Celebrity designer Neeta Lulla talks about working with Sridevi in Lamhe

I follow Neeta Lulla on social media (and she follows the Sridevi fan page too!), to hear about how she created her masterful looks for iconic leading ladies in Hindi cinema.

Lulla elevated the art of film dressing by leaps and bounds - along with her Bollywood brethern like Manish Malhotra and Sabya... 

But many of us hardcore Sridevi fans notices the elevation early on when Neeta Lulla first started working with Sridevi in the early 90s - from her photoshoots to the full looks. 

Follow her Instagram account below to hear her talk about working with Sridevi in Megha re megha, from magical Lamhe.

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Neeta Lulla (@neeta_lulla)

The most iconic Bollywood costumes and ensembles: From Meena Kumari to Madhuri Top Ten Looks: Sridevi to Kareena

 

Sridevi in and as Chandni (1989)
Outfit by Neeta Lulla

 

Madhuri Dixit in Hum Aapke Hain Kaun (1994)
Outfit by Anna Singh

 

Juhi Chawla in Hum Hain Rahi Pyare Ke (1993) 
Outfit by Neeta Lulla 

Rekha in Utsav (1984) 
Costume by Leena Daru

Mumtaz in the film Brahmachari (1968)
Outfit by Academy Award winning designer Bhanu Athiya 

Aishwarya Rai in Hum Dil de Chuke Sanam (1999)
All outfits and jewellery by Neeta Lulla 

Parveen Babi in Namak Halaal (1982) 
Outfit by Xerxes Bhathena

Meena Kumari in Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962)
Outfits by Bhanu Athiya

When it comes to Bollywood fashion, people tend to throw around the word "iconic" a little too loosely. Not everything is iconic. It has become the laziest go-to term for social media hacks - a habit that has now spilled over into print media as well. Sloppy writing at its finest.Well, at its worst really. 

These outfits, however, are genuinely memorable. One glance and you instantly know exactly which actress wore it, in which film, and often during which song. Here are just a handful of truly unforgettable looks as the leading ladies of Indian cinema. 

Manish Malhotra's Bollywood clothes... needs its own separate list. Neeta Lulla in the 90s, Bhanu's classics and the underrated Xerxes... who dazzled - literally. He was a bit too keen on the glitter and sequins. But it worked - embellishments and over the top outfits were the rage of the 70s and 80s... 

Now there are too many fashion and style awards - but for decades, heck perhaps a century, the designer and tailor was not appreciated. Many left uncredited. When you think of a Nargis gown, Rekha sari, Sadhana's embroidered sari - does the name of the maker come to mind immediately?! No. Manish - with Rangeela - led the way when his role in the movie - behind the seams - just HAD to be acknowledged.

There are certain films that you can watch just for the visuals  

Urmila in Rangeela (1995)
All outfits by Manish Malhotra

Kareena Kapoor in Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gum (2001)
All outfits by Manish Malhotra

Happy Birthday Manish Malhotra! Bollywood's Favourite Designer's selfie with Sridevi's youngest, Khushi Kapoor!

Happy Birthday Manish Malhotra! Khushi Kapoor posing with Manish (like Sridevi!), is trending on social media. This rarely seen pic of the two together on Instagram has gone viral, and we were just reminded of how close the designer was to the super duper star, the greatest Indian actress of all-time, Sridevi. Bollywood's favourite designer turns 58 - but looks 38! 

Well, we should say Sridevi's favourite, hence he's featured often on this blog. He is one of the few she referred to as her best-friend in the industry bar none! Manish Malhotra worked with Sridevi from the early 90s till her final days. Colleagues, turned friends turned almost-family, we have such admiration for the dazzling work and work ethic of Manish who elevated the art of film costume to an award-winning level. He created industry, he created jobs, he created a generation of those who aspire to achieve what he has. Before him, film styling was loud, garish and what can be done most with the smallest budget. Over hyped darzis who got no credit, often no money, and certainly no recognition from critics. This bright spark ignited the Best Costume category in Filmfare, and that's a privilege no one can take from him historically. 

Over the decades, Malhotra has faced loses, detractors and a few back-stabbers too (google away), but look where he is and what he's achieved, while his critics are nowhere in the horizon.  

