Once upon a time, air hostesses were celebrated as the brand ambassadors of the country. Post-independence, Indian Air Hostesses were a picture of elegance, grace and glamour. Clad in their crisp, shiny Kanjeevaram Saris, our air hostesses represented their homeland and travelled the world. There is a different magic in the lives they lived – a life of being perfect, seeing the world and at the same time, establishing a difficult balance with their personal lives.

With crisp British commentary to compliment the visuals, this short video shows snippets from regular day in the life of an air hostess in the 60s. From the smoothing of their sari (no creases acceptable!) to serving snacks to passengers, they do it all with a perfect smile. Being an Air Hostess in the 60s was a business of grace, poise and most importantly, the epitome of modern Indian culture. Catering largely to international passengers, it was important that Indian air hostesses uphold the image of the perfect modern Indian woman – something that’s evident in this short video.

Watch this beautiful slice of history in this video showing a day in the life of an Air India Hostess in 1962.

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