Indian superstar Shah Rukh Khan made his Met Gala debut on Monday, making history as the first Bollywood actor to attend the annual fundraiser, one of the biggest nights in fashion.
The suggested dress code this year was Tailored for You, inspired by black dandyism and the Metropolitan Museum of Art's latest exhibition, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.
Khan arrived with acclaimed designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee, who dressed him in an all-black ensemble. Khan's look featured a single-breasted, floor-length, elongated coat with wide lapels. He accessorised with jewellery, including one piece with a giant bejewelled "K", and a walking cane.
“Shah Rukh Khan is one of the greatest superstars in the world. A cinematic hero, his blockbuster performances and leading-man charisma have created a legendary international fan following. My interpretation of the black dandy is demonstrating his superstardom on a global stage," Sabyasachi said on Instagram.
Bollywood actress Kiara Advani also made her Met Gala debut, showing off her baby bump in a black gown embellished with a golden breastplate, designed by Gaurav Gupta. The breastplate, in the shape of two hearts linked by a chain, represented mother and child, connected by an abstract umbilical cord.
Advani, who is expecting her first child with actor Siddharth Malhotra, finished her look with a long train, an homage to the late Andre Leon Talley, the fashion icon who made history as the first black creative director of Vogue.
Singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh also made his Met Gala debut, and honoured his Punjabi culture and Indian royalty. He was dressed like a king in an all-white ensemble by Nepali-American designer Prabal Gurung, a look that featured a sherwani and elaborate cape, as well as chunky jewellery and a turban.
Met Gala veterans Isha Ambani, Natasha Poonawalla and Priyanka Chopra Jonas also returned.
Ambani chose Indian designer Anamika Khanna to put together her look this year. The heavily embroidered ensemble, which included a white geometric corset, black tailored pants and a white cape, took more than two years to put together, Khanna told Vogue India.
“We used a little bit of semi-precious stones, some traditional pearl work, and drew inspiration from black dandy style – the small elements they incorporated, the reasons behind their choices,” Khanna said.
Entrepreneur Poonawalla, who grabs headlines with her show-stopping Met Gala looks every year, turned to Indian designer Manish Malhotra.
Inspired by dandyism, but in an Indian context, Poonawalla's sculpted look featured a dramatic collar and an exaggerated peplum waist, with the train and jacket covered with Parsi Gara embroidery – a nod to Poonawalla's heritage.
Meanwhile, Chopra Jonas, who co-ordinated her look with husband Nick Jonas, channelled retro Hollywood glam in a polka dot gown by Olivier Rousteing at Balmain.
But the highlight of her look was a necklace featuring a giant 241.06 carat rare emerald, a piece by Bulgari High Jewellery, for which she is a brand ambassador. The Magnus Emerald necklace is a part of a collection the Italian house has yet to unveil. Chopra Jonas also wore an emerald and diamond ring, as well as diamond and platinum earrings, also from Bulgari.
Indian-American entrepreneur Mona Patel also returned to the Met Gala this year, in a custom all-black look by American designer Thom Browne.
The suit featured a beaded, corseted bodice embroidered by Indian craftsmen, and a cape.
Also walking the red carpet were designers Mukherjee and Malhotra, who made appearances in their own creations.