Have had the privilege of meeting him a few times (he won't remember - his life is peopled and oversubscribed!), and have to say he treats all well. When he was in Hong Kong, he didn't realise the press was there and we all saw how kindly he spoke to the HK staff, the people who worked at the hotel where he was presenting his show, and how much he loved those who loved his work. Kindness begets kindness. There are some horrific egos in the fashion world, and Manish (apart from the occasional fall out!) is defo the kinder of the lot. 

When Sridevi passed so suddenly and so shockingly, a quote from him resonates for us till date; "I'll never get over this loss." A feeling we still have all these years later. 

As Manish turns of certain age, we wish the designer well - and hope he finally fulfills his hitherto unfulfilled dream of directing a film. Hey, if Tom Ford can do it (the Hollywood designer to the stars turned director), then so can Bollywood's own! 

Happy days Manish! 

Happy Birthday Christian Louboutin: Famed Sridevi fan turns 59 today

Happy Birthday Christian Louboutin: Famed Sridevi fan turns 59 today! Throwback to the time he was in Mumbai and he looked at Sridevi... the way we look at Sridevi. 

Sridevi with designer Neeta Lulla

Sridevi with (now celebrity!) designer Neeta Lulla. 

Today, March 5 is multiple award-winning designer Neeta Lulla's birthday - we wish her the very best. 

Sridevi and Neeta Lulla's association goes back to the late '80s, early 90s when Sridevi was 'the' superstar and young Neeta (who is just two years younger than Sri) was a newcomer to Bollywood. They worked in several films together - when Neeta had her anniversary show, she asked Sridevi to be the finale showstopper. 

We are huge fans of Neeta Lulla's work - she changed the paradigm of what a film designer, costumer should be - because of her efforts, Indian designers are given their due recognition, acknowledgement and respect. Film costume wasn't even recognised as an award-worthy category, now there are entire style shows and accolades. 

We have a rich archive of the two together here. 

TBT: Indian couturier Tarun Tahiliani with Sridevi

Designer Tarun Tahiliani with Sridevi - two of the only pics we could find of the two together. 

taruntahiliani

Verified

Saddened by the untimely demise of India’s greatest actor, Sridevi. An epitome of beauty and grace.
We would like to express our deepest condolences to the family. May her soul rest in peace.

A huge archive of Sridevi wearing Tarun Tahiliani here. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tarun Tahiliani (@taruntahiliani)

Bollywood stars wearing Xerxes Bhathena: Sridevi, Pooja Bhatt and Zeba Bakhtiar

Bollywood stars wearing Xerxes Bhathena: Sridevi, Pooja Bhatt and Zeba Bakhtiar! 

From one of our fav social media accounts; Retro Bollywood; https://www.instagram.com/retrobollywood/ 

Before Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Manish Malhotra and Neeta Lulla, Sridevi wore Xerxes Bhathena

Before Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Manish Malhotra and Neeta Lulla, Sridevi had Xerxes Bhathena design some of her most memorable costumes in Hindi films; most notably in Mr. India and Sultanat. 

This elegant white and gold ensemble was done by him for one of Sridevi's best photoshoots in the early 90s. 

Xerxes was a great interview, a journalist's delight as he was not PC and called a spade a spade. Unlike media savvy designers of today who would never take names, Xerxes let 'em have it! 

Here's an excerpt from MOVIE magazine 1993 annual;

"...My stars are very conscious about what's the latest in fashion. Especially Sridevi. Madhuri is a little negligent. She has the knowledge but she doesn't devote enough time to her clothes. She's not a Sheeba who doesn't know the abc of fashion , who believes only in exposing. Imagine Sheeba still wears nylon. I'd rather die than design for a Sheeba or a Mamta [Kulkarni]. 

"Coming back to Madhuri, I feel black and white suits her the best. Like Sridevi, looks most fetching in white.

"I will not work with somebody like Rekha who doesn't rely on me, totally and tells me which fabric to buy or which type of accessory she wants. As for directors, one doesn't get a Ramesh Sippy everyday. You have to work with buffoons these days like Dasari Narayan Rao where you have to start  with their education. 

