From Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Devdas to Ashutosh Gowariker’s Jodha Akbar and Yash Chopra’s Lamhe, the list of iconic films that celebrity designer Neeta Lulla has worked on is extensive. While Neeta has contributed to many of Yash Chopra‘s classics, the filmmaker initially had doubts about her ability to craft Indian outfits. In a recent interaction, Neeta shared her experience of meeting Yash Chopra for the first time, how he openly questioned her skills as a designer, and how, after a few collaborations, he came to rely on her to create outfits from scratch within a few hours.
Speaking on the YouTube channel Wiping Out the Norm, Neeta said, “Sridevi sent me to meet Yash Chopra. She wanted me to design her clothes for Chandni. I met him and I was wearing my regular work clothes which was a suit and he looked at me and asked, ‘Tumko desi kapade banana aata hi? (Do you know how to make desi clothes?)’ I was dumbstruck, didn’t know what to say, I kept quiet. He called Sridevi in front of me and said, ‘Ye kya kapade banaege. Ye toh suit mein aai hai (Will she make the clothes? She has come dressed in a suit)’. I don’t know what was the whole conversation and then he said, ‘Try karte hai.'”
Neeta shared how Yash patted her back after seeing her work in Chandni. The duo went on to collaborate for films like Lamhe and Darr. Sharing an anecdote from Darr, Neeta said, “Darr had a similar situation. We were shooting for the Tandav song for the film. At last minute they decided that Juhi would wear a new custom for the song. I get a call from Yash Chopra at 12 in the afternoon and he called to the studio and asked me to make a dress. I said ‘okay sir.’ and he was laughing, he asked me again and I was like ‘why are you asking me this?’ He said, ‘We are shooting the song after lunch break.’ He said, ‘You will do it. Get it started. Get it done by 2:30-3pm.’ I called my office to get ready and I had the dress made by 2:30pm.”
During the interaction, Neeta also shared how she would travel abroad often to source material for her costumes and be prepared for last-minute situations like this.
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