Met Gala: Ambani Jewels, Malhotra & His Designs, Some Experimentation
Pic Credit- Karan Johar Instagram
India-West News Desk
NEW YORK, NY – A showing of Indian fashion, cinema and high society marked this year’s Met Gala, as designers brought heritage craftsmanship and contemporary experimentation to one of fashion’s most watched red carpets.
Filmmaker Karan Johar made his debut at the event, calling it a full circle moment. Dressed in an ensemble by Manish Malhotra, Johar’s look drew from the works of painter Raja Ravi Varma, aligning with the evening’s artistic theme. “From loving cinema and costume as a wide-eyed dreamer to standing on the steps of THE Met Gala… life really does come full circle in the most unexpected ways. This moment wasn’t just about fashion for me,” Johar wrote, adding that the outfit was “about taking the legacy of Raja Ravi Varma and letting it live again… this time, not on canvas, but in motion.”
The gala, a fundraiser for the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is known for its thematic celebration of fashion as art, a concept reflected in several Indian appearances this year.
Malhotra himself appeared in a sharply tailored bandhgala layered with a dramatic cape, a creation that reportedly involved over 960 hours of craftsmanship by more than 50 artisans across Mumbai and Delhi.
He also styled philanthropist Sudha Reddy embraced textile heritage in a kalamkari-inspired outfit by Malhotra, complemented by a striking 550-carat tanzanite pendant valued at $15 million.
Among the standout looks, businesswoman Isha Ambani wore a sculptural gold sari-inspired ensemble by Gaurav Gupta, styled by Anaita Shroff Adajania. The daughter of Mukesh Ambani, true to her family’s style, dripped in gems making a point of their wealth. She wore more than 1,000 gemstones totaling over 1,800 carats, blending heirloom diamonds from mother Nita Ambani’s collection which was made to sound as legacy and honoring of family.
Royal presence was also noted, with Gauravi Kumari and Sawai Padmanabh Singh attending in understated elegance. Their ensemble by Prabal Gurung was quiet and spoke of being comfortable in the spotlight – as if it were an everyday occurrence.
Entrepreneur and singer Ananya Birla opted for a more experimental approach, wearing a sculpted black blazer by Robert Wun, paired with a mask by artist Subodh Gupta. Styled by Rhea Kapoor, the look fused performance art with minimalist couture.
Meanwhile, Natasha Poonawalla leaned into couture spectacle, wearing a sculptural creation by Marc Quinn paired with Dolce & Gabbana, featuring a dramatic floral structure that transformed her silhouette into a wearable art piece.
From archival inspirations to avant-garde silhouettes, Indian attendees at this year’s Met Gala underscored fashion’s evolving dialogue between tradition and global modernity, positioning craftsmanship not just as adornment but as narrative.
