the last 158 July 2014 For a boy who left home at17andworked two jobs to support himself, because his father wanted him to be a chartered accountant and he would rather stitch clothes, Troy Costa has done pretty well for himself. Coming from a lower middleclass family with limited opportunities, Troy embarked on a solo, painful journey that proved his credence in the world of design. His dream was to study at the London College of Fashion, so he worked in almost 60 Bollywood films, but couldn’t make enough money to make the trip. He swore never to touch 70 MM again. “I never graduated from LCF—I couldn’t collect the `12,70,000 I needed to pay my fee,” recalls Troy. “It was heart-breaking, but I have moved on.” But life, as they say, has many surprises tucked away. When he met Bollywood heartthrob Hrithik Roshan, as his stylist for a photo shoot, Troy didn’t like his clothes and promised to make him some. This relationship, which started in 2001 when he launched his label, has survived the test of turbulent times.

With Narendra Damodardas Modi, whom he calls ‘chic’, as his latest client, Troy is on a roll. After all, he’s producing an entirely new set of clothes for the man heading the country. Troy believes hard work is the only way to succeed, a bit like Giorgio Armani, who likes to stay away from the public eye. He is not social, he would prefer finding inspirations to tell stirring stories. So his 12-hour work day revolves around dressing men in colour, as he believes romance is back in menswear. “The change in India is taking place slowly, but steadily, so you see tangerines, burnt magenta and cobalt blue surfing into men’s closets,” he chuckles. “And this makes me happy, as colours symbolise just that overwhelming sentiment.”

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Shahid Kapur: Always a-la-mode!

“Designing for the chocolate boy of the nation is a challenging task. We are constantly expected to reinvent and innovate, as Shahid Kapur is always playing with new looks to go with his various characters. He took centre stage at IIFA wearing an aubergine, single-breasted, onebutton, long shawl lapel, three-piece tuxedo. I think it only added to his youthful charisma.” July 2014 159 Ayushmann Khurrana: The debonair “His boy-next-door charm has won him acclaim and fame. What’s amazing about him is that he doesn’t let clothes overpower him. We took the liberty of presenting him in a charcoal black, single-breasted, double shawl lapel tuxedo with a purple houndstooth bow tie, which he wore rather elegantly.”

Vir Das: The entertainer “Dressing him up is always an amiable affair.

While hosting the IIFA wearing a deep purple, single breasted, onebutton, peak yoke lapel, three-piece tuxedo in his now bearded avatar, he kept the audience in splits.”

Vidyut Jamval: The swashbuckler “Vidyut is one of the fittest actors in the industry. A specially-designed violet, dot weave, single-breasted, one-button, shadow velvet, shawl lapel tuxedo ensured his striking presence among a bevy of beauties as he judged the Miss India contest.”

“Dressed to leave everyone swooning, he wore an opulent cobalt blue, single breasted, one-button, shawl-piped lapel tuxedo at IIFA. Being the perfectionist that he is, Hrithik Roshan pulled the look off to the T.”

Hrithik Roshan: Effortless style AriesMarch 21 – April 21 Joyous moments with friends and family will bring a spring to your step. This is great, especially as there will be some heated moments with tempers flaring up, but a lot of it will be due to your own lack of communication. Tip: Strike a balance between work and health—it is good to be professional but some personal attention is also required. TaurusApril 22 – May 21 In a flirtatious mode, the aggressive lover in you will come to the forefront. Guided by your instincts and your desire to dominate, you will manage to charm your way through some tough situations. Tip: There will be a few odd people around you who will try their best to add confusion to your life—be alert and question their intentions. Gemini May 22 – June 21 Things will get temperamental but try to gain some form of structure in your routine—July poses to be a challenge. You may not have chosen the easiest path, but it certainly looks like the right one. Career gains momentum and some positive news comes as a surprise. Tip: Lose your fears; execute with confidence and belief in your success. Leo July 23 – August 22 Lucky, lucky you! You may feel nervous or even disturbed due to an unnecessary lack of confidence, but none of this matters as luck will seem to step-in to get you through tight situations. Tip: Some career moves may not feel right, so don't push yourself. Bring in some passion and start fulfilling some romantic desires.

VirgoAugust 23 – September 22 It always takes some time to understand and know how to follow your instincts, but now you seem to be managing quite well. This formula will help you direct your career on a path that you wish. Tip: Rejecting love is silly, especially when you feel connected to that person. Take some mental time off, give it a proper thought.

Libra September 23 – October 23 Confused in love? Why? It's actually quite straightforward, but you seem to be losing clarity and are finding ways of unbalancing yourself. Strangely, you are very clear with professional direction. You know what you want and this month will help you understand how to get it. Tip: Visit some old friends and rekindle some old memories. Scorpio October 24 – November 22 July is divided into two phases. The first half shows you to be generous and very content. All this is down to being purely aggressive and attentive towards all areas of your life. But going all out and not pacing yourself will drain you out by the second half. Tip: Plan out your expenses. Sagittarius November 23 – December 21 Multi-tasker and a multi-gainer, you have oodles of infectious happy energy. This will help you stay on top of your targets at home and work. Although you will face some confusion, luck is on your side. Somehow, even the strangest of decisions will sound so rational once it's over. Tip: Avoid arguments while travelling as a small tiff could escalate. Capricorn December 22 – January 20 Get ready for a challenge. July isn'tamonth for the fainthearted among you. There will be tremendous mental fatigue, but your resilient nature takes over. What does boost your energy is love. Expect the tides to turn with someone special. Tip: Dance—but if you are not a natural, take a class. Aquarius January 21 – February 20 A little distant from your friends, you will find yourself a little isolated this month—but that's pretty much your own doing. Work takes you to another level but this also means that you lose out on some special moments. Strike a balance—give a little, gain a lot. Tip: Don't forget to carry your medication while travelling.

Pisces February 21 – March 20 Work, love, vitality, stable home—it is all coming together. There will be moments where you will let go just a little bit more than you should, but such over indulgences are certainly acceptable. Tip: As stability comes in, you may just become overly generous with your expenses. Help someone needy if you wish to, but reconsider those unimportant buys. READER QUERY: My husband and I have been planning to buy a house for a while now, but it just doesn't seem to materialise, for one reason or another. How soon will I be able to own a house? —Srishti Shah, 27 Answer: The latter half of 2015 sees better opportunities for you to buy. As a couple, you will need to be firmer about your requirements—it is fine if there are delays, as long as you find a place you can make into a home. It is actually been a blessing that you haven't found anything yet, as anything you would have bought earlier would not have brought you satisfaction. Shruti Chopra will reveal what’s in store for you, based on your tarot readings, every month. Drop in queries about your future at lofficiel@maxposure.in, and she will guide you. Cancer June 22 – July 22 If you believe that partnering for a business idea is the way forward, then go for it. Allow your plans to flourish since you will be meeting the right people. Tip: Do remain realistic about how you wish to take your month forward. Give yourself mini targets and work towards completing those—it will make a large task quite manageable. Horoscope 160 July 2014 illustration dr