Birkin bags can be used as loan collateral in Japan, says Ameesha Patel

New Delhi: Bollywood actress Ameesha Patel has once again let fans into her glamorous world, this time revealing the extent of her obsession with luxury handbags. Appearing on Ranveer Allahbadia’s talk show, the ‘Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai’ star candidly shared that she owns over “400 high-end bags”, many of which are Birkin — widely considered the “Rolls-Royce of handbags.”

The revelation isn’t new for fans who’ve seen her on Farah Khan’s vlog, where her love for designer accessories was on full display. But in this new interview, Ameesha went deeper, describing her bags not just as fashion statements, but as beloved companions.

“I don’t have kids, so I have bags,”she said, adding that her collection dates back to when she was just 16 years old.

A family of fashion lovers

Ameesha credits her mother and aunties for igniting her passion for accessories.

“We are a very well-dressed family; they love accessories. So, I have seen this since childhood, and that’s why I developed this love for bags,” she shared.

She also described her ultra-feminine personality growing up:

“My shoes and bags always used to match even when I was 5 or 6 years old. I always had a perfume bottle and comb. I was always feminine, a girly girl, but life made me masculine,” she reflected.

Birkin obsession

She spoke at length about her Hermès Birkin collection — the most prestigious line of handbags in the world.

“Birkins are the Rolls-Royce of bags.” For normal leather with normal hardware, a Birkin starts from ₹13 lakh. Also, Birkins sell for double the price. It’s almost like an investment,” she said.

She even referenced how the bags have financial value beyond fashion:  “In Japan, you can give a Birkin as collateral for a bank loan.”

Ameesha explained the intensive routine she follows to keep her bags in mint condition, especially given Mumbai’s humid weather, which can be harsh on leather.

 “I care for them a lot — airing, leather wipes, leather polishing. I keep them in the sun to avoid fungus growing on them because Mumbai’s weather is so bad, so humid, worst for leather bags and shoes.”

She also added that she knows the **history of all major designers and their journeys**, underlining her deep knowledge of the fashion world.

On the professional front, Ameesha was last seen reprising her iconic role of Sakeena in ‘Gadar 2’ (2023), opposite Sunny Deol. The film emerged as an all-time blockbuster, earning more than ₹500 crore at the box office and cementing her return to the spotlight.