Freida Pinto Wears Sharara Dress to Regency-Era Rom-Com Mr. Malcolm’s List

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She may be one of the most famous Indian actresses who made it big in Hollywood, but Freida Pinto hasn’t forgotten where she came from.

Just recently, the 37-year-old actress paid homage to her roots by wearing a sharara dress to an after-party following the screening of her latest movie, Mr. Malcom’s List.

Freida Pinto wows in a sharara dress at the Mr. Malcolm's List screening after-party in New York CityFreida Pinto wows in a sharara dress at the Mr. Malcolm’s List screening after-party in New York City on June 29, 2022 (Credit: Dave Allocca / StarPix)

Showcasing her cleavage and toned abs, the three-piece Manish Malhotra ensemble included a crystal-encrusted bustier-style top, chikankari-embroidered wide-leg pants, and a sleeveless beige cape with crystal and lace trims.

Freida Pinto pays homage to her Indian roots in a Manish Malhotra sharara, composed of a crystal-embellished bustier top, wide-leg pants, and a capeFreida Pinto pays homage to her Indian roots in a Manish Malhotra sharara, composed of a crystal-embellished bustier top, wide-leg pants, and a cape (Credit: Dave Allocca / StarPix)

Giving the look more sparkles, Freida styled with a pair of Cartier diamond drop earrings and a few rings and carried an embellished Roger Vivier clutch bag.

Dev Patel’s ex wore her tresses in a high half-up style and added a funky element to her beauty look with smokey purple-magenta eyeshadow.

Freida Pinto adds drama to her look with smokey magenta eyeshadow and wears her hair in a half-up 'doFreida Pinto adds drama to her look with smokey purple-magenta eyeshadow and wears her hair in a half-up ‘do (Credit: Dave Allocca / StarPix)

Pinto also incorporated South Asian culture into her new Regency-era movie, Mr. Malcom’s List, which is based on the novel of the same name by Suzanne Allain that you can buy on Amazon.

She stars as Selina Dalton, a young woman in 1800s England who attempts to help her friend, Julia Thistlewaite (played by Zawe Ashton), get revenge on a suitor, Mr. Malcom (played by Sope Dirisu) after she was rejected for failing a requirement on his list of qualification standards for a bride.

Sope Dirisu and Freida Pinto star in the period drama Mr. Malcolm's ListSope Dirisu and Freida Pinto star in the period drama Mr. Malcolm’s List (Credit: Bleecker Street / Universal Pictures)

In an interview with Collider, Pinto talked about the importance of costumes, saying that costumes help actors “breathe life into the character in a very, very strong way.”

For Mr. Malcolm’s List, costume designer Pam [Downe] nailed the signature look of the 1800s, with the empire dress silhouette being one of the key elements of fashion during the Regency era.

Freida Pinto plays Selina Dalton in the Regency-era film alongside Zawe Ashton, who plays her friend Julia ThistlewaiteFreida Pinto plays Selina Dalton in the Regency-era film alongside Zawe Ashton, who plays her friend Julia Thistlewaite (Credit: Bleecker Street / Universal Pictures)

Pinto added that she thought of incorporating her South Asian roots into one of the costumes by suggesting a paisley print design.

“In fact, I got to go one step further and give a nod to my South Asian culture by suggesting that we include the paisley print in one of the costumes and just make it feel authentic, as opposed to gimmicky or forceful. We didn’t want to make it look like it was a joke.”

“It was actually just very real to who Selina was that she brings in a paisley print, her Sunday best dress for one of the dates that she goes on with Mr. Malcolm,” she added.

“Then, of course, all of the work that you do on learning the mannerisms itself, and learning how they speak, and language, and dialect—all of it plays such an important role in transforming you into that character.”

Freida Pinto reveals incorporating paisley prints into one of the costumes as a nod to her South Asian cultureFreida Pinto reveals incorporating paisley prints into one of the costumes as a nod to her South Asian culture (Credit: Bleecker Street / Universal Pictures)

At the Manhattan premiere of the period drama held at the DGA Theater earlier in the day, the Slumdog Millionaire star stole the spotlight in a canary yellow pleated gown from Indian-American fashion designer Naeem Khan’s Resort 2023 collection.

Freida Pinto stuns in a canary yellow Naeem Khan gown at the Manhattan premiere of Mr. Malcolm's ListFreida Pinto stuns in a canary yellow Naeem Khan gown at the Manhattan premiere of Mr. Malcolm’s List (Credit: Dave Allocca / Starpix / INSTARimages / Cover Images)

Highlighting her cleavage, the striking gown features a fitted bodice with a halter neck and sweetheart neckline, a floor-sweeping skirt, and detached tie-on sleeves that cascade into a train.

Pinto wore the same hair and makeup look but swapped her Cartier earrings for a pair of Fred Leighton 19th Century Amethyst earrings.

Freida Pinto styles her bright yellow gown with Fred Leighton 19th Century Amethyst earringsFreida Pinto styles her bright yellow gown with Fred Leighton 19th Century Amethyst earrings (Credit: Dave Allocca / StarPix)