Dimple is in Raakhee's bracket today and has all the time to hang out with designers and take trouble over her clothes. Like Jaya Bachchan, she's got all the time in the world and designers hanging around her all the time, wrapped around her finger. She looks like a Kathakali dancer when she comes on stage to take an award for whosoever. 

"Whatever Sridevi wears, she wears with style. Even if you put her in an absurd outfit from Gurjari, she'll not look like Smita Patil or Shabana. She's glamour, man. She'll never look impoverished. 

"My greats are Sridevi, Madhuri and the queen of queens, Hema Malini. Among the designers, I admire Bhanu Athaiya. Both, Neeta [Lulla] and Anna [Singh] do show a lot of promise. But they have a long way to go."

• Archive of images of Sridevi wearing Xerxes Bhathena outfits here.
• Archive of images of Sridevi in Sultanat here.
• Archive of images of Sridevi in Mr.India here.

Below: Sridevi's iconic gown, crown and feathered accessories as Ms Hawa Hawaii in Mr.India

Above: Sridevi's embellished and bejewelled look for a dance in Sultanat (1986)

Neeta Lulla on working with Sridevi in Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja

Designer Neeta Lulla who worked with Sridevi for over a decade, reflects on the time they collaborated in Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja. She posted earlier today;

"Chai me chini song was shot in Famous studio for a span of 8 days. I traveled to Singapore to procure accessories and fabric for this costume. We embroidered the huge dragon on the kimono sleeves in zardosi and stone work. The Obi belt was constructed with a light sponge quilting made in a brocade with osmanthus motifs. The slippers were hand made by me sticking 5 layers of Bata rubble chappals together, painting them and sticking embroidery motifs on them as those kind of slippers were not available then. The fan was hand made with embroidery on brocade and fused with a strong canvas and wiring...

Mickey contractor was doing the makeup for her [Sridevi] for this song, to achieve the eyes he had to stick in tape from the side of her eyes to the temple and then work his makeup. By the end of the fourth day of shoot the skin had peeled and yet she did the makeup and shot for the entire 8 days. The entire look was a very strenuous one but she carried it with such ease.

She had a professionalism which was absolutely inspirational. . .

@sridevi.kapoor #BoneyKapoor #LaxmiKantPyarelal #SatishKaushik . #Bollywood #SriDevi #RoopKiRaniChoronKaRaja #1993 #NeetaLulla #MovieFashion #IndianFilms #CostumeDesign #BollywoodStyle #BollywoodSongs #BollywoodActors #Trending #Celebrity #BollywoodLovers #Bollywoodlife #Movies #BollywoodStars #Actor #Actors #Covid19 #BollywoodTrivia #Staysafe #Style #Maestro #BollywoodFashion #IndianCinema #FashionTrivia

Sridevi with designer Nikhil Rishi Mehra of Shantanu and Nikhil

Sridevi with designer Nikhil Rishi Mehra of Shantanu and Nikhil

www.shantanunikhil.com

TBT: Sridevi models for Priya and Chintan

Sridevi poses in Priya and Chintan's designs. Back in 2008, Sridevi modeled for this duo first and walked the catwalk for the then-rising, aspiring designers. They asked her to walk the catwalk for the first-time ever and Sri complied. 

Manish Malhotra Shout Out

TBT: Sridevi posted on her official instagram account years ago, in a caption under the picture of her daughters Janhvi and Khushi Kapoor, "My angels wearing my favourite designer Manish Malhotra."

Sridevi with designer Agnimitra Paul

Designer Agnimitra Paul with Sridevi over the years. 

You can read the entire feature on how Sridevi worked with the designer here on Rediff. com

Sridevi with designer Maheka Mirpuri

Sridevi with designer Maheka Mirpuri over the years.

  Maheka Mirpuri‏ @mahekamirpuri Feb 28

Farewell @SrideviBKapoor -you will live in our hearts forever

Maheka Mirpuri‏ @mahekamirpuri Feb 25

Fond memories of Bollywood Diva Sridevi when she visited my studio.....deeply saddened to hear of her sudden demise. RIP @SrideviBKapoor