CostumeDesign – Neeta Lulla Reflects on How Devdas Redefined Costume Craft in Cinema
CostumeDesign –National Award-winning costume designer Neeta Lulla has revisited her memorable journey of creating costumes for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s acclaimed 2002 film Devdas, recalling how the project reshaped the approach to costume design in the Indian film industry. Looking through old photographs from her personal archives, she shared memories of working under challenging conditions and explained how the film introduced a structured costume support system that later became an important part of filmmaking.
The designer recently posted a video featuring archival images, including several of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s iconic appearance as Parvati, popularly known as Paro. While reflecting on those days, Neeta said the photographs reminded her of the dedication and hard work that went into creating the film’s elaborate wardrobe. She described herself as a relatively new designer at the time, working with limited resources but determined to deliver costumes that matched the film’s grand visual scale.
A Small Workshop Behind a Grand Production
Recalling the early days of the project, Neeta revealed that her workshop measured only around 350 to 400 square feet. Despite the modest space, she and a small team of five to six master tailors worked tirelessly to design, cut, and stitch the elaborate costumes required for the period drama.
She said the team often worked through long days and nights to complete the outfits, adding that even today she is amazed by the scale of what they managed to accomplish with such limited infrastructure. According to her, every costume demanded careful attention to detail, making the production both physically demanding and creatively rewarding.
A New Chapter in Costume Management
Neeta also highlighted an important change that emerged during the making of Devdas. She recalled requesting additional support from director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who approved a team of five costume assistants to help supervise the actors’ appearances on set.
According to the designer, this marked one of the earliest instances in Indian filmmaking where costume assistants became an organised part of production. Their responsibility was to ensure every outfit appeared flawless on camera while maintaining visual continuity throughout the filming process.
She believes this approach changed the working style of costume departments by introducing greater planning, coordination, and consistency during shoots.
Hundreds of Handcrafted Costumes Required Precision
In the caption accompanying her post, Neeta described Devdas as more than just a successful film. She said the production quietly transformed the execution of costume design in Indian cinema by demonstrating the need for specialised teams behind large-scale productions.
She explained that the film featured hundreds of handcrafted costumes spread across multiple characters, each requiring careful monitoring to preserve continuity from one scene to another. What audiences ultimately witnessed on screen, she noted, was the result of extensive teamwork, meticulous preparation, and countless hours of craftsmanship carried out behind the scenes.
A Landmark Film That Continues to Inspire
Released in 2002, Devdas remains one of the most visually celebrated films in Hindi cinema. Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the film featured Shah Rukh Khan in the lead role alongside Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as Paro and Madhuri Dixit as Chandramukhi. The supporting cast included Jackie Shroff, Kirron Kher, Smita Jaykar, and Vijayendra Ghatge.
Adapted from Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s celebrated 1917 Bengali novel, the story follows Devdas Mukherjee, a wealthy young man who returns from London hoping to marry his childhood companion Parvati. Family opposition prevents their union, sending him into emotional turmoil and alcoholism. As his life unravels, he finds comfort in the kindness of courtesan Chandramukhi, creating one of Indian cinema’s most enduring tragic narratives.
Neeta Lulla’s latest recollections offer a rare glimpse into the effort behind one of Bollywood’s most iconic productions, highlighting how innovation behind the camera helped shape filmmaking practices that continue to influence costume design today.