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Aki Narula Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 3, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth1968

Age53 Years (as of 2021)

BirthplaceKolkata

ProfessionFashion Designer, Costume Designer, Stylist

NationalityIndian

Marital statusUnmarried

FamilyFather an engineer; mother a homemaker

Aki Narula Biography

Aki Narula is an Indian fashion and costume designer and stylist known for vibrant, textured designs and a long list of Bollywood wardrobe credits. Born in

Early life and background
Aki Narula was born in 1968 in Kolkata and grew up in a family where his father worked as an engineer and his mother was a homemaker. He attended La Martiniere Calcutta and went on to earn a Bachelor of Commerce from St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata. During college he discovered an interest in clothing and began creating outfits for friends, college events and stage productions, a hobby that eventually shaped his career path.

After graduating he briefly worked as a management trainee at Lintas before traveling to the United States to study communications at Arizona State University in 1992. Returning to India, he enrolled in a cost accountancy programme but by the mid-1990s had begun shifting toward fashion full time.

Career
Narula’s formal move into fashion came after he won the regional Damania Fashion Award in 1994, an accolade that encouraged him to pursue design professionally. In 1997 he launched his namesake label AKI and showed his first collection at Melange in Mumbai. Over the following years his label expanded into multiple retail outlets across India and attracted attention beyond the country; Selfridges in the UK bought his collection after his participation in early India Fashion Week events.

Through the 2000s Narula became a visible presence in the Indian fashion circuit, participating in Lakme Fashion Week and presenting at the Grand Finale of India Fashion Week in 2004. He served as design director at Sheetal Design Studio in Mumbai and began selling internationally in fashion destinations such as Cannes and St. Tropez.

Narula’s transition into films started in 2005 when he worked on Mira Nair’s Monsoon Wedding. His profile rose further the same year with styling assignments on the Yash Raj Films production Bunty Aur Babli. Over the next decade he built a substantial filmography, contributing costume and styling to a wide range of Hindi films, including notable titles such as Don - The Chase Begins Again, Bunty Aur Babli, Dostana, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, Kurbaan, Paa, Housefull, Rockstar, Agent Vinod, Housefull 2 and Highway. His work in films earned recognition within the industry, including a Bollywood Style Award in 2009 for styling and an IIFA Award for Best Costume Design for the film Barfi in 2013.

Beyond film, Narula has designed for theatre and regional cinema, and created lifestyle products including linens and decorative objects. He has also pursued collaborations with commercial brands: in 2009 he partnered with Puma on a Black Label line of apparel, footwear and accessories, and in 2011 he worked with Belvedere Vodka to design a limited-edition bottle and related red chiffon scarves for a charity-focused release.

Public profile
Narula’s personal style and design sensibility—known for bright colours, playful textures and inventive draping—made him a sought-after stylist among Bollywood actors. His credits include styling for high-profile performers across generations of Indian cinema. He has also appeared on television; in 2012 he co-hosted the Indian edition of What Not to Wear on TLC alongside Soha Ali Khan, a 13-episode series that focused on fit, fabrics and practical style advice.

Personal life
Aki Narula is Indian by nationality and follows Sikhism. He has been reported as unmarried and in a long-term relationship with Shakeel Sutarwala, who is identified as his partner and publicist. Narula’s interests outside design include painting, reading, cooking and exploring interior concepts, set dressing and props. He has a visible tattoo on the front of his neck bearing the word Swaraj.

Latest updates
In addition to film work, Narula continued to place his collections in premium Indian stores and to collaborate with lifestyle and commercial brands. His ongoing presence in Bollywood wardrobe departments and occasional returns to product design reflect a career that spans runway, retail and screen.
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Recent Work

Highway

Costume design/styling credit in the film

2014
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Career Highlights

  1. Launched namesake label AKI in 1997 and retailed across India
  2. Styled notable Bollywood films including Bunty Aur Babli and Dostana
  3. Collaborated with international and commercial brands such as Puma and Belvedere Vodka
  4. Hosted What Not to Wear India (TLC) in 2012
  5. Won IIFA Award for Best Costume Design for Barfi (2013)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Aki Narula born?

1968

What is Aki Narula known for?

Fashion Designer, Costume Designer, Stylist

What is Aki Narula’s marital status?

Unmarried