Ramayana costume designers Rimple and Harpreet Narulah defend Sai Pallavi and Lara Dutta’s looks amid online criticism of the film’s costumes.
Ramayana Costume Controversy: The trailer of Nitesh Tiwari’s highly anticipated Ramayana has created significant excitement among moviegoers, but it has also triggered conversations online about the film’s costumes. While the scale, visual effects and star cast have received attention, some viewers have questioned the styling of Sai Pallavi as Sita and Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi.
Now, costume designers Rimple and Harpreet Narulah have responded to the criticism and explained the creative thinking behind the much-discussed looks.
Ramayana Designers Say Debate Was Expected
According to Rimple, the team was aware from the beginning that a project based on the Ramayana would invite strong reactions. The epic has been part of Indian cultural consciousness for generations, meaning viewers were naturally expected to have their own ideas about the casting, costumes, visual presentation and other creative elements.
However, she said the extent of negative reactions was something the designers did not anticipate.
For the designers, the challenge was not simply to recreate a historical period but to visually represent a story that has been interpreted in different ways across generations, regions and artistic traditions.
Why Sai Pallavi’s Sita Costume Became a Talking Point
One of the most discussed elements after the trailer release was Sai Pallavi’s appearance as Goddess Sita, particularly her blouse designs.
Rimple explained that the look was based on her own visual understanding of Sita. Rather than attempting to claim strict archaeological accuracy, she wanted to portray the image of Sita that had been part of her own cultural and devotional experience.
The designer also pointed out that there are no preserved garments from the Treta Yuga that could be directly used as costume references. Therefore, the team looked at visual traditions that audiences have encountered over generations.
These included calendar art, miniature paintings, temple imagery and artistic interpretations by Raja Ravi Varma. Rimple also highlighted that the Ramayana has been represented differently in various cultures, making multiple visual interpretations possible.
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Designers Explain Lara Dutta’s Kaikeyi Costume
The styling of Lara Dutta as Queen Kaikeyi also became a subject of online discussion. Some social media users compared elements of her saree, blouse and border detailing with costumes associated with television mythological productions.
Harpreet Narulah explained that Kaikeyi’s costume was designed with her emotional journey in mind. According to him, the colours were not selected randomly and were intended to communicate different aspects of her character.
The green shade was associated with motherhood, while the deep maroon was used to represent emotional intensity and the darker side of the difficult decision Kaikeyi makes.
The designer explained that Kaikeyi is caught between her love for her own son and her relationship with Rama, and the costume was created to reflect that internal conflict.
‘Watch the Film Before Judging the Costumes’
The costume designers have asked audiences to experience the complete movie before reaching a final conclusion about its visual choices.
Harpreet said that the costumes were created as part of a larger attempt to make an ancient epic visually accessible to a contemporary generation. According to the designers, considerable thought went into the details, with each element intended to contribute to the storytelling.
Their message to viewers is essentially to wait for the full cinematic context rather than judging individual costumes solely from a trailer.
Who Stars in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana?
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana features a massive ensemble cast. Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Rama and Lord Parshurama, while Sai Pallavi portrays Goddess Sita and Yash plays Ravana.
The cast also includes Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman, Ravi Dubey as Lakshman, Lara Dutta as Queen Kaikeyi, Arun Govil as King Dasharath, Kajal Aggarwal as Mandodari, Rakul Preet Singh as Shurpanakha, Vivek Oberoi as Vidyutjihva, Kunal Kapoor as Lord Indra, Raghav Juyal as Meghanad, Sheeba Chaddha as Manthara and Indira Krishnan as Kaushalya. Anupam Kher lends his voice to Jatayu.
Ramayana Release Date and Budget
Produced by Prime Focus Studios and Monster Mind Creations, Ramayana is being developed as one of the most ambitious Indian film projects, with the reported budget reaching around ₹4,000 crore.
The film is planned as a two-part cinematic saga. Ramayana: Part One is scheduled to arrive in theatres during Diwali 2026, while Part Two is expected to release during Diwali 2027.
With the trailer already generating intense discussion around its casting, visuals and costumes, the filmmakers now face the challenge of meeting the enormous expectations surrounding the epic.
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