From Devdas To Jodhaa Akbar, Revisit Neeta Lulla’s Legacy As She Joins The Oscars In 2020!

The most prestigious awards in cinema are undoubtedly the Academy Awards or the Oscars as they are popularly known, and to be on its jury, the invitation for which is exclusively sent to industry insiders and movie makers is indeed a feat to be proud of. 

Each year, the Academy invites grand jury filmmakers, actors and names involved in the movie business from across the world to join The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as members. This year, 819 such names that have been invited from all over the world along with Alia Bhatt and Hrithik Roshan from India. And the invitation has also been extended to famed costume designer and stylist Neeta Lulla.

Another Winning Feat For The Couturier

With a wide portfolio that includes an array of movies that have left us enamoured with their costumes, Neeta is one of the leading designers in India with over 30 years of experience in the fashion and film industry. From conceptualising Paro’s looks in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s remake of Devdas to the regal queen in Jodhaa Akbar, the designer’s Midas touch has created an indelible mark on the costume history of Indian cinema. Today as she celebrates this truly remarkable feat, we take a look at the best of the costumes designed by her, as seen in Bollywood films. 

Taal

Subhash Ghai’s hit blockbuster stayed on the screens for months, its music and dance sequences were a big hit with the audiences. What also enthralled was Aishwarya Rai’s portrayal of a simple girl who attained stardom. Helmed by Neeta Lulla on the costume front, Aishwarya’s attires ranged from minimalistic to new-age, charting her journey as a star. From the white draped skirt and bustier pairing to all-black halter accessories with rows of bangles, Taal put unconventional fashion on the forefront. Take a look at the movie’s hit looks. 

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Devdas

Remember the duet dance number that was all the rage? For Devdas, a number of famous couturiers worked on the set—Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla, Reza Shariffi along with Neeta Lulla. The latter, being in charge of Paro’s costumes, gave us the famous sarees seen throughout her transition in the movie. Be it her detailed pre-marital avatar or the regal look represented later complete with jewels and embellished six yards, each look stood out. Then, of course, one cannot forget the iconic dance sequence with the Aishwarya Rai and Madhuri Dixit pairing, for which the former wore the traditional red and white pujo saree in a 15-yard drape that added to the volume. 

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Jodhaa Akbar

Ashutosh Gowarikar’s 2008 magnum opus narrated the love story of the royal couple and doing complete justice to the presentation–which relied heavily on the accuracy of costumed worn by the actors–Neeta Lulla once again worked her magic. The larger-than-life film, for which the designer won National Award for costume, had her create almost 2600 costumes—Gota Patti, Kundan and metal embellished lehengas, sheer dupattas with elaborate panels and for the king, suede achkans and customised armour, amongst many others. Take a look at the fabulous wardrobe created by the designer. 

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Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi

Costumes for the entire cast of the Kangana Ranaut-starrer Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi were designed by the designer and as described on her Instagram, it took “four months of trials and a team of 152 people to create the costumes”. From the ornate jewels to the classic sarees that made up the queen of Jhansi’s wardrobe, each detail was thought of and created with finesse. Take a look at some of the top costumes from the movie. 

The couturier’s upcoming film projects include Kangana Ranaut’s Thalaivi, which is based on the life of Jayalalitha. We can’t wait to see what the designer has up her sleeve!

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