Latest news with #Devdas
Hans India
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Rajamouli to build most expensive set in the history of Indian cinema for SSMB29!
Celebrated filmmaker SS Rajamouli, known for redefining cinematic grandeur with films like Baahubali and RRR, is now pushing the envelope further with his upcoming film starring Superstar Mahesh Babu. The latest buzz reveals that Rajamouli has constructed a massive film set replicating the ancient city of Varanasi—at a staggering cost of ₹50 crore. The elaborate set has been erected at Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad, to overcome the logistical and crowd-control challenges of shooting on the real streets and ghats of Varanasi. The set reportedly includes iconic ghats, temples, and riverfronts, meticulously designed to bring an authentic atmosphere to the big screen. This scale of production places the film among the most expensive projects ever in Indian cinema. To put things into perspective, the entire budget of opulent films like Devdas (2002) was ₹50 crore, while sets for projects like Bajirao Mastani, Heeramandi, and Prem Ratan Dhan Paayo cost between ₹15–₹20 crore. Rajamouli's decision to invest this much in a single set underlines the sheer scale and vision behind the project. The yet-untitled film, inspired by mythological themes surrounding Lord Hanuman and ancient exploration, is said to revolve around adventurous elements like the search for healing herbs at Mount Dronagiri. With a massive estimated budget of ₹1,000 crore, this cinematic spectacle is shaping up to be a pan-world release. Alongside Mahesh Babu, the film will also star Priyanka Chopra, Prithviraj Sukumaran, and others in pivotal roles. Music is being composed by Oscar-winning MM Keeravaani, adding further weight to the film's grandeur. With such enormous scale and storytelling ambition, this project could redefine global perceptions of Indian cinema.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Aishwarya Rai's iconic ‘Laal paar sada saree' from ‘Devdas' was created overnight by Neeta Lulla; Here's why
(Image Credits: Pinterest) The glamorous world of Bollywood is filled with grand sets, starry songs, and bold dialogues that often leave an impression on the audience. However, some songs, films, and stories stay with us because of the grandeur and creativity that flow from the creation of the range of costumes. There is one director in this glamorous chaos who has understood the game of costumes and has stood out from the crowd with his stunning sets and even more iconic range of costumes that have remained with the fans decades after the film's release. Whether it's the tragic decadence of 'Devdas' or the haunting 90s charm of 'Guzaarish', Sanjay Leela Bhansali's costume designs remain one of Indian cinema's most unforgettable visual legacies. (Image Credits: Pinterest) Allowing the character to unveil itself with his layered fashion richness, we all fell in love at first sight of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as Paro in his 'Devdas'. The grandeur of the era and the emotional weight of each character's arc were felt by the audience. And, as this great tragedy unwrapped itself on the screen, the main ending climax left us all ruined. Did you know Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's wedding sari had real gold thread work with Swarovski crystal? Here is how much it costed! Amidst all the emotional chaos, no one can forget the iconic 'Laal paar sada saree' worn by Aishwarya in the final scene of the film. Traditionally worn in the Bengali culture, this white saree with a red border featured an extravagant pallu, which created an unforgettable moment on screen. However, do you know that this dramatic saree was created by fashion designer Neeta Lulla overnight at the sudden request of Sanjay Leela Bhansali? (Image Credits: Pinterest) In a recent interview, Neeta Lulla looked back at the experience of working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali on 'Devdas' and recalled the unexpected work pressure, which paid off well in the end. She revealed that the director asked for a sudden change in the outfit just hours before the final cut. Thus, she had to quickly source out a 13-metre-long saree overnight, which was made possible by her team and her fabric vendor, who opened the shop till 11 PM for her. This single moment is proof of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's visionary prowess, which made the scene look emotional, grand, curious, and a complete roller coaster ride for the audience. In the film's climax, Paro, aka Aishwarya Rai, runs through the corridors of her house to see her lover Dev Babu, aka Shah Rukh Khan, one last time. During this emotional scene, her pallu catches fire, which creates a powerful visual, and it went up to win five National Awards, including for Best Costume. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
India.com
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
Dilip Kumar once rejected a blockbuster film due to..., director had to play lead hero, movie was..., it earned Rs...
