Filmmaker Karan Johar made his Met Gala 2026 debut in a look rooted in Indian art and craft. Dressed in a bespoke ensemble by Manish Malhotra, he drew inspiration from the works of Raja Ravi Varma, in line with the theme Costume Art and dress code Fashion is Art at the New York event.
Titled Framed in Eternity, the outfit featured Johar, 53, in a structured, power-shouldered vintage jacket layered over a hand-painted cape extending nearly six feet. The cape, intricately detailed, was created over 85 days by a team of more than 80 artisans.
He completed the look with a multi-gemstone necklace and rings from his jewellery label Tyaani, later sharing glimpses of his debut on Instagram.
The ensemble was developed in collaboration with stylist Eka Lakhani and Malhotra, a long-time creative partner. “With Manish, there’s no translation needed. We’ve worked together for so long that there’s an instinct there. I knew if I was doing this, it had to be with him,” Johar said.
Take a look at his look here:
Johar added that his inspiration came from a long-standing admiration for Ravi Varma’s work. “For me, it had to feel personal. The moment it felt personal, it became Indian, because that’s where everything I know comes from. Every story I’ve told, every film I’ve made, every emotion I’ve tried to portray on screen comes from this place. Raja Ravi Varma felt right because his work does something I’ve always tried to do in cinema. He painted feelings,” he said.
The ensemble incorporated visual references from some of Ravi Varma’s most recognised works, including Lady with the Peach, Hamsa Damayanti, Kadambari, Arjuna and Subhadra, and There Comes Papa.
Reflecting on his debut, Johar said he wanted his presence to feel authentic rather than explanatory.
“I didn’t want to arrive here trying to explain India. I wanted to arrive feeling like myself, and that automatically brings everything I come from with it,” he said.
Take a look at KJo’s look from the Met red carpet:
Calling the look an expression of personal inheritance, Johar added, “This is my way of wearing that inheritance. It felt like the most honest thing I could have done for my first Met – to arrive not with a concept, but with a feeling I’ve carried my whole life and finally found the right form for.”
Widely regarded as one of fashion’s most-watched nights, the Met Gala 2026 was co-chaired by Beyonce, Venus Williams, Nicole Kidman and Anna Wintour.
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