Actor Yash, who portrays the character of Ravana in the film ‘Ramayana: Part 1’, wore costumes that weighed up to 33 kilograms for the role, according to the film’s costume designer Saniya Sardariya.
The heavy attire was a significant aspect of bringing the character to life on screen.
In an interview, Sardariya revealed that while most of Ravana’s costumes, including jewelry, weighed between 16 to 20 kilograms, specific outfits for key scenes were considerably heavier. The elaborate costumes for Ravana’s role as the king of Lanka, his wedding attire, and the outfit for the wedding ceremony of Shurpanakha weighed approximately 30 to 33 kilograms.
The crown worn by the actor alone weighed 1.8 kilograms. Sardariya stated, With jewelry, most costumes weighed 16 to 20 kg. But for some special looks, it reached 30 to 33 kg.
The jewelry for the character, supplied by Tribe Amrapali, was designed to reflect Ravana’s royal status and complex personality. According to the company’s CEO, Taro Aurora, the goal was to showcase the king’s grandeur through the ornaments. Designs incorporating snakes, demon faces, animal motifs, and a trident were used to align with Ravana’s identity as a devotee of Lord Shiva.
The physical demands of the role extended beyond the costumes. Yash himself shared insights into the challenges of portraying Ravana, a character often seen as a villain. In a behind-the-scenes video, he mentioned that his family and friends were initially concerned about him taking on such a negative role.
However, Yash was drawn to the character’s depth, explaining, Ravana is like the brain, while Ram is the heart, and there's always a conflict between the mind and the heart.
The performance has garnered praise from industry colleagues. Co-star Vivek Oberoi commended Yash’s portrayal, particularly highlighting the scene where Ravana speaks with his ten heads. He wrote on social media, Brother, your journey from Rocky to Ravana is truly extraordinary.
The ten heads scene is just bang on! It was a great experience working with you. Ranveer Kapoor, who plays Ram, also praised Yash’s performance, noting that a strong and established actor was needed to portray Ravana’s powerful presence on screen.
The film, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, has been a major commercial success. According to Sacnilk, ‘Ramayana: Part 1’ has grossed 663.90 crore rupees worldwide. In India, its net collection stood at 107.50 crore rupees on Monday, November 9, with the total domestic collection reaching 346.35 crore rupees.
The film set a new record for the highest single-day ticket sales in India, surpassing previous hits like ‘Dangal,’ ‘Baahubali 2,’ ‘Pushpa 2,’ and ‘Dhruva.’ It also made history in the UK and Ireland by becoming the first Indian film to top the box office, overtaking ‘Godzilla minus One.’ In its fifth day of release, the film earned 126 crore rupees in India, marking the highest post-Diwali collection for a Hindi film.
The extensive preparation, from Yash’s 33-kilogram costumes to the intricate design of his jewelry, underscores the detailed effort by the filmmakers to make Ravana a believable and powerful character on screen. The film, featuring Ranveer Kapoor as Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Ravi Dubey as Lakshman, and Sunny Deol as Hanuman, continues to draw audiences worldwide. Its second part is slated for release during Diwali 2028.
