Saving Bollywood from red carpet disasters may be a mission: impossible, but Ayesha Depala is taking a chance on Sonam Kapoor.

If Dubai-based Indian designer Ayesha Depala had her way, she would give a dozen or more Bollywood beauties a fashion makeover. For the time being, however, she is content to begin her ambitious mission of raising the collective style bar by grooming one of Bollywood's most promising newcomers - Sonam Kapoor.

Depala will be dressing Kapoor in her tasteful creations for the upcoming International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards in June in Macau. In an exclusive interview with tabloid!, Depala says the Delhi 6 star and daughter of Anil Kapoor was a perfect find.

"I am very choosy about the celebrities I work with. And Sonam is not just beautiful, but carries herself with such grace and style. She is fresh, she is successful, beautiful and has a long way to go. Her personal style is very appealing too."

A white Grecian chiffon floor-length gown fitted with gold gota (gold foil leaf work) on the bodice is being made for Kapoor's big night. "It's a tube style. I chose the gota work because I wanted to add an ethnic touch.

"Many a times, I have seen Bollywood stars looking ravishing in a Dior or Chanel. But I wanted my gown to appeal to both Western and eastern sensibilities. Why should we run away from an Indian twist?" Depala asks.

The Depala-Kapoor collaboration does not end with the IIFA Awards red carpet outing. Depala, who is patronised by the likes of former supermodel Yasmin Le Bon, has gone a step further. Very soon, Depala will begin work on her first Bollywood movie, titled Ayesha. She will be designing the bulk of the costumes for Sonam Kapoor's on-screen character, also called Ayesha.

"Yes, it is my first Bollywood venture. Here, again, I identified with Sonam's role in the film. The character is a lot like me in real life. She has around 70 looks in the film," says Depala.

In many ways, Depala has struck gold with her first Bollywood tryst, since Ayesha is generating a lot of pre-production buzz. The movie, loosely based on Jane Austen's classic Emma, is even touted as Anil Kapoor's younger daughter Rhea's maiden directorial venture.

"I will be designing both Indian and Western pieces. During my last visit to Mumbai, we discussed the various looks. It's going really well," says Depala.

Anil Kapoor is surprisingly sharp when it comes to sizing up his daughter's sartorial tastes. If designer Ayesha Depala's brief association with the Slumdog Millionaire star is anything to go by, he was surprisingly forthright with his daughter Sonam. "He is frank and is unlike most fathers who tend to pamper their children. I met him briefly, but it was interesting to see him give his frank opinion on the clothes that looked good and the ones which didn't," says Depala.