Dilip Kumar — the undisputed Tragedy King of Hindi cinema — had an envious lineup of iconic films to his name: Devdas, Mughal-e-Azam, Naya Daur, Daag… the list is legendary. But what if we told you that one of the greatest films of Indian cinema, Pyaasa, was originally written with Dilip Kumar in mind — and he turned it down? Yes, the cult classic Pyaasa (1957), directed by the visionary Guru Dutt, almost had Dilip Kumar as its lead. Fresh off his haunting performance in Devdas (1955), Dilip was the obvious first choice. The melancholic tone of Pyaasa — about a disillusioned poet ignored by a selfish world — mirrored Devdas' emotional depth, and Guru Dutt was certain only Dilip could pull it off. Initially, Dilip agreed — until the discussion reached money. Reportedly, Dilip Kumar demanded a then-staggering fee of Rs 1.5 lakh for the film. Guru Dutt, operating on a tighter budget, politely requested a reduction. That didn't sit well with Dilip. In what some now call a moment of ego or misplaced pride, he told Guru Dutt, 'Make the film, and I'll help you distribute it.' That remark cut deep. Guru Dutt, offended but undeterred, responded, 'I've come to cast you, not sell my film.' The fallout was immediate and bitter. Yet ironically, just days later, Dilip Kumar reversed his decision and agreed to do the film. But it was too little, too late. On the day of Pyaasa's ceremonial launch (muhurat), the team waited for Dilip's arrival. Instead, news broke that the actor was in talks with B.R. Chopra about Naya Daur. Guru Dutt had only asked for 10 minutes of his time that day, and Dilip didn't show. In that moment of frustration, Guru Dutt made a snap decision: he would play the lead himself. That gamble became history. Pyaasa went on to become not just the biggest hit of 1957, but a timeless piece of cinematic poetry — one that outperformed Dilip Kumar's own hit, Naya Daur, at the box office that same year. Sometimes, the films actors reject tell a more fascinating story than the ones they star in.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
India's most expensive film set cost ₹50 cr, more than Devdas' full budget; not from Baahubali, Heeramandi, Ramayan, RRR
Even as Indian films are increasing reliance on VFX and CGI, the old-fashioned way of building massive sets has not gone away completely. New filmmakers are building massive sets for their films, often to avoid travel, and sometimes to lend the authenticity that VFX cannot. One upcoming film has a huge city-sized set that costs ₹50 crore, the highest for any single set in Indian cinema history. SS Rajamouli is currently filming his upcoming pan-India magnum opus with Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra. Tentatively titled SSMB29, the film is a fantasy action adventure, part of which is set in Varanasi. Rajamouli has reportedly recreated the entire city of Kashi, with its ghats and temples, in Hyderabad, as filming in the ancient city would prove to be difficult logistically. Leaked images show the scale and grandeur of the set, with temples and ghats visible in the foreground of Hyderabad's skyline. According to sources, the set's cost is ₹50 crore, the most for a single set in Indian cinema history. To put into context, just how crazy the idea of a ₹50-crore set is, one must remember that Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas held the record for being India's most expensive film for years. The film's inflated budget was largely due to its opulent sets. And yet, its total budget was under ₹50 crore. Another Telugu pan-India film, Prabhas' The RajaSaab, has also created a magnificent set that the makers are calling the largest indoor set in the world. Spread across 38000 square feet, the set took 6 months to make, but there is no information on its cost. The kotha of Chandramukhi in Devdas cost ₹12 crore back in 2002. Similarly, Bajirao Mastani, Heeramandi, Baahubali, Prem Ratan Dhan Paayo, and Thugs of Hindostan all spend ₹15-20 crore on their biggest sets. Anurag Kashyap also spent crores in recreating 1960s' Bombay in Sri Lanka for Bombay Velvet.
Pink Villa
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
'We were in Aishwarya Rai's van, looking at outfit around 7 pm after pack-up': Neeta Lulla spills beans on cotton saree in Devdas
The Devdas movie is a gem! Be it the characters, the songs, the emotional scenes, grand mansions, temples, and courtesan halls with intricate detailing, or the heart-wrenching climax, it is one of its kind. The red and shite saree that Aishwarya Rai wore during the climax added more depth to the entire sequence. But did you know that the saree was prepared in just one night? Sanjay Leela Bhansali requested a change in the outfit just hours before the shoot. Neeta Lulla's last-minute preparations for creating a saree Talking to News 18, fashion designer Neeta Lulla recounted her experience working with maestro Bhansali on Devdas. She revealed that the sarees used in the movie were usually 12–14 metres long. Hence, for the red and white climax outfit, she cut two or three sarees to create the entire ensemble. Neeta told the portal, "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. At that moment, Sanjay said his idea was to have the saree's pallu catch fire and felt it wouldn't be long enough." After Sanjay's sudden request, Neeta invested herself in coming up with a solution. She contacted one of her fabric vendors and got his shop open at 11 at night. Meanwhile, she also informed her team, asking them to start working on the borders. "By 8.30 am the next day, we had two 13-metre saris ready on set," revealed Neeta. About Devdas Starring Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit, and Aishwarya Rai, Devdas was released in 2002. The love saga also featured Jackie Shroff and Kirron Kher in pivotal roles. Interestingly, the period romantic drama won 5 National awards and also made it to the Cannes Film Festival. Devdas was not only a commercially successful film but also met with positive reviews.
