The festive Diwali release Ramayana has struck a major chord with theatrical audiences, racing past the milestone of 600 crores in worldwide box office collections within just 5 days of its premiere. Among all the performances and character designs, actor Yash’s striking portrayal of Ravana has captured the greatest share of public attention, leaving viewers deeply impressed by his commanding on-screen presence.
Costumes Weighing Up to 33 Kilograms
Sania Sardhariya, the costume stylist and designer behind the project, recently opened up about the intensive creative process required to craft the distinctive Ravana look. She detailed the heavy burden that the actor had to physically bear to bring the legendary antagonist to life, noting that every single detail of the attire underwent meticulous planning and execution.
Heavy Attire for Specific Wedding Sequences
While discussing the logistical challenges with the media, the designer pointed out that standard film costumes paired with heavy jewelry usually weigh between 16 to 20 kilograms, but for this specific character, the load was doubled. For several pivotal sequences, such as Ravana's wedding scenes and the sequence featuring the marriage of Shurpanakha, the handcrafted costumes tipped the scales at approximately 30 to 33 kilograms.
Intricate Trials Behind the Crown
Another major engineering feat for the wardrobe department was crafting Ravana's elaborate crown, which ultimately weighed 1.8 kilograms. According to the stylist, developing this specific headpiece proved to be the most demanding aspect of the entire design process, requiring numerous trials, errors, and continuous creative experimentation.
Balancing Grandeur with Lightweight Materials
The primary design dilemma for the crown was achieving a majestic, intimidating aesthetic without adding excessive physical strain that would make filming impossible for long hours. After constructing several mock 3D prototypes and testing various structural approaches, the designers successfully finalized a lightweight yet imposing 1.8-kilogram crown.
Star-Studded Cast and Upcoming Sequel
Co-produced by Namit Malhotra and Yash, the grand cinematic adaptation features an ensemble star cast including Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Ravi Dubey, Yash, Vivek Oberoi, Rakul Preet Singh, and Lara Dutta, alongside several other prominent actors. Following the strong opening run at the box office, the makers have officially confirmed that the second installment of the franchise will arrive by 2028.
