Indian Icons and Billionaires at Met Gala 2025: A Masterclass in Design, Fashion, and Craftsmanship

The Met Gala 2025, themed “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” was transformed into a global celebration of artistry, heritage, and innovation. Indian celebrities and billionaires didn’t just attend-they set a new benchmark for the red carpet, fusing Indian craftsmanship with the gala’s sharp tailoring and dandyism. Here’s a detailed look at the standout Indian attendees and the exquisite design details behind their show-stopping ensembles.

Shah Rukh Khan: Regal Restraint in Sabyasachi

Making one of the most anticipated debuts in Met Gala history, Shah Rukh Khan redefined understated luxury in a floor-length black wool coat by Sabyasachi. The coat, tailored to perfection, featured clean lines and subtle structure, echoing the theme’s homage to dandyism. SRK’s look was elevated with statement Sabyasachi jewels, most notably an oversized glittering ‘K’ pendant-a nod to his “King Khan” persona-and a cane crowned with a jeweled tiger head. The ensemble was finished with high-waisted black trousers and a crisp white shirt, channeling classic elegance with a contemporary Indian edge. Sabyasachi’s signature attention to detail was evident in the hand-finished seams and subtle embroidery, making the look both globally relevant and deeply personal.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas: Retro Glamour in Balmain

Returning for her fifth Met Gala, Priyanka Chopra Jonas stunned in a custom Balmain polka-dot ensemble by Olivier Rousteing. The look was a masterful play on vintage Hollywood and modern tailoring: a sharply tailored, polka-dot suit-dress with bold shoulders and a cinched waist, exuding both strength and femininity. Her styling-a nod to retro “mob-wife” glamour-was completed with Bulgari High Jewellery, including a show-stopping 241.06-carat emerald necklace, emerald and diamond ring, and platinum earrings. The ensemble’s playful yet precise silhouette, paired with the opulent jewels, embodied the theme’s spirit of storytelling and cross-cultural luxury.

Kiara Advani: Sculptural Maternity by Gaurav Gupta

Kiara Advani’s debut was a poetic highlight, celebrating both motherhood and Indian craftsmanship. She wore a sleek black Gaurav Gupta gown featuring a hand-sculpted antique gold breastplate, encrusted with crystals and droplets. This breastplate, inspired by the bond of motherhood, was both armor and art, merging Indian symbolism with futuristic couture. The gown’s architectural silhouette and flowing train were classic Gupta-dramatic, yet meticulously constructed-while the gold detailing shimmered under the Met’s lights, making her a vision of strength, grace, and innovation.

Isha Ambani: Opulent Heritage by Anamika Khanna

Isha Ambani’s look was a breathtaking tribute to Indian textile artistry and modern tailoring. Designed by Anamika Khanna, the ensemble took over 15,000 hours to create and featured tailored trousers paired with a handwoven Benarasi train, intricately adorned with Zardozi and delicate bow embroidery. The structured silhouette offered a contemporary foundation, while the lavish train and embroidery paid homage to India’s generational craftsmanship. Styled by Anaita Shroff Adajania, Isha accessorized with jewelry from her personal collection, including a vintage-inspired necklace with 89 stones (the largest an 80.73-carat diamond), diamond buttons on her coat, a diamond headpiece, Tiffany & Co. bird rings, and pearl-encrusted birds in her hair. Every element was a conversation between tradition and innovation, reflecting Isha’s role as a passionate patron of Indian arts.

Natasha Poonawalla: Futuristic Empress in Manish Malhotra

Billionaire philanthropist Natasha Poonawalla delivered a couture fantasy in a Manish Malhotra creation that was both futuristic and rooted in Indian heritage. Her indigo and black gown, with a corseted and sculpted bodice, featured intricate hand-embroidered Gara work-a nod to Parsi textile traditions. The look’s exaggerated shoulders, structured peplum, and dramatic white ruff collar framed her face, while cascading pearl strands added celestial drama. Her sleek bun, ethereal makeup, and a single oversized emerald ring completed the look, which Malhotra described as “an exquisite fusion of armour, artistry, and ancestry.” The ensemble was a masterclass in maximalism, blending avant-garde structure with centuries-old craftsmanship.

Mona Patel: Avant-Garde Tailoring by Thom Browne

Entrepreneur Mona Patel turned heads in a sharply tailored Thom Browne suit, featuring a hand-embroidered Indian corset and a sweeping silk cape. The look’s primary palette of black with an ivory lining was punctuated by a beaded, corset-style bodice-painstakingly crafted by Indian artisans. Patel’s look was completed with a scene-stealing robotic dog named Vector, adorned with a 1,000-carat diamond leash, merging fashion, technology, and Indian craftsmanship in a single cinematic moment. The ensemble was “couture drag” at its finest: structured, dramatic, and deeply narrative.

Diljit Dosanjh: Punjabi Royalty Meets Contemporary Couture
Diljit Dosanjh made a powerful and culturally resonant debut at the Met Gala 2025, captivating the world with a look that paid homage to Sikh royalty and Punjabi heritage. Styled by Abhilasha Devnani and designed by Prabal Gurung, Diljit wore an ivory achkan and pajama, layered with a floor-length cape intricately embroidered with floral motifs, the map of Punjab, and the sacred Mool Mantra in Gurmukhi script-a profound nod to his roots. His turban, adorned with a kalgi and white feather plume, evoked the grandeur of Sikh maharajas, while gold threadwork at the neckline and cuffs elevated the ensemble’s regal aura. Layers of opulent jewelry-emeralds, rubies, pearls, and gemstones-reflected the lavishness of historic Indian royalty, and a gold-embroidered waistband cinched the look together. Carrying a ceremonial sword (kirpan), Diljit didn’t just accessorize; he made a statement about identity, valor, and tradition, redefining what it means to represent one’s culture on fashion’s grandest stage.

Manish Malhotra: Maximalist Couture and Indian Craftsmanship

Manish Malhotra, making his own Met Gala debut, delivered a masterclass in maximalist couture and Indian craftsmanship. His dramatic ensemble featured a sharply tailored white shirt with voluminous bishop sleeves, impeccably cut black trousers, and a structured waistcoat, all layered beneath a sweeping velvet cape coat lavishly embroidered in gold and silver threadwork. The intricate embellishments paid tribute to the richness of South Asian couture while aligning seamlessly with the gala’s theme of dandyism and tailored excellence. Malhotra’s look was punctuated by a cluster of brooches-tigers, elephants, and emerald-studded pieces-each a symbol of strength, legacy, and Indian heritage. A standout golden elephant-face brooch on his overcoat and rugged black combat boots added both symbolic depth and an unexpected edge. With every detail thoughtfully curated, Manish Malhotra didn’t just attend the Met Gala-he owned it, bringing a uniquely Indian voice to the global fashion conversation and reminding the world of the opulence, storytelling, and innovation that define Indian couture

The Verdict: Indian Fashion’s Global Triumph

This year’s Met Gala red carpet was a testament to the power of Indian design, craftsmanship, and cultural storytelling. From SRK’s regal debut and Kiara’s sculptural maternity to Isha Ambani’s opulent heritage and Natasha Poonawalla’s futuristic maximalism, each look was a dialogue between past and future, tradition and reinvention. The meticulous attention to detail-from hand-embroidered textiles to rare jewels-underscored the global relevance and enduring artistry of Indian fashion on the world’s most prestigious stage