National Award-winning costume designer Neeta Lulla has revealed that one of Sridevi's most memorable looks from the 1991 Yash Chopra directorial 'Lamhe' required her to hand-paint the fabric herself — because the specific bandhani design the late actress envisioned simply did not exist in the market.

The Unusual Request

In a video shared on social media, Lulla recalled that Sridevi wanted a bandhani skirt with a crop top for two scenes in the film — one set in a shopping sequence, and another in which her character narrates her story in front of a palace. The colour combinations requested were straightforward at first glance: a blue bandhani and a maroon bandhani.

'The colors required were a blue bandhani and a maroon bandhani. How difficult is it to get a blue or a maroon bandhani? Not difficult, right? But here was the catch,' Lulla recalled. 'Sridevi said, "Can I get a white bandhani on maroon and a yellow bandhani on blue?" That was absolutely difficult to find.'

How Lulla Solved the Problem

Unable to source the precise design, Lulla took matters — and fabric paints — into her own hands. She had the master tailor stitch the outfits, then brought the garments home and hand-painted the bandhani patterns herself: white dots on maroon and yellow dots on blue.

The solution, however, came with an unexpected side effect. At the fitting, Sridevi noticed something was off. 'She said, "It feels slightly stiff. What is it?" Because bandhani doesn't usually feel stiff,' Lulla recounted. When Lulla admitted she had painted the pattern on, Sridevi reportedly burst out laughing.

The Philosophy Behind the Craft

'We don't give up. We just do whatever it takes — whether it's painting, stitching, embroidering, or anything else. But that is the beauty and the fun of creating film costumes,' Lulla said, summing up the ethos that has defined her decades-long career in Indian cinema.

In an accompanying caption, Lulla wrote: 'The best creative decisions are often made when difficulty arises. No hesitation. No compromise. Just instinct, and the determination to bring a vision to life, exactly when it was needed on the film sets of Lamhe for Sridevi.'

About 'Lamhe' and Its Legacy

'Lamhe' featured Sridevi in a rare dual role — playing both mother and daughter — alongside Anil Kapoor. The film's supporting cast included Waheeda Rehman, Anupam Kher, Deepak Malhotra, and Dippy Sagoo. Though it performed modestly at the domestic box office on release, the film has since earned cult status for its bold narrative and its iconic costumes, many of which were crafted by Lulla. The anecdote is a reminder that the visual language of Indian cinema's golden era was often built on quiet, painstaking acts of ingenuity happening well off camera.