Yash wore Ravana costumes weighing up to 33 kg in Ramayana; crown alone weighed 1.8 kg, reveals designer
Here's the latest update from the Bollywood world:
The making of an epic mythological movie is always challenging, especially when it is based on a Hindu epic like the Ramayana . Costumes play an important role in bringing such characters to life and convincing audiences of their portrayal. In a recent interaction, costume stylist and designer Saniya Sardhariya spoke about Yash’s elaborate look as Ravana , revealing that the star had to wear costumes weighing between 16 and 20 kg. On some days, the costumes weighed as much as 30–33 kg.
Adding to this, Yash played the role of Ravana in Ramayana. 'Most of the costumes used to weigh around 16 to 20 kg' In conversation with India Today, Saniya shared, "Most of the costumes used to weigh around 16 to 20 kg, including the jewellery. But we had a few heavy pieces, like the Ravana look associated with Lanka, his wedding costume, and the costume he wore for Surpanakha's wedding. Those were close to 30–33 kg, if I remember correctly."
Meanwhile, Saniya admitted that the most difficult part of designing Ravana's costume was his crown. She opened up that despite several attempts to reduce its weight, the crown eventually weighed 1.8 kg.
Notably, She shared, “I think the most difficult part was wearing the crown because any amount of weight on your head feels very restrictive and heavy. So, we experimented a lot with the idea. We had so many mock 3D crowns made, and we ensured that we got the design right first. Then we started reverse-engineering it to see how we could make it lighter and lighter. But I don't think we could go any lighter than 1.8 kg. That was the best we could do, and even that felt like a lot. You don't see that in his expressions or anything like that, but it was quite a task.”
As per the latest buzz, She also spoke about how the elaborate costumes restricted the star's movements. Despite the physical discomfort and long hours, however, Yash took it in his stride and often amused those around him. Saniya recalled that the star soon realised how draining the experience would be. To entertain himself and playfully tease the team, he would turn the sharp elements of his costume into everyone's problem.
In further updates, Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Ravana, and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman. Produced by Namit Malhotra, the movie features music by AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer. The first part is scheduled for a Diwali 2026 rollout, while the second part is expected to arrive in 2028.
On top of that, Vibha Maru is an Assistant Editor with Hindustan Times Entertainment, based in Delhi. With a decade of experience across digital and print media, she covers Bollywood, Hollywood and web shows. A self-confessed cinephile who breathes Hindi cinema, Vibha can often be found sacrificing sleep after binge-watching films and web series. Though she holds a Commerce degree, she discovered her true calling in journalism after enrolling at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC). She began her career covering Delhi's cultural scene, food, nightlife, concerts, and city life at The Times of India, before moving into full-time entertainment journalism with India Today. At India Today, Vibha interviewed some of the biggest names in Bollywood and television while carving a niche for herself through movie reviews, opinion pieces, nostalgic features, star interviews, and trend-driven stories. She later brought her storytelling and editorial expertise to The Indian Express, where she continued to deepen her understanding of cinema through long-form entertainment explainers, retrospectives and feature writing. Now, as Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times Entertainment, Vibha continues to chronicle the world of movies and pop culture. Her work spans breaking entertainment news, exclusive interviews, star features, and stories that capture the conversations shaping Indian cinema. Read More
Source: Hindustan Times