Genelia Deshmukh calls Nauvari saree a ‘little piece of her roots’

Mumbai: Actress Genelia Deshmukh has described wearing a traditional Nauvari saree as a deeply personal expression of her heritage, calling it “a little piece of my roots” that she carries wherever she goes.

The actress wore a bespoke soft pink Nauvari saree crafted in Ahimsa silk with a Himroo weave at the trailer launch of her upcoming historical drama Raja Shivaji. Sharing her thoughts on Instagram, she said the outfit felt close to her identity and values.

“Wore something that felt close to me—a Nauvari saree. A little piece of my roots, something I carry with me wherever I go. The Himroo weave and Ahimsa silk fabric makes it so mindful and so special. And this soft pink… just reminds me that strength can be gentle, and grace can be so powerful,” she wrote.

The film, directed by her husband Riteish Deshmukh, chronicles the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, focusing on his early journey and battles against the Mughals in his quest to establish swaraj. Riteish plays the titular role, while Genelia portrays his wife, Saibai.

Raja Shivaji is set for a worldwide multilingual release on May 1, 2026, and features large-scale sets designed to recreate the grandeur of 16th-century Maharashtra.

Genelia and Riteish’s relationship dates back to their debut film Tujhe Meri Kasam in 2003. They married in 2012 and have two sons, Riaan and Rahyl.

With inputs from IANS