From Western Suburbs to Bollywood Screens: What Seeing My ASHAALIA Jacket on Malaika Arora Really Means

Growing up as a young Indian girl in the Western world, identity was always a blend — the push and pull of two cultures, two expectations, two worlds. On one side, the fast-paced, modern environment of migrating from Fiji and growing up in New Zealand, and later on to Australia. On the other hand, the rich traditions, colours, and stories were carried from generations before me.

Like so many children of the diaspora, I learned early how to hold both. I celebrated Diwali and Eid alongside Easter and Christmas, I watched Bollywood films alongside the latest Hollywood rom coms with my family, and carried the subtle awareness that my heritage was powerful — even if the world around me didn’t always reflect it.

As I grew older, that awareness became a driving force. It shaped my eye for fashion, my love of craftsmanship, and eventually, my vision for ASHAALIA — a brand built for people who embrace duality: modern confidence paired with cultural richness.

The Power of the Indian Economy — and the Reach of Bollywood

Today, India stands as one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies. Its influence crosses borders: in culture, in business, in style. Bollywood alone touches a global audience of over a billion people, shaping trends not just in India, but across the Middle East, Europe, and beyond.

Bollywood women — powerful, expressive, unapologetically glamorous — have long defined what aspirational fashion looks like. For those of us who grew up watching them from afar, they were more than entertainers. They were symbols of possibility.

And Then… a Full-Circle Moment

So seeing Malaika Arora, a woman whose presence has defined style for decades, wearing an ASHAALIA jacket…
It felt surreal.
It felt emotional.
It felt like coming full circle.

It wasn’t just a celebrity moment.
It was a cultural moment.
A moment where the young girl in me — the one who sat cross-legged watching Bollywood while living in a Western world — realised that heritage and ambition can coexist beautifully.

ASHAALIA has found its way from my imagination to a place on the global fashion stage. And seeing someone like Malaika interpret and embody a piece from our collection validates the heart behind this brand: celebrating strong women everywhere, across cultures and continents.

Beyond Fashion — A Bridge Between Worlds

ASHAALIA will always be about more than garments. It's about identity, representation, and the courage to dream beyond borders. Moments like this remind me why storytelling through fashion matters — because culture shapes us, inspires us, and ultimately connects us.

To every person balancing two worlds: your roots are a strength. Your story is powerful. And your heritage is an asset — not something to dim, but something to elevate.

This is just the beginning for ASHAALIA