The maroon corset maxi

This is not a costume. Aishwarya Lekshmi wore this to sit down for an interview — Reel Tribe's "Ten with the Tribe", filmed on a black backdrop against a deep blue sofa and published in July 2026, during the Gatta Kusthi 2 promotion round. She does not wear it in the film.

We can tell you exactly what it is. The dress is Mazikien's "Rhonda", in maroon, and the label's own site prices it at ₹5,850 — ₹6,850 in the largest sizes.

What makes it work is a single idea repeated: every seam is drawn on. The bodice is built like a corset, panelled front and sides, and each panel seam is stitched in a contrasting thread that runs pale against the maroon — Mazikien calls that thread golden-tan; on camera under this lighting it reads closer to ivory. The same stitch outlines the square neckline and both wide flat straps, so the shape of the dress is literally traced for you in a lighter colour from a distance. Down the centre front there is a short run of small dark buttons, and the top one is a branded logo button rather than a plain disc.

Then the whole thing changes at the waist. The bodice ends in a dropped seam a little below the natural waist and the skirt gathers out of it all at once — full, soft, falling to a maxi length with side-seam pockets cut into it. The fabric is the part most lookalikes miss. It is a linen and cotton blend and it behaves like one: matte, slightly dry, holding its own folds. There is no shine on it anywhere. The brand's own listing describes it as a square-neck denim midi dress with a smocked back panel and a zip, which is where the fit comes from.

Her jewellery is one thing and one thing only: a hair-fine gold chain worn high, close to the collarbone, with a single small rounded gold charm on it. Nothing at the ears, nothing at the wrists except two watches.

Three things are deliberately missing from the list below, and we would rather say so than guess. Her shoes — she is seated for the entire interview and not one frame reaches the floor. And the watches — there are two of them, a dark-strap smartwatch on the left wrist and a gold-cased watch on a green strap on the right, and neither is legible enough to name a make.

Our picks are below. They are our own choices from the high street, not the label, and each card says exactly where it differs from what is on camera.