23 Actors Who Got Through A Film In One Costume

In the course of a Hindi Film, there are frequent costume changes portraying the “larger-than-life” realities of the lead characters (especially during Songs). But there are a few films that maintained the authenticity of the story with limited or no costume changes for their main characters.

Actor Jagdish Raj set the Guinness Record for portraying a Police Officer  “144” times on screen and probably spent his entire career in the same costume. Also, some legendary Villains had a unique get-up which remained unchanged throughout the films. There are certain characters like Vijay e.g. in DON who wears a Pink Coat and a Yellow bow tie with a waistcoat for most of the second half in the film. Same goes for Shahid Kapoor in Bloody Daddy where he changes 2-3 jackets and remains dressed in a Black Suit for most of the film. But the following Characters carried the Story ahead without changing their costumes for the role.

1. MARIA (Katrina Kaif) & ALBERT (Vijay Sethupathi): MERRY CHRISTMAS (2024)

An encounter between the protagonists grows into an alluring connection over the course of a Christmas Eve on the streets of BOMBAY.  The movie ends after the day begins and the Actors complete it without changing their costumes. Katrina arrives at the Police station in a White Dress though but that’s fair enough.

2. RILEEN (Saif Ali Khan): KAALAKAANDI (2018)

Rileen receives news of his last-stage Cancer and is heartbroken. He spends that night living his life to the fullest.

3. SAMEER MEHRA (Emraan Hashmi): CHEHRE (2021)

A business tycoon takes shelter at an old man’s home in the mountains amidst a dangerous snow storm.

4. MEERA (Anushka Sharma): NH10 (2015)

While on a road trip, a couple witness an honour killing and run into trouble. What follows is a gruesome fight for survival over the next hours before they head back to the city. The next day she’s seen presenting research on the marketing of sanitary towels in a swish conference room in a new dress but for the entire film she carries herself in a Striped Top and a Yellow Hoodie.

5. CHAMELI (Kareena Kapoor Khan): CHAMELI (2003)

A banker and a sex-worker meet, while taking shelter from the rains and get busy fending away intrusions by police & pimps.  The entire film is shot in a single costume.

6. LAKHNA (Sushant Singh Rajput): SONCHIRIYA (2019)

To maintain the rustic look, the entire cast of Sonchiriya wore one single outfit throughout the film’s shooting. The makers of the film left no stone unturned in maintaining the authenticity of the dacoit era.

7. NAMELESS (Ma’am) (Urmila Matondkar): KAUN (1999)

Ram Gopal Verma’s experimental thriller, starring just three characters, has a girl alone in a mansion with two strangers gaining entry.  She changes her clothes only in the last scene when she is setting up the scene for a repetition.

8. CIRCUIT (Arshad Warsi): Munnabhai M.B.B.S. (2003)/Lage Raho Munnabhai (2006)

For both films, CIRCUIT maintains the loveable goon’s attire (Black long Kurta, Blue Jeans & multiple Golden Chains). Only for a brief scene he wears a doctor’s costume in Munna Bhai’s fake clinic.

9. SUBHASH NAGRE (Amitabh Bachchan): SARKAR (2005)

A black Lungi, a Black short-sleeved Kurta unstitched at the neck, Red Tilak & Rudraksh Beads wound around his hand was the attire of Subhash Nagre. When he is in hospital and recuperating at home, he wears a white shawl.

10. AJAY DESAI (Ajay Devgn): ZAKHM (1998)

After learning about the communal attack on his mother, Ajay is struggling to  keep the rioters away and organize a treatment for his mother while coming to terms with her identity. He lives the hours in a Blue Shirt and Khaki Trousers.

11. NILESH RASTOGI (Abhay Deol): EK CHALIS KI LAST LOCAL (2007)

A Call-centre executive misses the last train of the night and spends two and a half hours waiting for the next one. A chain of events follow and his life changes. Only in the last scene, which is 3 weeks after the events, he wears a different costume.

12. THE COMMON MAN/PRAKASH RATHORE (Naseeruddin Shah/Anupam Kher): A WEDNESDAY (2008)

The Mumbai Police Commissioner, with his entire force, chases an unnamed man who wants 4 terrorists released in exchange for not detonating 5 bombs in the city. The Commissioner wears a White Linen Shirt with Khaki Trousers while the common man is wearing a Checked Shirt and Black Trousers.

13. RAJJO (Madhuri Dixit): GULAAB GANG (2014)

The film, Gulab Gang, was inspired by the true events of a gang that started off as a movement against the government, and held their identity distinctly by wearing pink sarees. Madhuri wears a Pink Saree throughout the film with different blouses.

14. ARUN VERMA (Anil Kapoor): MR. INDIA (1987)

The violin teachers and the messiah of orphans, wears a Floppy Hat, a dirty White shirt, a Brown Coat with a button pinned to it with Black Pants (a permanent stubble) throughout the film.

15. AZAAD (Amitabh Bachchan): MAIN AZAAD HOON (1989)

An anonymous citizen takes on the establishment in this film where Amitabh Bachchan wears a Heavy Coat (with sewn-on patches) and a Chequered Muffler and Heavy Army Boots with Pants. Occasionally, he drops one of more of the elements of this overall costume but remains faithful to the general ensemble.

16. GEETA (Rani Mukherjee): THODA PYAAR THODA MAGIC (2008)

In Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic, Rani Mukherjee plays the role of an angel. With elements of the supernatural, and to make her distinct from the rest of the characters, her outfit sort of became a uniform in the film.

17.  RAGHU (Rajesh Khanna): BAWARCHI (1972)

The superstar dropped his glamorous image and wore a Khaki Shirt with three-quarter Pants and a White Gandhi Topi for the role. Only for a dream sequence as a bullock cart driver and as a Dance Guru during a dance performance, he changed the costumes.

18. ANIL (Sunil Dutt): YAADEIN (1964)

Sunil Dutt plays an angst-ridded family man who comes home from work and finds his family missing. He goes into a brood-fest that escalates quickly to suicidal thoughts. For a few flashbacks & delusions, we see him in different attire.

19. ENTIRE CAST (EK RUKKA HUA FAISLA: 1986)

The remake of TWELVE ANGRY MEN, this film shows 2 hours of jury discussions during which all jurors are locked in a room.

20. A PEASANT (Raj Kapoor): JAAGTE RAHO (1956)

A nameless villager bumbles into Bombay households searching for a glass of water.

21. MOGAMBO (Amrish Puri): MR. INDIA (1987)

Mogambo is a criminal whose goal is to conquer India.

22. SHAKAAL (Kulbhushan Kharbanda): SHAAN (1980)

Shakaal is an international crime-lord who is operating from a remote island outside India.

23.  GABBAR SINGH (Amjad Khan): SHOLAY (1975)

The legendary Villain’s Get-Up remained unchanged for the entire film.

Kindly add to the blog if there is any other role which I have missed.