Aishwarya Rai's iconic Devdas saree was designed overnight, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's last-minute request almost made designer quit
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Aishwarya Rai's iconic Devdas saree was designed overnight, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's last-minute request almost made designer quit – Check details
Aishwarya Rai's iconic Devdas saree was designed overnight, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's last-minute request almost made designer quit – Check details
One of the most visually unforgettable moments in Devdas is Aishwarya Rai's dramatic dash through the haveli in the film's climax — her saree trailing behind her, catching fire as she rushes to see Devdas one last time.
One of the most visually unforgettable moments in Devdas is Aishwarya Rai's dramatic dash through the haveli in the film's climax — her saree trailing behind her, catching fire as she rushes to see Devdas one last time. While the scene is etched in cinematic history, few know the story behind how that look came together — literally overnight.
In a recent interview with News18, celebrated costume designer Neeta Lulla opened up about the behind-the-scenes scramble that made that scene possible. Lulla, who designed the elaborate costumes for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 2002 magnum opus, recalled the moment when Bhansali decided — at the last minute — to add a twist to the scene: he wanted the pallu of Paro's saree to catch fire for added emotional weight.
'We were in Aishwarya's van, it was around 7 PM, and we were looking at her outfit after the pack-up,' Neeta recalled. 'Suddenly, Sanjay said he felt the pallu needed to catch fire but feared it wouldn't be long enough for the effect.'
The demand was straightforward, but the timeline wasn't. The sarees used in the film were already 12–14 metres long, and Paro's final look had to maintain that grandeur. 'I asked Sanjay, 'Can I leave?' He looked confused,' Neeta said. 'I rushed out and immediately got to work.'
Lulla called one of her trusted fabric vendors, convincing him to open his shop at 11 PM that night. Simultaneously, she mobilised her team of embroiderers to begin preparing borders and fabric detailing, burning the midnight oil. By 8:30 AM the next morning, they had two freshly assembled 13-metre sarees ready on set — just in time for the shoot.
Take a look at the iconic scene here
The effort paid off. Aishwarya's look in that scene has since become one of the most talked-about in Bollywood history. Her emotional sprint through the haveli, clad in the cotton Puja saree — with flames licking the fabric — is still remembered as a masterstroke in costume-led storytelling.
About Devdas
Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and based on the 1917 Bengali novel by Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay, Devdas starred Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, and Madhuri Dixit. The film told the tragic story of Devdas Mukherjee, who descends into self-destruction after being denied his childhood love, Paro.
The film was not just a commercial hit but also swept major awards, including five National Film Awards — one of them for costume design, a nod to the kind of tireless artistry that went into even a single saree.
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