MUMBAI — National Award-winning costume designer Neeta Lulla revisited one of Indian cinema's most celebrated visual achievements, sharing insights into her experience crafting the wardrobe for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 2002 magnum opus, Devdas.

Reflecting on archived photographs and behind-the-scenes records, Lulla highlighted how the production transformed the operational scale of costume departments across the Hindi film industry by introducing dedicated, multi-person assistant teams on set.

Creating Grandeur from a Compact Workshop

Speaking about the logistical constraints during early production, Lulla revealed that the dozens of ornate sarees and royal ensembles featured in the period drama were conceptualized and stitched in a modest work environment.

The scale of the film—which starred Shah Rukh Khan as Devdas, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as Paro, and Madhuri Dixit as Chandramukhi—demanded unprecedented attention to textile detail, fabric drape, and historical continuity across multi-actor sequences.

Institutionalizing Costume Assistance in Hindi Cinema

To manage the extensive wardrobe needs of main leads and ensemble cast members, Lulla requested dedicated on-set support—a practice that was not standard industry protocol at the time.

Elaborating on the structural shift, Lulla added that Devdas helped establish costume design as a formal, highly coordinated department within Indian film production.

Cinematic Legacy and Literary Roots

Based on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s classic 1917 Bengali novel, Devdas tells the tragic story of a wealthy law graduate whose family rejects his union with his childhood love, Paro. His subsequent emotional spiral into alcoholism leads him to seek solace with the compassionate courtesan Chandramukhi.

Featuring supporting performances by Jackie Shroff, Kirron Kher, Smita Jaykar, and Vijayendra Ghatge, the film remains a benchmark for grand visual storytelling in Indian cinema. Lulla's pioneering workflow set a new benchmark for costume departments, establishing protocols for continuity, team-led styling, and textile craftsmanship that remain standard across major Indian film productions today.