Latest news with #NeetaLulla


News18
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
5 Bollywood Films With Most Expensive Jewellery And Costumes
1/5 Jodhaa Akbar: Costume designer Neeta Lulla collaborated closely with director Ashutosh Gowariker and cinematographers to pick the fabrics for the red bridal lehenga worn by Aishwariya Rai. The jewellery, 300 kg worth, was designed over 600 days by 200 artisans. Aishwarya's bridal set alone weighed 3.5 kg. (Image: Instagram) Devdas: Designers Neeta Lulla, Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla, and Reza Sharifi created costumes that were not only visually stunning but also rich in historical authenticity. Each of Madhuri Dixit's looks in the film reportedly came with a price tag of over Rs 15 lakhs. (Image: Instagram) 3/5 Padmaavat: The lehenga worn by Deepika Padukone during the iconic "Ghoomar" song was designed by Rimple Narula. According to reports, it weighed around 30 kg and came with a hefty price tag of nearly Rs 20 lakh. (Image: Instagram) Bajirao Mastani: Deepika Padukone's stunning pale gold ensemble in the song Deewani Mastani was the film's most breathtaking look. Reports suggest that her entire wardrobe for the film cost around Rs 50 lakhs. (Image: Instagram)


Indian Express
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
5 Bollywood movies with the most-expensive costumes and jewellery
When we watch period dramas or fantasy epics, it's easy to get lost in the storytelling, the grandeur, and the emotional arcs. But what often escapes the spotlight, ironically, are the clothes. In Bollywood, costume designing is not just about fashion; it's about time-travel, culture preservation, and cinematic immersion. Some films have gone all-out, investing crores in their costume budget. Here are some of the most iconic — and most expensive — costumes in Bollywood history. The red bridal lehenga worn by Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Jodhaa Akbar has now found a permanent place in global fashion history. Recently added to the Academy Museum's Colour in Motion exhibition, the lehenga is a celebration of India's textile heritage. As the museum noted, 'A lehenga fit for a queen, designed for the silver screen.' With an embroidered peacock crafted from jewels and traditional Mughal-era silhouettes, the design process took months of research. Costume designer Neeta Lulla collaborated closely with director Ashutosh Gowariker and cinematographers to pick fabrics that wouldn't glare under natural light. The result was a palette of carefully chosen colours for the Mughal and Kachhawa clans, stitched with brocade-like zari embroidery. The real showstopper? The jewellery — 300 kg worth, designed over 600 days by 200 artisans. Aishwarya's bridal set alone weighed 3.5 kg, and it's a feat she's said was one of the toughest aspects of the role, according to her then interview with The Hindu. In Devdas, every swirl of Madhuri Dixit's dupatta oozed opulence. Designers Neeta Lulla, Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla, and Reza Sharifi crafted costumes that weren't just beautiful, but historically resonant. Each of her looks reportedly cost more than ₹15 lakhs — a staggering number, but every rupee is evident in the embroidery, textiles, and silhouette precision. When Rimple Narula designed Deepika Padukone's costumes for Padmaavat, she went for authenticity — even if it meant a literal weight on the actress. Deepika's wedding lehenga weighed 30 kg and cost ₹20 lakhs, as per the designer's interview with ANI in 2017. It took the actor nearly three hours to get into the full look, every single day, with detailed embroidery including Mukke ka Kaam, Salma Sitara, and Gokru Dunka techniques. Bajirao Mastani is a visual ode to opulence, and Deepika Padukone's iconic pale gold outfit in the song Deewani Mastani was perhaps the most breath-taking. Designed by Anju Modi, the flowing ensemble may look like a lehenga but is actually cleverly structured pants beneath a flared silhouette. The gold-threaded embroidery, the mirror palace backdrop — everything worked to evoke Mughal-E-Azam-level grandeur. Reportedly, Deepika's wardrobe for the film cost about ₹50 lakhs in total. When Shah Rukh Khan stepped into his superhero avatar for he didn't just play the part — he wore ₹4.5 crore worth of it. 'It's a million dollar costume — that's four-and-a-half crore rupees per costume,' SRK told Hindustan Times back in 2010. 'And there's not just one costume, there are 20 such!' Crafted using advanced materials for stunts and VFX, the suit was a blend of tech and tailoring. It remains one of the most expensive costumes ever made in Indian cinema.


