Aishwarya Rai’s iconic ‘Laal paar sada saree’ from ‘Devdas’ was created overnight by Neeta Lulla; Here’s why

The glamorous world of Bollywood is filled with grand sets, starry songs, and bold dialogues that often leave an impression on the audience. However, some songs, films, and stories stay with us because of the grandeur and creativity that flow from the creation of the range of costumes.

There is one director in this glamorous chaos who has understood the game of costumes and has stood out from the crowd with his stunning sets and even more iconic range of costumes that have remained with the fans decades after the film’s release. Whether it’s the tragic decadence of ‘Devdas’ or the haunting 90s charm of ‘Guzaarish’, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s costume designs remain one of Indian cinema’s most unforgettable visual legacies.

Allowing the character to unveil itself with his layered fashion richness, we all fell in love at first sight of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as Paro in his ‘Devdas’. The grandeur of the era and the emotional weight of each character’s arc were felt by the audience. And, as this great tragedy unwrapped itself on the screen, the main ending climax left us all ruined.



Amidst all the emotional chaos, no one can forget the iconic ‘Laal paar sada saree’ worn by Aishwarya in the final scene of the film. Traditionally worn in the Bengali culture, this white saree with a red border featured an extravagant pallu, which created an unforgettable moment on screen. However, do you know that this dramatic saree was created by fashion designer Neeta Lulla overnight at the sudden request of Sanjay Leela Bhansali?

In a recent interview, Neeta Lulla looked back at the experience of working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali on ‘Devdas’ and recalled the unexpected work pressure, which paid off well in the end. She revealed that the director asked for a sudden change in the outfit just hours before the final cut. Thus, she had to quickly source out a 13-metre-long saree overnight, which was made possible by her team and her fabric vendor, who opened the shop till 11 PM for her.


This single moment is proof of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's visionary prowess, which made the scene look emotional, grand, curious, and a complete roller coaster ride for the audience.


In the film’s climax, Paro, aka Aishwarya Rai, runs through the corridors of her house to see her lover Dev Babu, aka Shah Rukh Khan, one last time. During this emotional scene, her pallu catches fire, which creates a powerful visual, and it went up to win five National Awards, including for Best Costume.


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