Karan Johar’s Met Gala Look Pays Tribute to Raja Ravi Varma

Filmmaker Karan Johar walked the carpet at this year’s Met Gala wearing a custom ensemble designed by Manish Malhotra.

The outfit was conceived as a tribute to renowned Indian painter Raja Ravi Varma. Stylist Eka Lakhani said the idea of drawing inspiration from Varma’s work came directly from Johar himself. In a recent Instagram post, Johar wrote, “Raja Ravi Varma felt right because his work does something I’ve always tried to do in cinema. He painted feelings.”

Lakhani also shared in an Instagram post that working on the ensemble brought back personal memories, noting that Varma’s art had first inspired her interest in costume design.

The outfit featured an embroidered black bandhgala paired with a six-foot hand-painted cape depicting scenes inspired by Varma’s paintings. According to the designers, the creation took more than 5,600 hours to complete and incorporated techniques including 3D sculpting, quilting, hand painting, and traditional zardozi embroidery. Johar’s jewelry featured natural gemstones inspired by India’s royal heritage and the aesthetic traditions of maharajas. The overall ensemble was envisioned as a celebration of Indian art, craftsmanship, and cultural heritage.

Johar emphasized that preserving the authenticity of the craftsmanship was a central priority throughout the process. In an interview with Vogue India, he said, “I was very clear from the beginning that nothing could be simulated or cut short. No print, no digital intervention, no approximation. Every brushstroke had to be real. Every embroidered detail had to be earned.”

The filmmaker, who began his career in costume design, said he has long connected with Varma’s artistic vision. Johar noted that costume design has always played an important role in his films, contributing to the emotional depth and identity of his characters. He added that Varma’s paintings, known for their intricate textures and draping, demonstrate how clothing and movement can reveal aspects of a character’s personality and emotional state.

For Johar, Varma’s work continues to represent the idea of fashion as an art form, a theme he said he has explored throughout his creative career.

Related posts:

“Queenissima” Shines at Art Basel 2025 With Bold Eco-Fashion and Wearable Art Movement Two Iconic Filmmaker-Actor Teams Reunite: Priyadarshan-Akshay and RGV-Manoj Rani Mukerji Looks Back at Her Splendiferous Journey Indian American Rahul Varma Named Acting Director of CFTC’s Division of Market Oversight