Neeta Lulla
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Neeta Lulla is an Indian costume designer and fashion stylist who has worked on over 300 films. She has been designing wedding dresses since 1985. She is famed for designing costumes in '' Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari'', '' Khuda Gawah'', and ''Devdas''.


Career

Her first big client was jewelry designer Varuna Jani, though Jani hadn’t started her business at the time. After that Lulla fully committed to a Bollywood client base when she designed for actor Sapna who was prominent in the Bollywood community in South India. This success was followed by her designs for actresses
Salma Agha Salma Agha (born 29 October 1954) is a British singer and actress who worked in Pakistani and Indian films in the 1980s and the early 1990s. She is best known for her acting and singing the song "Dil ke Armaan" in the film ''Nikaah'' (1982). ...
and
Sridevi Sridevi Kapoor (née Shree Amma Yanger Ayyapan; 13 August 1963 – 24 February 2018), known mononymously as Sridevi, was an Indian actress who worked in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada language films. She is regarded as one of ...
. A notable creation from later in Neeta's career was a dress she designed for Aishwarya Rai's wedding to
Abhishek Bachchan Abhishek Bachchan (; born 5 February 1976) is an Indian actor and film producer known for his work in Hindi films. Part of the Bachchan family, he is the son of actors Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan. From 2012 to 2016, Bachchan appeared in ...
. She crafted Rai's pearl-encrusted lehenga for her mehendi ceremony and an additional dress for her South Indian wedding ceremony. The designer has claimed her favorite actress for whom she has created pieces was
Divya Bharti Divya Bharti (; 25 February 1974 – 5 April 1993) was an Indian actress who predominantly worked in Hindi and Telugu movies. Known for her acting, vivacity and beauty, she was among the highest-paid Indian actresses of her time. She received ...
. Neeta Lulla has designed for
Shilpa Shetty Shilpa Shetty Kundra (born Ashwini Shetty, 8 June 1975) is an Indian actress who works primarily in Hindi, Kannada and Telugu films. She made her screen debut in the thriller '' Baazigar'' (1993) which gained her first nomination for the Film ...
,
Aishwarya Rai Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (; Rai; born 1 November 1973) is an Indian actress who is primarily known for her work in Hindi and Tamil language, Tamil films. Rai won the Miss World 1994 pageant and later established herself as one of the most-popu ...
,
Sridevi Sridevi Kapoor (née Shree Amma Yanger Ayyapan; 13 August 1963 – 24 February 2018), known mononymously as Sridevi, was an Indian actress who worked in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada language films. She is regarded as one of ...
, Sapna, Salma Azad,
Isha Koppikar Isha Koppikar (born 19 September 1976) is an Indian actress, politician and Model (person), model who has acted mainly in Hindi cinema, Hindi films, but also in Tamil cinema, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu language, Telugu, and Marathi language, Marathi ...
and
Juhi Chawla Juhi Chawla Mehta ( Chawla; born 13 November 1967) is an Indian actress. She established herself as one of the leading actresses of Hindi cinema from the late 1980s through the early 2000s. Recognised for her comic timing and vivacious on-screen ...
. Courtesy of reality TV show Tahul, Lulla also designer for Dimpy Ganguly, Rahul Mahajan's young bride. After successfully completing the challenge of designing for films like ''
Mohenjo Daro Mohenjo-daro (; , ; ) is an archaeological site in Larkana District, Sindh, Pakistan. Built 2500 BCE, it was one of the largest settlements of the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation, and one of the world's earliest major cities, contemporaneo ...
'' (2016), she plans on trying her hand in Tollywood again with
Gautamiputra Satakarni Gautamiputra Satakarni ( Brahmi: 𑀕𑁄𑀢𑀫𑀺𑀧𑀼𑀢 𑀲𑀸𑀢𑀓𑀡𑀺, ''Gotamiputa Sātakaṇi'', IAST: ) was a ruler of the Satavahana Empire in present-day Deccan region of India. He was mentioned as the important a ...
. Neeta Lulla has been known to utilize Paithani, the ancient technique of tapestry that combines multiple threads of different colors and incorporates gold and silver threads woven together to create a dynamic piece of silk. One of her most notable Paithani collections was shown in February 2016 at the Make In India initiative. At this show she showcased a wide range of pieces including flowing lehangas, long kurtas, jackets, dhoti pants, sarong skirts — all of which were embroidered according to the Paithani style. In regards to the collection and show held in Maharashtra, Neeta commented:
“Maharashtra has always held a special place in my heart; this has been home to my whole life and art. I have chosen to showcase the intricacies, elaborateness and immaculacy of Paithani, a legacy of Maharashtra.”
In 2013, Lulla opened The Whistling Wood International Neeta School of Fashion in her home city of Mumbai. The institute offers a selection of courses in fashion, merchandising and online marketing. The school is currently owned by Subash Ghai who has worked with Lulla on several films. Neeta comments:
"I have been teaching fashion for the last 26 years. As an extension to my teaching I joined a venture which is part of Whistling Woods International that belongs to Ghai. It seems that Indian film industry really does see the fashion industry as an extension of their own business."


