A demon king, a formidable warrior and one of Lord Shiva’s most devoted followers: Ravana was never going to be a character whose presence could be conveyed through an ordinary costume. In Ramayana: Part
1, Yash’s transformation into the King of Lanka comes with a striking visual language of its own, and much of it rests on the jewellery.
From imposing chest plates and oversized bracelets to snake motifs, demon faces and Lord Shiva’s trishul, every ornament has a role to play. The idea was not simply to make Ravana look regal, but to bring out the contradictions that define his character.
Behind this elaborate visual identity is House of Amrapali, the film’s official jewellery partner. In an exclusive conversation with NDTV, Tarang Arora, Creative Head of House of Amrapali, revealed how the team approached Ravana’s jewellery and the craftsmanship that went into creating it.
According to Arora, the brand created 13 jewellery looks for Yash’s character, with each look comprising approximately eight to 10 pieces. That brings the total to anywhere between 104 and 130 ornaments. The jewellery worn in each look weighed approximately 6–7 kg.
Why Ravana’s jewellery had to look different
The first challenge was establishing a visual distinction between the worlds of Ayodhya and Lanka. While Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshman spend much of the story in exile, their costumes and accessories reflect a comparatively restrained, ascetic lifestyle. Their jewellery includes elements such as rudraksha earrings, arm cuffs and neckpieces.
Lanka, on the other hand, needed to communicate wealth and grandeur. As Arora explained in his conversation with NDTV, the kingdom is traditionally believed to be built of gold, so its visual representation had to reflect that opulence.
For Ravana, this meant going bigger, bolder and more dramatic. His jewellery was designed to make a statement even before he spoke, with oversized silhouettes and intricate details that reinforced his position as a powerful king.
Snakes, demon faces and Shiva’s trishul: The details behind the designs
What makes Ravana’s jewellery particularly interesting is the symbolism woven into it. The designs were not limited to conventional royal motifs. Instead, the artisans incorporated elements that reflected his devotion to Lord Shiva as well as his darker, more fearsome personality.
Snake motifs feature prominently because Ravana is regarded as a staunch devotee of Shiva. The chest plates and handcuffs also carry demon-face detailing, while lions and Shiva’s trishul appear among the carved elements.
The colour palette follows a similar approach. Rather than relying entirely on bright gold, the brass and gold-plated pieces feature darker shades of blue, black and green, along with strong metallic tones. The result is a more dramatic interpretation of royal jewellery, one that feels powerful and slightly intimidating.
It is this combination of religious symbolism and warrior-like detailing that gives the ornaments their distinct identity.
The six-kilogram challenge: Making heavy jewellery comfortable for Yash
One of the most elaborate pieces created for Ravana is a massive chest plate, which viewers can spot in the sequence where he addresses his people from a cliff.
Handcrafted by the brand’s artisans, the piece required considerable time and attention. But its visual impact was only one part of the brief. Since Yash would have to wear the jewellery for extended periods while shooting, the designers also had to consider comfort and movement.
Speaking to NDTV, Arora explained that the team added soft linings underneath the chest plate so that it would not feel excessively rigid against the actor’s body. The intention was to preserve its imposing appearance without making it impractical to wear.
The same attention went into the bracelets and anklets. The artisans even wore the pieces themselves to test how they felt, checking whether the designs allowed ease of movement and whether the metal caused discomfort.
It was a reminder that film jewellery has to work in two very different worlds: it must look convincing on screen while remaining functional on set.
13 looks, multiple redesigns and hours of craftsmanship
Creating jewellery for Ravana was not a straightforward exercise in scaling up traditional ornaments. The designers had to balance several aspects of his personality — his royal stature, his identity as a warrior, his association with demons and, importantly, his devotion to Lord Shiva.
Arora told NDTV that Ravana’s pieces were among the most challenging to design, with multiple rounds of redesigning involved. The chest plate, in particular, demanded careful work from the artisans, given its size, detailing and practical requirements.
The Ravana collection was part of a much larger undertaking. In an earlier interview with NDTV, Arora had revealed that House of Amrapali created more than 4,500 jewellery pieces over 18 months for the film. The larger collection was designed to give the different characters and kingdoms their own visual identities.
For Ravana, however, the brief was especially demanding. His jewellery had to be extravagant without looking ornamental for ornament’s sake. Every snake, trishul, demon face and metallic detail needed to contribute to the character.
And that is perhaps what makes the finished look so striking. Yash’s Ravana does not merely wear jewellery; his ornaments become an extension of his power, his faith and his formidable presence as the King of Lanka.
