Mumbai: Neeta Lulla, a name that needs no introduction. Popularly known as the Czarina of Indian Fashion, Neeta has been charting 40 years of success in the fashion scene. Her contribution to the industry has won her four National Awards – best costume design (Lamhe, Devdas, Jodhaa Akbar and Balgandharva). She also recently won Best Costume Design for the movie Shakuntalam at the World Cannes Film Festival. Neeta Lulla is one of the leading designers who has seen fashion evolve for over 4 decades.  After gaining exposure to fashion shows, and fashion choreography, with Jeanne Naoroji, a luminary choreographer of the ’80s, Neeta got her first breakthrough in Bollywood in 1986 when she designed the costumes for Sridevi for the movie Chandni. Since then there has been no looking back. Her passion for fashion and her distinctive design sensibilities made her stand out among her peers and earn a name for herself that is nothing short of iconic. Neeta Lulla has been known to utilize Paithani and her most notable Paithani collection was shown in February 2016 at the Make In India initiative. She has worked as a costume designer with many directors, both nationally and internationally, and carved a way for herself with her notable contributions to iconic films like Lamhe, Devdas, Chandini, Darr, Taal, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Jodha Akbar, and various others. She has also dressed various A-list celebrities on numerous occasions like Sridevi, Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai, Kareena Kapoor, Aamir Khan, and Rajnikanth to name a few.

Neeta is a master craftsman who has revolutionised the Indian fashion landscape and is known for charting new courses with unique ideas and orchestrating playful dances with different fabrics and designs. With a mission to be the go-to shop for every Indian Bride, she ventured into the world of couture and established ‘ House of Neeta Lulla’, a flagship store in Mumbai in 1995. A staunch believer in promoting the local artisans and lost fashion of wearing heritage & homegrown fabrics, she is loved and admired for bringing the traditional fabrics back and giving a contemporary touch to aboriginal textiles like Srikalahasti, Kanjeevaram, Banarsi, Paithani and Kalamkari, a perfect fusion of cultural and ethnic influences blended with the contemporary design that celebrates tradition and evolution through its collections and giving every bride the couture of her dreams. Her signature bridal trousseau is the perfect representation of Indian Bridal and diffusion wear that draws style inspired by Edwardian silhouettes and patterns yet remains deeply rooted in tradition and forms.

With an illustrious career spanning over 40 years and achieving recognition not just in the  Indian Film Industry but also globally with her revolutionary designs and talent. Her remarkable milestones also include being a prestigious jury member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science. Neeta Lulla has always set new records with her pathbreaking innovative ideas, designs and concepts – be it introducing concept sarees in 2001 that are pre-stitched and ready to wear and fibre optics fabrics in 2017 making it a game changer in the Indian fashion industry, the fusion of heritage fabrics with contemporary designs. Neeta emerged as a trendsetter when she designed a blush pink lehenga for Aishwarya Rai’s mehendi instead of the traditional red, the double dupatta draping style adopted by almost every bride today for stylish convenience. In addition to this, Neeta Lulla has also collaborated with a luxury lifestyle brand Portico, designing a premium wedding range ‘Vrindavan Symphony’ inspired by the eternal romance of Radha and Krishna. She was also an early adopter of online retail, the first designer to launch an online retail platform in 2008, and by 2009, she had established a distribution network across five continents. The veteran symbolises elegance, romance and opulence in her designs, a unique blend of feminine fragility and power.

Foraying outside the fashion world, she is a mother, an entrepreneur and a mentor to many. Neeta Lulla is the founder of Neeta Lulla Whistling Woods School of Fashion. She has contributed her fashion expertise by serving as a mentor to her alma mater SNDT University, a faculty member of Hamstech Hyderabad, and several Hunar online courses. With a passion for creativity that knows no bounds, Neeta Lulla continues inspiring generations with her timeless designs and visionary leadership.

Neeta Lulla’s impressive accomplishments and contributions to the fashion and costume design industry are commendable and truly worthy of awe.