Social activism

Neeta Lulla has been vocal about combating gender-based violence and has used her work as a platform for promoting the issue. Her 2016 collection "#SheIsMe" simultaneously communicated both gentleness and resilience in the face of abuse. The collections debut at Lakme Fashion Week included a dance recital that spoke against women abuse. Lulla comments:
"This collection in its entirety speaks about a woman's characteristics. You see the vibrancy of the Cherry Blossom and the Osmanthus transition into the colours of dried flowers and cracked mother Earth. Just as these magnificent miracles of nature respond to tenderness and care but can also just as easily dry away with neglect, a woman's spirit begins to wither under any physical or emotional abuse. We need to raise our voice against this."


Personal life

Neeta Lulla was born in
Mumbai Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...
, India in a Sindhi family and grew up in Mumbai and Hyderabad.I don't think there is a single designer who has never made a faux pas
''
Telegraph India ''The Telegraph'' is an Indian English daily newspaper founded and continuously published in Kolkata since 7 July 1982. It is published by the ABP Group and competes with the Middle-market newspaper ''The Times of India''. The newspaper is t ...
''.
She spent significant time in
Film City, Mumbai Film City, officially known as Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari, is an integrated film studio complex located in Goregaon East, Mumbai. Established in 1977 by the Maharashtra state government, it was created to provide facilities and concessions ...
, a film studio and completed her education from
SNDT Women's University SNDT Women's University, also called by its full name Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women's University, is a women's university in the city of Mumbai, India. The university headquarters are at Churchgate in South Mumbai, while the ma ...
. She is now married to Dr Shyam Lulla who is a psychiatrist.


Collections

* Make in India: showcased an exclusive Paithani collection made of contemporary separates on 17 February 2016 * #SheIsMe: showcased at Lakme Fashion Week, collection focused on combating gender based violence, 6 April 2016


Awards

*
National Film Award for Best Costume Design The National Film Award for Best Costume Design is one of the National Film Awards presented annually by the National Film Development Corporation of India. It is one of several awards presented for feature films and awarded with Rajat Kamal (Si ...
2012 for '' Balgandharva'' *
National Film Award for Best Costume Design The National Film Award for Best Costume Design is one of the National Film Awards presented annually by the National Film Development Corporation of India. It is one of several awards presented for feature films and awarded with Rajat Kamal (Si ...
2009 for ''
Jodhaa Akbar ''Jodhaa Akbar'' is a 2008 Indian Hindi-language historical drama film directed by Ashutosh Gowariker. It stars Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in the titular roles. Set in the 16th century, the film shows the fictional life and lo ...
''. * IIFA Best Costume Design Award 2009 for ''
Jodhaa Akbar ''Jodhaa Akbar'' is a 2008 Indian Hindi-language historical drama film directed by Ashutosh Gowariker. It stars Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in the titular roles. Set in the 16th century, the film shows the fictional life and lo ...
''. *Kingfisher Fashion Award 2005 for Contribution to ''Fashion'' * Bollywood Movie Award – Best Costume Designer 2003 for ''
Devdas ''Devdas'' (, transliterated as ''Dēbôdās'') is a Bengali romance novel written by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay. The story pivots a tragic triangle linking Devdas, an archetypal lover in viraha (separation); Paro, his forbidden childhood love ...
''. * Zee Cine Award for Best Costume Designer 2003 for ''
Devdas ''Devdas'' (, transliterated as ''Dēbôdās'') is a Bengali romance novel written by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay. The story pivots a tragic triangle linking Devdas, an archetypal lover in viraha (separation); Paro, his forbidden childhood love ...
''. *
National Film Award for Best Costume Design The National Film Award for Best Costume Design is one of the National Film Awards presented annually by the National Film Development Corporation of India. It is one of several awards presented for feature films and awarded with Rajat Kamal (Si ...
2002 for ''
Devdas ''Devdas'' (, transliterated as ''Dēbôdās'') is a Bengali romance novel written by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay. The story pivots a tragic triangle linking Devdas, an archetypal lover in viraha (separation); Paro, his forbidden childhood love ...
''. * Bollywood Movie Award – Best Costume Designer 2001 for ''
Mission Kashmir ''Mission Kashmir'' is a 2000 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film directed and produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. The film stars Sanjay Dutt, Hrithik Roshan, Jackie Shroff, Preity Zinta, and Sonali Kulkarni. Set against the backdrop of ...
''. * IIFA Best Costume Design Award 2000 for '' Taal'' *Fashion Designer of the Decade at Satya Brahma founded Indian Affairs
India Leadership Conclave India Leadership Conclave is an annual industry event organised by Indian Affairs. Speakers address current issues at the annual conclave from Network 7 Media Group. In 2013, India Leadership Conclave themed the Conclave "New India - Agenda for C ...
2016. * Cannes Film Festival 2023 – Best Costume Award for '' Shaakuntalam''.


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Lulla, Neeta 1965 births Living people 20th-century Indian designers 20th-century Indian women artists 21st-century Indian designers 21st-century Indian women artists Artists from Mumbai Best Costume Design National Film Award winners Fashion stylists Indian women fashion designers Indian fashion designers Women artists from Maharashtra Indian Sindhi people SNDT Women's University alumni