Hans India
23-06-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Empowering women through threads
Sireesha Karne, the visionary behind Hyderabad-based fashion brand The Label Munni, is redefining Indian fusion wear with heart and purpose. After honing her craft under stalwarts like Neeta Lulla and Gaurang Shah, she launched her own label with the mission of making handcrafted fashion more inclusive and empowering. In this exclusive interview, Sireesha opens up about the fashion trends of 2025, the story behind her brand, and how she combines fashion with philanthropy. 2025 has seen fashion evolving rapidly. What major trends are dominating the Indian fashion landscape this year? This year, fashion is all about comfort-driven elegance. We're seeing a rise in sustainable fabrics, earthy tones, and handcrafted textures. Indian consumers are leaning toward conscious fashion — garments that reflect tradition but are modern in appeal. Fusion wear, especially, has taken center stage. Think breathable cotton sarees paired with structured blouses, or lehengas teamed with crop jackets. There's also a strong revival of regional handlooms and embroidery techniques, which I find exciting. Your brand has gained traction for being both accessible and stylish. What inspired its creation? After working with incredible designers like Neeta Lulla and Gaurang Shah, I realized there was a gap in the market for quality handcrafted fashion tailored specifically for middle-class women. The Label Munni was born from that idea — to create elegant fusion wear that celebrates every woman, regardless of her age or body type. I wanted to offer pieces that make women feel confident at every stage of life — from college farewells to weddings and everything in between. How do you ensure your brand stays inclusive, especially in terms of sizing and affordability? Inclusivity is the foundation of The Label Munni. We offer fully customizable fits — that means, every outfit can be tailored to the customer's measurements and style preferences. We don't believe in standard sizing because every woman is unique. As for affordability, we work closely with artisans and maintain a lean production process so that handcrafted wear doesn't feel like a luxury but a celebration anyone can afford. Outside of fashion, you're also known for your philanthropic initiatives. Can you share more about that side of your work? Philanthropy is very close to my heart, and I draw a lot of inspiration from my mother-in-law, Suguna, who worked tirelessly in the women and child welfare department. Inspired by her, I've started small initiatives where I train underprivileged women in basic tailoring and embroidery. The goal is to gradually build The Label Munni into a full-fledged apparel company that provides employment to women in semi-urban and rural areas. Empowering women through fashion — that's my true mission. What's next for you and The Label Munni? Expansion is definitely on the cards. I want to open flagship stores across tier 2 cities where fashion options are limited but aspirations are high. I'm also working on a new bridal-fusion line that combines heritage crafts with contemporary silhouettes. And more importantly, I want to keep growing our training programs for women — because when women thrive, the entire community thrives. Lastly, what message would you give to young designers who look up to you? Stay authentic to your vision. Trends will come and go, but your voice and your values will set you apart. And never underestimate the power of fashion as a tool for social change — it can truly transform lives.


NDTV
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Why Neeta Lulla Had To Create Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's Devdas Climax Saree Overnight
Sanjay Leela Bhansali's larger than life representation of Devdas was on the favourites list of every movie lover. The grandeur of the movie was such that it bagged five national awards, out of which three were for production and costume design. Ace designer, Neeta Lulla recently spilled othe beans on the high-pressure environment the movie's most powerful scenes, the climax. The couturier opened up on how Sanjay Leela Bhansali requested for changes being made to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's saree, which had the crew working last minute to make amends to the palla. During an interview with News18, Neeta Lulla was quoted as saying, "I had only overnight to create that look. The whole film featured sarees that were 12 to 14 metres long. I had to create two or three sarees to create the entire ensemble. For the final scene, Sanjay felt he needed a cotton Durga Puja saree. Here are a few more details about what exactly went down. On the night before filming the crucial climax scene for Devdas, Neeta Lulla made Aishwarya Rai Bachchan try her saree. It was 7 PM in the clock and Sanjay Leela Bhansali wasn't satisfied with the length of the saree's palla. He had a creative vision of it to catch fire in the shot and wanted it to have more length to make it look more realistic. To this Neeta Lulla reacted by excusing herself and getting to work swiftly to get the job done as per Sanjay Leela Bhansali's brief. The last minute preparation included her making a few quick phone calls to find a solution and managed to convince her trusted fabric vendors to open shop at 11 PM that helped her get her hands on the required material. Additionally, she instructed her team of craftsmen to start work on adding borders and embellishments to the fabric. The result was that not just one, but two sarees were created, each measuring 13 metres in length. And Voila! By 8:30 AM the next morning the outfit was created.


Time of India
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Neeta Lulla reveals she had to make Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's saree for 'Devdas' climax overnight as Sanjay Leela Bhansali wanted a longer pallu
Sanjay Leela Bhansali 's 2002 release 'Devdas', featuring Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, and Madhuri Dixit, still holds a special place in every movie lover's heart. The film was praised for its grandeur and won five National Film Awards, three of which were for production and costume design. Designer Neeta Lulla recently reflected on the high-pressure environment behind one of the film's most iconic scenes. She shared a moment when Bhansali requested changes to Aishwarya's saree in the climax, which made the crew work swiftly at the last minute. Neeta Lulla about designing saree for Aishwarya Rai Bachchan In an interview with News18, Neeta shared, 'I had only overnight to create that look. The whole film featured saris that were 12–14 metres long. I had cut up two or three saris to create the entire ensemble. For the final scene, Sanjay felt he needed a cotton (Durga) Puja saree.' Sanjay Leela Bhansali asked for a lengthy saree Bollywood directors and their muses On the night before filming a crucial scene for Devdas, Neeta visited Aishwarya at her vanity van to try the outfit. It was around 7 p.m., and Sanjay Leela Bhansali was not satisfied with the length of the saree's pallu. He envisioned the pallu catching fire in the shot and wanted it to have more length to make it look realistic. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like まともに歩けず先生から「もう諦めて」と宣告。でも10分間の整体後… ウィンキューブHD 続きを読む Undo Neeta politely excused herself and immediately set things in motion to solve the problem overnight. Neeta Lulla's last minute preparations She began making phone calls in search of a solution and managed to convince one of her trusted fabric vendors to open his shop at 11 p.m. to supply the necessary material. She also directed her team of embroiderers to begin work on adding borders and embellishments to the fabric. They successfully created not one but two sarees, each 13 metres in length. By 8:30 a.m. the following morning, they had completed the outfit. About Devdas Devdas also featured Jackie Shroff, Kirron Kher, Smita Jaykar, Manoj Joshi, and Ananya Khare in key roles.