Mumbai, September 8, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
National Award-winning designer Neeta Lulla has revealed the inspiration behind late actress Sridevi’s iconic, larger-than-life look in the 1993 film ‘Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja’, saying the costume drew inspiration from Eddie Murphy’s 1988 Hollywood film ‘Coming to America’.
Neeta recalled watching ‘Coming to America’ when it released in 1988 and said the film and its costumes were still fresh in her mind when Sridevi approached her a few weeks later to work on a song for ‘Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja’.
“I watched the movie and enjoyed it. A couple of weeks later, I got a call from Sridevi that I need to work on a song for ‘Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja’. When I met her, this movie and the clothes were still fresh in my memory,” Neeta said in a video shared on Instagram.
During their discussion, Neeta proposed creating something “really larger than life”, incorporating feathers and other dramatic elements. She then began sketching an elaborate costume featuring a heavily layered skirt, a bodice embellished with gold metal and a feathered headgear.
Sridevi initially wondered whether the ambitious design could actually be created, but Neeta was determined to bring the concept to life.
After the design was finalised, Neeta went to Mumbai’s Crawford Market to source feathers for the headgear. She combined them with chain mail, stones, rhinestones and metal pieces, carefully intertwining and securing the elements to create the elaborate accessory.
Once the outfit was completed, Neeta took it for Sridevi’s fitting. The actress was pleased with the finished look, following which filming began.
Neeta recalled that songs during that era were often shot over 10 to 12 days. The particular sequence was filmed from morning until late at night, with shooting beginning around 9 a.m. and continuing until approximately 10 or 10.30 p.m.
The demanding dance sequences also meant the costume required constant maintenance. Neeta said she would take the clothes back after each day’s shoot, restructure and refinish them, inspect the feathers and jewellery, and reattach pieces that had come loose before bringing everything back for filming the next day.
In her Instagram caption, Neeta described the costume as a creation that pushed the boundaries of imagination, craftsmanship and what could be worn on a film set.
She said the outfit was made using feathers, rhinestones and handmade metal pieces etched with Egyptian palmette motifs, describing the project as a challenge that required an extraordinary vision to be brought to life through craftsmanship and determination.
‘Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja’ starred Anil Kapoor, Sridevi, Anupam Kher, Johnny Lever and Jackie Shroff. Directed by Satish Kaushik and written by Javed Akhtar, the film was reportedly the highest-budget Hindi film at the time.
The project was announced in 1987 and was initially directed by Shekhar Kapur, who left midway through production. Satish Kaushik subsequently took over as director.
The film follows Jugran, a criminal who brutally murders a customs officer and a doctor. Their orphaned children grow up facing hardships before deciding to seek revenge against their parents’ killer.
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