Mumbai, May 5: Filmmaker Karan Johar made his Met Gala debut in a bespoke outfit by designer Manish Malhotra that draws inspiration from the works of celebrated Indian painter Raja Ravi Varma.
The outfit, titled ‘Framed in Eternity’, features Johar in a power-shouldered vintage jacket over a hand-painted cape approximately six feet in length. The piece was created by over 80 artisans over 85 days.
Johar, 53, accessorised the look with a multi-gemstone necklace and rings from his jewellery brand Tyaani.
The visual language of the outfit draws directly from Varma’s works, including Lady with the Peach, Hamsa Damayanti, Kadambari, Arjuna and Subhadra, and There Comes Papa.
“It’s amazing to represent your nation, your culture and heritage on a global platform as magnificent as the Met, which truly signifies the work of art. Today’s theme really beautifully blends fashion and art, and I couldn’t have chosen a better debut on a theme like this,” Johar told reporters at the red carpet of the fashion gala, which is held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City every year in May.
This year’s Met Gala theme is “Costume Art” with the dress code titled “Fashion is Art”. The event, considered one of the biggest nights in global fashion, is co-chaired by Beyonce, Venus Williams, Nicole Kidman and Anna Wintour.
Describing his experience on the red carpet, he said it was “exhilarating, nervous and also heavy in equal measure”.
Paying tribute to both his designer and the artist who inspired the look, the filmmaker said, “Manish Malhotra is a magnificent, famous Indian designer. This is a tribute to Raja Ravi Varma, a glorious artist who did the most magnificent work of the 19th century. I’m just very happy to pay homage to him and to Manish Malhotra.”
One of India’s most celebrated names in filmmaking with titles such as “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai”, “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham”, “My Name is Khan” and “Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani”, Johar has become the first director to represent India at the event that has seen the presence of celebrities like Shah Rukh Khan, Alia Bhatt, Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra Jonas in the past.
At the red carpet, Johar said he is looking forward to meet Sabrina Carpenter as his daughter Roohi is a huge fan of the globally-popular singer.
“My daughter told me that I must meet Sabrina Carpenter. So I have to meet her because it’s her dream come true if I do meet her,” he added.
Johar’s Met Gala look was developed with stylist Eka Lakhani in collaboration with Malhotra, who has often dressed the filmmaker and his many stars in films and outside of it.
Malhotra, who also attended the event, said Johar’s outfit was a tribute to the skilled craftspeople behind it.
“These are all the skilled workers who worked on the garment — from the design team to the tailors to all the artisans. I’m honouring all the artisans tonight on this beautiful carpet,” he said.
The designer said the signatures of his entire atelier featured on the outfit.
“On a carpet like this, which is so grand and the best, we need to honour all of the artisans who work backstage,” Malhotra added.
Malhotra designed his own outfit for the evening. He wore a black ensemble featuring elaborate white three-dimensional sculptural embellishments on the shoulders and sleeves. (PTI)
