By Nivedita
New Delhi, Dec 16 (IANS): Films and fashion go hand in hand and their relationship went a step forward in the year gone by,with designers going behind the camera to make movies and film stars taking to scissors and measuring tapes to showcase their expertise in designing.

If Vikram Phadnis crossed over to direct a film, Deepika Padukone also did so to reveal her creativity with fabrics.

Phadnis, who will celebrate 25 years in the entertainment industry in 2015, announced his big Bollywood directorial debut with "Nia", starring Bipasha Basu and Rana Dagubatti. To be shot in Australia, the film will go on the floors in January 2015.

Excited about his new venture, Phadnis said that "Nia" is a great subject that touches an emotional chord.

"We will start shooting in January for a 50-day schedule and I look forward to getting behind the camera," Phadnis told IANS.

Ace designers Manish Malhotra, Rocky S and Sabyasachi Mukherjee are also interested in the movie business and if things go as planned, they would soon announce their projects.

While some will choose to direct a film, others would start their production ventures.

Rocky, who is behind some of the oh-so stylish appearances of Bollywood divas like Bipahsa and Shilpa Shetty, owns production banner E-Sense Motion Pictures and may soon launch a movie.

The designer is "very passionate about the movie industry", but admitted that "since direction is not my strength, the natural next step is production".

Rocky is however not so keen to share the details about his production venture except for the fact that the movie is in the "scripting stage".

The evolving Indian fashion industry is estimated to be worth Rs.720 crore ($114 million), while the Indian film industry is estimated at Rs.12,530 crore and the creative crossover may spell profits.

The credit for this migration largely goes to Muzaffar Ali: he was perhaps the first designer to wield the megaphone and his effort, titled "Umrao Jaan", a period drama starring stunning Rekha in a never seen before avatar, was a huge success. If movie aficionados appreciated the storytelling and performances in the 1981 movie, they equally appreciated the style and wardrobe featuring in the movie.

According to designer Ritu Kumar, "fashion has become more professional in Bollywood movies and has seen a sea-change for the better".

Given a chance, Ritu Kumar would also like to wield the megaphone - but only for documentaries on Indian craftsmanship.

"I used to watch my son Ashvin Kumar direct his films in which I had done the costumes and never wanted to exchange places," Ritu Kumar told IANS.

"I may actually be attracted to make a film on the textile areas of India, with people who are craftsmen enacting their lives. But that would be more in the nature of documentaries and not Bollywood," she added.

Then, there are stylists like Samant Chauhan who feel that "designers are getting attracted towards films because they are the highest form of art".

He fulfilled his dream of styling for a film by teaming up with "great storyteller" Tigmanshu Dhulia for "Yaara" this year.

If fashion designers are saying "lights, camera, action", celebrities are trying to prove their mettle as designers. Cases in point are Deepika and Mandira Bedi, who created apparel lines for mass brands, thereby churning up huge business for themselves.

Deepika unveiled her limited edition collection for lifestyle brand Van Heusen. On the other hand, Mandira, noted for her noodle-strap blouses and sassy saris, launched a range of saris for the modern Indian woman.

Known for his impeccable taste, it's hardly surprising that filmmaker Karan Johar can't keep away from fashion. After successfully creating and showcasing a line at the India Couture Week in October 2009, Karan teamed up with Varun Bahl in October 2010 for the HDIL India Couture Week.

This year, he made his debut in designing female wear with the women's wear brand Vero Moda for a marquee collection.

"The film personalities are well-groomed and they constantly work on their personality to improve it. If they can do it for themselves, they can do it for anyone," Heena Malhotra, head of design and distribution at fashion brand Chhabra 555, told IANS. Actress Lara Dutta previously designed a sari line titled Lara Dutta Chhabra 555 for the brand.