Aishwarya Rai’s iconic Durga Puja saree look from Devdas was created overnight when Sanjay Leela Bhansali wanted pallu to catch fire, reveals designer Neeta Lulla

Aishwarya Rai’s iconic Durga Puja saree look from Devdas was created overnight when Sanjay Leela Bhansali wanted pallu to catch fire, reveals designer Neeta Lulla

One of the most visually stunning moments in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s 2002 magnum opus Devdas is the emotional climax scene featuring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as Paro. Her look in the scene — draped in a strikingly traditional saree — has become an iconic image in Bollywood’s cinematic history. But few know that the saree was put together overnight under immense pressure.

In a recent interview with News18, veteran costume designer Neeta Lulla shared the behind-the-scenes story of how that unforgettable ensemble came to life.

“I had only overnight to create that look,” Lulla recalled. “The whole film featured sarees that were 12–14 metres long. I had cut up two or three sarees to create the entire ensemble. For the final scene, Sanjay felt he needed a cotton Durga Puja saree. We had the saree, and everything was ready. The night before the shoot at Filmistan, we were in Aishwarya’s van, looking at the outfit around 7 pm after pack-up.”

However, a sudden creative shift from Bhansali added a new layer of complexity. “At that moment, Sanjay said his idea was to have the saree’s pallu catch fire and felt it wouldn’t be long enough,” she said. “Hearing this, I said, ‘Can I leave?’ He was confused. I left the set and started making calls, trying to figure out a solution.”

Despite the tight timeline, Lulla and her team rose to the occasion with swift ingenuity. “I called one of my fabric vendors and got him to open his shop at 11 pm. In the meantime, I had asked my team of embroiderers to start working on borders and everything. By 8.30 am the next day, we had two 13-metre sarees ready on set,” she revealed.

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Devdas, based on Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s 1917 novel, starred Shah Rukh Khan as the tragic titular character, with Aishwarya Rai as Paro and Madhuri Dixit as Chandramukhi. The film’s lavish sets, grand costumes, and emotionally charged performances won it critical acclaim, as well as five National Awards.

The climactic scene in which Paro runs through her haveli to reach a dying Devdas — with her saree’s pallu catching fire — remains etched in the memories of audiences worldwide. Thanks to Neeta Lulla’s quick thinking and artistry, what could have been a disaster turned into one of the film’s most powerful visuals.