From Kolhapur, Maharashtra. Married to Shri Satyendra Athaiya, a Kulshrestha

A costume designer, worked for over 100 films.

Worked with eminent personalities of the film world like Guru Dutt, Yash Chopra, B R Chopra, Raj Kapoor, Vijay Anand, Raj Khosla, Conrad Rooks and Richard Attenborough.

First Indian to win Academy Award for costume design for the film Gandhi in 1982.

Winner of National Film Award for best costume design for the film Lekin (1991) and film Lgaan (2002).

Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award.