The “Saree to Bikini” series was not without backlash:
As her career progressed, Mishti evolved from simple cottons to heavy Baluchari and Korial silks. Red carpet events and award functions saw her in designer sarees by Sabyasachi and Sharbari Dutta. The saree, for her, became a tool of empowerment rather than restriction.
Why the saree matters: In an era of western fast fashion, Mishti’s consistent love for the saree sends a powerful message. It declares that one can be a modern, independent woman in the entertainment industry without abandoning their roots.
The phrase “Mishti Basu saree to bikni li lifestyle and entertainment” caught the attention of a major streaming platform. She was offered a reality travel show titled “Two Yards of Mishti.” In the show, she travels across India—spending the morning exploring temples in silk sarees and the evenings at beach parties in bikinis. The show’s tagline? “Don’t judge a woman by her drape.”
The show broke streaming records in West Bengal, Assam, and among the Bengali diaspora in the USA and UK.