Who Wore Whom?
Ananya Birla
Ananya Birla, daughter of billionaire Kumar Mangalam Birla, appeared in a dramatic all-black couture ensemble that blurred the lines between identity and wearable sculpture. Styled by Rhea Kapoor, Birla’s look featured a custom ensemble by London-based designer Robert Wun and a metallic facepiece by Indian artist Subodh Gupta. Her sculptural mask, created by Subodh Gupta, was crafted from stainless steel household silverware, including spoons and dabbas, transforming everyday Indian kitchen items into a futuristic piece of “armor”. Birla completed the avant-garde look with a natural diamond necklace and solitaires from Mehta & Sons.
Bhavitha Mandava
Indian model Bhavitha Mandava, Chanel’s first Indian brand ambassador, made her Met Gala debut in a controversial custom Chanel ensemble consisting of a sheer beige chiffon blouse and straight-leg jeans. Though her outfit raised eyebrows with its seeming simplicity, the pants were actually haute couture silk-muslin with a “blue denim effect,” and reportedly took 250 hours to create in Chanel’s ateliers. Apparently, the look was a high-fashion recreation of the outfit Mandava was wearing when she was first scouted on a New York City subway platform in 2024.
Ashley Simone
Ashley Simone, the British actress and star of Bridgerton and The Devil Wears Prada 2, wore a striking “nearly-naked” custom gown by Stella McCartney. Her draped chain silver minidress was sustainable, crafted from 70% repurposed Falabella chains and threads from McCartney’s London atelier, and accessorized with diamond pieces from De Beers.
Sudha Reddy
Hyderabad’s billionaire philanthropist Sudha Reddy paid homage to South Indian heritage by championing the centuries-old textile art form Kalamkari in custom Manish Malhotra ‘Tree Of Life’ couture that took 3,459 hours and 90 artisans to create. It was conceived in collaboration with global celebrity stylist Mariel Haenn.
Isha Ambani
Daughter of billionaire industrialists Mukesh and Nita Ambani, Isha Ambani wore a custom Gaurav Gupta saree that paid tribute to centuries of Indian art and heritage. Her blouse was embellished with more than 1,000 diamonds and precious stones, totaling over 1,800 carats, and was crafted by 40 artisans from across India.
Isha Ambani at the Met Gala 2026 (image source: Instagram)
Karan Johar
Indian filmmaker Karan Johar wore a custom-designed Manish Malhotra outfit titled “Framed in Eternity,” which featured a structured jacket paired with a dramatic, six-foot, hand-painted cape. The design was inspired by the works of legendary Indian painter Raja Ravi Varma, featuring intricate Zardozi embroidery and 3D imaging, and was created over 86 days, involving approximately 5,800 hours of labor by skilled artisans.
Diljit Dosanjh
Though he did not attend this year’s gala, Punjabi musician Diljit Dosanjh dazzled in a “Desi Dandy” ensemble by Prabal Gurung in 2025. He wore an ivory-and-gold custom sherwani, a tehmat (a draped lower garment), and a stunning cape with detailed embroidery, including a map of Punjab. His traditional turban was adorned with a lion-headed, jewel-studded kirpan, symbolizing Sikh pride and regal power. His look was inspired by Maharajah Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, featuring jewelry by Golecha Jewels.
