Karan Johar’s style at debut Met Gala is a tribute to Raja Ravi Varma’s iconic art
Karan Johar made his Met Gala debut in New York wearing a Manish Malhotra dress inspired by Raja Ravi Varma. The hand-painted look turned her first appearance into a personal tribute to Indian art and identity.
Filmmaker Karan Johar kicked off the Met Gala 2026 in a look inspired by Indian arts and crafts. Wearing an outfit designed by Manish Malhotra, she took inspiration from the works of Raja Ravi Varma, in line with the costume art and dress code fashion is art theme at the New York event.
The outfit, titled Framed in Eternity, had Johar, 53, wearing a structured, power-shouldered vintage jacket over a hand-painted cape that spanned nearly six feet. This intricately detailed cape was created in 85 days by a team of over 80 artisans.
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She completed the look with multi-gemstone necklaces and rings from her jewelery label Tyani, later sharing glimpses of her debut on Instagram.
The ensemble was developed in collaboration with stylist Eka Lakhani and longtime creative partner Malhotra. Johar said, “With Manish, there is no translation needed. We have worked together for so long that there is an instinct there. I knew if I was doing it, it should be with him.”
See her look here:
Johar said that his inspiration came from his long-standing admiration for Ravi Varma’s work. “For me, it had to feel personal. The moment it felt personal, it became Indian, because everything I know comes from here. Every story I have told, every film I have made, every emotion I have tried to portray on screen comes from this place. Raja Ravi Varma felt right because his work does something I have always tried to do in cinema. He portrayed emotions,” he said.
The set included visual references to some of Ravi Varma’s most recognized works, including Lady with the Peach, Hamsa Damayanti, Kadambari, Arjun and Subhadra and There Comes Papa.
Reflecting on his debut, Johar said that he wanted his appearance to feel authentic rather than interpretive.
He said, “I didn’t want to come here trying to explain India. I wanted to come here feeling like I belong and that it brings with it everything from where I come from.”
Take a look at KJo’s look from the Met red carpet:
Describing the look as an expression of personal heritage, Johar said, “This is my way of wearing that heritage. It felt like it was the most honest thing I could do for my first Met – not with a concept, but with a feeling that I’ve carried my whole life and I finally got the right look for it.”
Widely considered one of fashion’s most-watched nights, the Met Gala 2026 was co-chaired by Beyoncé, Venus Williams, Nicole Kidman, and Anna Wintour.