On Sandeep Singh’s historical drama The Pride of Bharat: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, noted costume designer Ashley Rebello will be working alongside Rishab Shetty and his team
Celebrated for his work on films such as Hum Saath Saath Hain, Ek Tha Tiger, and Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, Ashley Rebello believes that Kannada sensation Rishab Shetty would be the ideal actor to portray the venerable Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Ashley Rebello is preparing for one of his most significant endeavors to date: designing clothes for Shetty’s portrayal of the historical figure. Rebello has done a lot of historical study to guarantee grandeur and authenticity in the movie.
Rebello revealed in an exclusive interview with India Today Digital his personal connection to the project, his view on the research-heavy process, and the reasons he is driven to get every element perfect.
RISHAB SHETTY IN & AS ‘CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI MAHARAJ’: BRAND NEW POSTER UNVEILS… On the birth anniversary of #ChhatrapatiShivajiMaharaj, #SandeepSingh and #RishabShetty unveil the #NewPoster of #ThePrideOfBharat: #ChhatrapatiShivajiMaharaj.
— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) February 19, 2025
The film stars #RishabShetty as… pic.twitter.com/5FnR8Tz0Dk
Rebello revealed that his collaboration with filmmaker Sandeep Singh had taken some time. “I design costumes for the whole movie,” he remarked. “Sandeep is a friend; we have tried collaborating previously, but it never worked out. This will be our first trip together, and I’m thrilled that he’s pursuing this as a director in addition to a producer. When he asked me to make the movie, I questioned him, “Are you sure?” and he answered, “Of course, I’m sure.” “But everyone will tell you that you’re against me,” I said to him, and he said, “I don’t care what anybody says.” I know you will do your best for my film and give it your all. His faith in me, therefore, provided me with all the drive I required.
Creating king clothing for a historical movie presents unique challenges, and Rebello is meticulously attending to every detail. “We have quite a few historians on board. We conducted extensive research, including trips to Maharashtra in search of authentic fabrics. We We are still compiling data and ensuring that every element is perfect. Should someone charge me for an error, that’s the end of the matter. Correcting is not possible here. Since it is a film, getting the details right is absolutely vital; it must be visually striking as well as historically accurate. It’s an adaptation of a really outstanding movie; it has to be flawless,” he said.
Striking the ideal mix between history and cinematic appeal, Rebello claims, is difficult. “I find Sanjay Leela Bhansali to have done really brilliantly. Despite portraying them in a glitzy manner that leaves people in awe, he narrates true tales of genuine heroes. “When people watch his movies, they often wonder, “Wow, is this really a part of my culture and legacy?” and want to absolutely replicate that,” said Rebello.
Rebello has been eager to collaborate with Rishab Shetty for some time, and this movie presents that chance—“We’ve met once more but not formally. Have Being from the same village as Rishab and hailing from Karnataka myself, I am especially looking forward to this relationship between us.
He said, “I particularly loved Kantara! As Rishab comes from the same village, I always wanted to collaborate with him. HI was able to produce a film that was both simple and powerful. I used to always wish I could outfit him for one day. This will be my first major bilingual project, as Kannada movies are becoming so well-known, and he is moving into Hindi films.
Although many may find it surprising, Rebello believes that Shetty’s casting as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is the best choice. “Rishab is the right choice to perform Shivaji Maharaj since it is unexpected,” he remarked. Novel ideas attract people, and this one is fresh. He is a perfect fit for a new avatar, as people prefer novelty over repetition. Though Rebello has
Having previously worked on period movies, this project marks his first comprehensive exploration of historical costume design. “I have experience with period movies but never a historical drama. Despite being considered period pictures, I have contributed to films that tackled the issue of partition. Since I have also produced films set in the 1950s and 1960s, they are all period pictures. But this is my first legitimate historical project, he said
As the team gets ready for this significant historical event, Ashley Rebello is painstakingly, authentically, and cinematically bringing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to life.