Rekha Boggarapu, who designed costumes for all the characters in the Telugu film Miraiexcept lead actor Teja Sajja, says she feels both relieved and proud of what she calls one of her most challenging assignments. She credits cinematographer-director Karthik Gattamneni and his team for their meticulous documentation and communication at every stage. “We were clear about every character’s backstory, the production design, colours and textures,” she notes.
Rekha began designing for films with the 2018 spy thriller Goodachari, followed by Major, Adivi Sesh’s role in HIT 2, and portions of Gaami, along with several music videos and web series.
Law to fashion design
Fashion design and cinema were not easy career choices, Rekha recalls. Armed with a postgraduate degree in constitutional law and diplomas in forensic sciences and fashion design, she laughs when asked about the eclectic mix. “I come from a family that’s academically inclined. My grandfather is a retired headmaster, my mother is an educationist and my father is a lawyer with the Crime Branch, Crime Investigation Department (CBCID).”
Rekha excelled in academics but was not drawn to medicine or engineering. When she told her parents that she wanted to do something creative, there was resistance initially. “I studied law. After completing the course, I felt the need to step out of the comfort zone created by my parents.”
Shriya as Ambica; a sketch of her ensemble
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
She persuaded her family to let her open a boutique and begin designing. Then came an unexpected break: an actor walked in and asked if she could create clothes for a photoshoot. That encounter set off a chain of opportunities. The same actor mentioned her to a film team in search of a costume designer. “That’s how I met director Sashi Kiran Tikka, actor Adivi Sesh and the team of Goodachari.”
Keep it real
Rekha prefers her characters to appear as realistic as possible on screen, an approach that proved effective in Goodachari and Major. “It was a proud moment when the Indian Army raised no objections to the costume designs for Major (the biopic of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan) during approval. The uniforms for army personnel and police officers were deliberately understated so they wouldn’t draw attention,” she recalls.
Since then, she has followed a non-negotiable principle: understand the characters and their stories thoroughly. “Knowing a character’s background, education, problem-solving style, and so on makes designing much easier.”
Films such as Gaamiand Mirai required her to create looks for imagined worlds. She worked on portions of Gaami before taking a maternity break.
Mirai offered Rekha a broader canvas, with characters played by Shriya Saran, Manchu Manoj, Jayaram, Jagapathi Babu, Ritika Nayak, as well as supporting and junior artistes. “It was challenging because we didn’t take references from international cinema for any of the looks,” she says.
For Shriya, who plays Ambica, the head of a spiritual clan, Rekha layered silk and velvet. “In the self-immolation scene, five different fabrics were used: a silk skirt, a raw silk blouse with crochet lace, a Chinon silk dupatta with velvet accents, and so on. Shriya’s look was rich yet understated, reflecting a wise woman who could foresee the future.” By contrast, Ritika Nayak, portraying a young sadhvi, wore garments in soft cottons.
Colours and textures
Rekha also incorporated curtains, throws and blankets to add texture, blending them with traditional fabrics. Jayaram, playing the sage Agastya, was dressed in shawls with bordered edges and given subtle details, including long, dark nails that were barely visible on screen.
Manchu Manoj, portraying Mahavir Lama, the malevolent figure wielding the black sword, was dressed in layers of red, black and brown. “His clothing had several layers, symbolising the steps he must cross to achieve his destructive ambitions. Given his dark childhood, nothing in his attire suggests hope. The fabrics have a subtle lustre, reflecting the wealth he has acquired along with his power,” she explains.
Shades of black
Rekha notes a similarity between Manoj and Jagapathi Babu, who plays the elder guardian of one of the seven granths. “The black in their costumes signifies mastery of black magic. But Jagapathi Babu’s character uses his knowledge for the benefit of others, so the black is softened with streaks of red and orange.”
Manchu Manoj as the Black Sword; a sketch of his ensemble
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
She admits she lost count of the number of characters she designed. Some scenes — including portions set at the Kumbh Mela and a song featuring Nidhhi Agerwal with several dancers — were edited to reduce the film’s duration. Other sequences required costumes for characters based in Japan and Morocco. “Since the film was shot over a long period, a few of my assistants moved on. At any given time, I had a team of two to ten on set to streamline production and fittings.”
Rekha chose not to design for Teja Sajja’s superhero, Superyodha. “It would have been overwhelming. A week into filming, when the makers suggested bringing someone else on board, I agreed. Lanka Santoshi, who has designed for Teja’s previous films including Hanu-Man, took over.”
Currently, she is working on Goodachari’s sequel G2, Dacoit starring Adivi Sesh and Mrunal Thakur, Dandora with Sivaji and Laya, and a new film with Sharwanand. “Among them, Dandora is a smaller film with a hard-hitting, moving story,” she says.
What has made her journey worthwhile is seeing her parents watch Mirai and appreciate her work. “I now understand their initial reluctance to let me pursue this path. I’m glad they are proud of what I’ve achieved.”
Published – September 19, 2025 12:36 pm IST
