Inspired by the renowned Indian painter, Raja Ravi Varma’s art, Karan Johar made a grand entry at the MET Gala Debut wearing a Manish Malhotra outfit. The outfit featured Johar in a power shouldered vintage jacket over hand painted cape approximately to the length of six feet in length. 

Karan Johar at 53 chose a multi gemstone necklace and rings from the jewelry brand Tyaani to compliment his outfit.   It is believed that it took 80 plus artisans and about 85 days to create that was painted by hand on his cape. 

The theme for this year of Met Gala is a ‘Costume Art as the dress code is called the Fashion is Art.  The annual event held in New York is considered as one of the biggest nights in the world of fashion is co-chaired by Beyonce, Venus Williams, Nicole Kidman and Anna Wintour. 

Karan Johar’s outfit that drew inspiration from the renowned paintings for Raja Ravi Varma’s Art has the visual language directly from the paintings of Lady with the Peach, Hamsa Damayanti, Kadambari, Arjuna and Subhadra and There Comes Papa. 

Karan Johar leaves a lasting impression at the Met Gala debut in the custom-made outfit .

The director who turned to the paintings of the renowned artist Raja Ravi Varma on Karan Johar’s outfit was like a walking masterpiece with the hand painted cape.  In the much highly anticipated debut, the filmmaker Karan Johar said he didn’t want to be there to explain India. He wanted to feel like himself and bring along everything with it through the outfit he wore at the evening gala. The filmmaker said he wanted to make him feel personal and it was like his film that he felt , Indian and every story that he has told through his films it added emotions similar to the Raja Ravi Varma’s paintings which he felt was right because his work too does something like his film. The paintings have feelings. 

Karan Johar said he has always been a fan of Raja Ravi Varma’s paintings and for him and it was a right tribute to the great iconic Indian painter to showcase his art in the form of the cape that he wore for the Met Gala . Wearing the cape that is more like an inheritance is an honest thing that he has ever did and the right moment for his first Met.  

Karan Johar’s look at the Met Gala was developed by the stylist Eka Lakhani in collaboration with Manish Malhotra who has often collaborated with the filmmaker for his own outfits and his many star cast in films and for their personal wardrobe.

Karan Johar in turn stated he was doing this with Manish Malhotra with whom he has worked together for a very long time and that with him together, there is an instinct always it has to be him said Karan. 

Karan Johar’s contribution to the film making with some hit film titles such as Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. My Name is Khan, Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani and many more , became the first director to have represented India at the event that has earlier seen the presence of renowned actors like Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra Jonas , Alia Bhatt in the past.

The Dharma Production head hast most recently produced Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound with co-owner, Adar Poonawala. ‘Homebound’ is premiered at the Cannes 2025 under the Un Certain Regard section.