Aishwarya Rai and Neeta Lulla have been friends for a long time. The ace designer has benefited from her association with the star. However, their purani dosti and professional relationship has gone sour.
Ash and Neeta have been friends for 11 years. Neeta has designed Ash’s gorgeous clothes in Devdas, Umrao Jaan, Taal and Jodhaa Akbar while her designs for Ash’s Cannes appearances were not so successful and Ash was panned for her bad fashion sense.A source tells us that problems between Ash and Neeta started during Jodhaa Akbar when the actress and the designer didn’t agree on the designs. The costumes were an important and integral part of the film and won the designer many accolades. Professional Ash, who looked every inch the Rajput princes in those extravagant outfits, didn’t voice her opinion while promoting the film.
“The final straw came when Neeta chose Sushmita Sen as her showstopper at a fashion week last year. This didn’t go down well with Ash at all because Sushmita is her rival. Ash saw it as an act of disloyalty and was miffed with Neeta. She has not walked for the designer at any of her shows lately. Even at her most recent show which opened the ongoing fashion week, Sameera Reddy was the showstopper. Ash is in Goa shooting for Guzaarish but she could have easily taken a day off for Neeta’s show. It has been a while since Ash graced the ramp, her last ramp appearance being a Longines event almost a year ago. Ash also didn’t attend Neeta’s daughter Nishka’s store launch a few weeks ago. They have hardly been seen together since Jodhaa Akbar’s promotions last year. Ash has chosen the creation of other designers like Manish Malhotra, Sabyasachi and Gauri-Nainika to wear to events, award functions and premieres. Neeta isn’t even designing for films like Action Replayy, Guzaarish, Raavana and Endhiran.”
Now Neeta is trying to get back into Ash’s good books by messaging and calling her to apologize but Ash is only cordial with her. The warmth is missing. When contacted, Neeta denied any rifts in their relationship.
