Mumbai, June 17 – Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s 2002 epic Devdas, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, and Madhuri Dixit, is remembered for its grandeur, performances, and exquisite costumes. But few know the intense effort that went into designing the costumes, especially for the film’s climactic scenes.
In a recent interview with News18, renowned costume designer Neeta Lulla shared the challenges she faced while preparing Aishwarya Rai’s outfit for the final scenes of Devdas. She revealed that she had only one night to create the look and recalled the intense pressure of the moment.
"Throughout the film, we used sarees that were 12 to 14 meters long. For this particular scene, I had to cut and stitch two to three sarees to get the desired effect. The director wanted a cotton saree reminiscent of Durga Puja celebrations," said Lulla.
However, the challenge escalated when director Bhansali expressed a last-minute desire to set the pallu of the saree on fire. "He thought the saree was too short for that effect. I asked if I could leave, and he was visibly tense. I immediately started calling people to find a solution," she said.
She then contacted her fabric supplier, urging him to open his store at 11 PM. Simultaneously, she mobilized her embroidery team to begin work on borders and embellishments. "By 8:30 the next morning, we had two sarees, each 13 meters long, ready on set," she added.
Neeta Lulla's dedication is just one of the many untold stories behind Devdas, a film that continues to enchant audiences decades after its release.
