So is it an all out war between designer Manish Malhotra and newly-married Anushka Sharma? The industry is abuzz with the sartorial battles that were fought over Anushka’s outfits for her wedding and two receptions in Delhi and Mumbai.

During the week-long bridal binge Anushka was not seen in one Manish Malhotra creation. Strange, since Malhotra designed any number of Anushka’s outfits on and off screen until 2016.

So what happened between the two to sour their relationship to such an extent that the actress chose to completely ignore Bollywood’s No1 fashion designer for the biggest event of her life?

A source very close to the developments says the Malhotra-Sharma cold war started when Anushka had issues with the bridal outfit that Malhotra had designed for her in Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.“Anushka had decided during Ae Dil Hi Mushkil that she wouldn’t be wearing any Manish Malhotra outfits for her marriage. It was nothing personal. But Manish apparently chose to take it otherwise,” says source close to Malhotra.

Be as it might, Anushka favoured Sabyasachi throughout her wedding and the two receptions with no Manish Malhotra designer wear in sight.

Says the source, “It’s ironical that at Anushka-Virat Kohli’s wedding reception, everyone from Sridevi to producer Prernaa Arora wore Manish Malhotra. But the newly married Anushka did not.”

While Anushka and Manish reportedly do not share a warm relationship any longer, it is Karan Johar who feels the heat the most.

Says a source close to Karan, “He is close to Anushka and even closer to Manish who designs most of the outfits in Johar’s Dharma Productions. The Anushka-Manish cold war has made Karan very uncomfortable. He has made a number of attempts to sort out their problems. But at the moment neither Anushka nor Manish is willing to make the first move.”

Subhash K Jha