In his pursuit of showcasing Indian craftsmanship, Gaurang had the honour of working on Mahanati—a Telugu film based on the life of legendary actress Savitri, who rose to fame in the 1950s and is often hailed as India's first female superstar. A celebrated style icon of her time, Savitri was the perfect muse. However, recreating her iconic wardrobe for the character—portrayed by Keerthy Suresh—came with its own set of challenges. Gaurang and his team spent several months researching archival images, studying period-specific colour palettes, materials, and garment cuts. Exact replicas of sarees and ghagras were painstakingly crafted. The project brought together over 100 artisans across more than four locations and took over a year to complete, highlighting the scale and depth of craftsmanship behind the screen.

Winner, Best Costume Design, 2018
66th National Film Awards