The Met Gala 2026: Karan Johar makes official debut with Raja Ravi Varma-inspired piece

This year, Bollywood seems to be taking over the Met Gala. Famed director and filmmaker Karan Johar officially made his debut at the white carpet stairs this year, meant to celebrate fashion in all its glory. Inspired heavily by one of the most renowned artists of all time, Johar’s piece went perfectly with the theme of the night, ‘Costume Art.’

Karan Johar makes Met Gala 2026 debut with Raja Ravi Varma-inspired gown

Created by famous designer Manish Malhotra and directly inspired by the timeless paintings of artist Raja Ravi Varma, Johar stunned the crowd in a beautiful hand-painted cape. Vogue reported that the artisans behind the magnificent piece took around 5600 hours to complete the look for the night. He paired the outfit with a matching pair of sunglasses and sleek black pants, looking nothing short of royalty for the night. The beautiful cape features “zardozi borders, three-dimensional pillars, lotuses and swans, and a hand-painted jacket lining.”



Since the entire outfit is hand-painted, it took 86 days to make. The paintings were made with acrylic and oil finishes and varnished to ensure that they look like real artwork one sees in museums.

While speaking to the outlet, Johar expressed that he had to remain authentic and leave no stone unturned. He added, “I was very clear from the beginning that nothing could be simulated or cut short. No print, no digital intervention, no approximation.”

Karan Johar boasts his outfit for the Met Gala 2026

Taking to social media, he shared what made him choose the piece for the glamorous night. He wrote, “Raja Ravi Varma felt right because his work does something I’ve always tried to do in cinema. He painted feelings.” Furthermore, he wanted to bring Indian culture to the forefront of the global stage. He added, “To bring our Indian culture to the global stage with the vision of couture and gratitude woven together is an art form in itself, which he has mastered. You made me feel like a canvas for your art, thank you!”

His post garnered attention in no time.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”