‘Ramayana’ Costume Controversy: Designers Rimple and Harpreet Narula Respond to Criticism Over Sai Pallavi’s Sita and Lara Dutta’s Kaikeyi Looks
The costume designs of ‘Ramayana’ have sparked debate on social media, with viewers questioning Sai Pallavi’s Sita look and trolling Lara Dutta’s Kaikeyi appearance. Responding to the criticism, costume designers Rimple and Harpreet Narula said they expected mixed reactions and explained that every design choice was made after careful research and creative interpretation. Rimple said Sita’s look was inspired by cultural and spiritual representations rather than only historical references, while Harpreet explained the symbolic meaning behind Kaikeyi’s costume colours. The designers urged audiences to watch the film before judging the creative decisions.
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Mumbai: The recently released trailer of the much-awaited film ‘Ramayana’ has sparked a major discussion on social media, with the film’s costume designs becoming a topic of debate among viewers. While some users questioned Sai Pallavi’s look as Sita, others trolled Lara Dutta’s appearance as Kaikeyi by sharing memes and comparisons with popular television characters. Amid the growing reactions, costume designers Rimple and Harpreet Narula have opened up about the creative thought process behind the characters’ looks.
Rimple revealed that the team was aware that an epic like Ramayana would invite strong opinions from audiences. She said that the story has been part of Indian culture and people’s imagination for generations, which naturally leads to different interpretations regarding casting, costumes, visual effects, and character portrayals.
Addressing the criticism surrounding Sai Pallavi’s Sita look, especially the design of her blouse, Rimple explained that the choice was intentional. She said her vision of Goddess Sita was influenced not only by historical references but also by the spiritual and cultural image that people have carried in their minds for years.
According to Rimple, costume designing for a mythological epic requires a balance between research and artistic interpretation. Since original garments from that era do not exist, the team studied various sources, including traditional paintings, temple artwork, miniature paintings, and Raja Ravi Varma’s iconic depictions of mythological characters.
“Research is the foundation of costume design, but interpretation is what turns it into art,” Rimple explained, adding that Ramayana itself has been portrayed differently across various cultures and regions.
Meanwhile, Harpreet Narula addressed the criticism over Lara Dutta’s Kaikeyi look and explained the symbolism behind her costume. He said that every colour and design element was chosen with a purpose. The green shade represents motherhood, while the deep maroon reflects Kaikeyi’s emotional strength, inner conflict, and the difficult decision she faces between her son Bharat and Lord Ram.
Harpreet added that audiences should experience the film before forming opinions based only on online reactions. He said that every detail, from colours to fabrics, was carefully planned to visually represent the emotions and complexity of the characters.
The trailer of ‘Ramayana’ was released on July 30 and features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Ravi Dubey as Lakshman, and Yash as Ravana. The film also stars Arun Govil as King Dasharatha, Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi, Rakul Preet Singh as Shurpanakha, Shobana as Kaikesi, and Vivek Oberoi as Vidyutjihva. The trailer also gives a glimpse of Jatayu, while characters like Hanuman, Bharat, Shatrughan, and Kausalya have not appeared yet.