Film maker Karan Johar she made quite the lasting impression as she made her Met Gala debut in a custom gown by friend and celebrity designer Manish Malhotra.The director, who turned to the paintings of renowned Indian artist Raja Ravi Varma, was a “walking masterpiece” as he made his much-anticipated debut. The ‘Framed in Eternity’ outfit features a vintage Johar jacket over a hand-painted cape.Karan Johar in Met Gala attireJohar’s costumes come from Raja Ravi Varma’s paintings including Lady with the Peach, Hamsa Damayanti, Kadambari, Arjuna and Subhadra and There Comes Papa. In a statement, he said: “I didn’t want to arrive trying to explain India. I wanted to arrive feeling like myself and that automatically brings everything I bring out with it. To me, it had to feel personal and the moment it felt personal, it became Indian, because that’s where everything I know comes from.” All the stories I’ve told, the films I’ve made, all the emotions I’ve tried to put on the screen have come from this place. Raja Ravi Varma felt good because his work does something that I have always tried in cinema. Ravi Varma painted feelings.” Johar added, “This look is my way of wearing that heritage and I think it’s the most honest thing I could do for my first Met. Not coming with a concept, but a feeling that I’ve carried all my life and finally found the right shape.”Karan Johar creates fan frenzy outside the hotelIn videos outside the director’s hotel, fans went crazy to see him modeling in his outfit and greeting the crowd with a ‘Namaste’. Fashion watchers were heard cheering the director, “Gorgeous! Divine!”The manager snapped a few pictures, with fans happily clicking them before leaving for his car. Before leaving, fans were heard saying, “Thank you Karan, enjoy the party.”
Netizens crown Karan Johar best dressed Met Gala 2026
When she made her debut on the white carpet, netizens were shocked and couldn’t hold back their admiration. Sharing photos of the director walking the carpet, one tweeted: “Karan Johar and Emma Chamberlain are tied my first look of the night…hard #MetGala.”“Karan Johar representing men at the #MetGala. The best brand I’ve seen so far the others looked like a mess #BEYGALA” Another admitted despite not knowing who the director was, “karan johar ate who he is but he ate!” Another said, “THIS KARAN JOHAR GAG!! Indians are saving gala.”“Karan Johar x Manish Malhotra should have been what India needed in terms of representation @ the met wait karan johar manish malhotra custom eats,” said another, while another added, “dare I say Karan Johar won the Met Gala? I like his fit better than emma chamberlain’s. My jaw is on the floor. This is AWESOME.”“Karan Johar being the best dressed man at this year’s met gala was not in my bingo card! He ate that,” one fan commented.According to reports, Karan’s look took 80 artisans and around 85 days to create. The piece is said to have been painted by hand. Johar, 53, opted for a multi-gem necklace and rings from her jewelery brand Tyaani to complete the look.This year the theme of the Met Gala is “Costume Art” and the dress code is called “Fashion is Art”.
