Alia Bhatt returned to the Met Gala, this time embracing her heritage in a magnificent custom-made sari by Indian designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee. Did you know the first time Alia wore a sari was when she was in ninth grade?
“It was for Teacher’s Day. I was in the ninth grade. As I reached school, my pleats opened. I went to the bathroom and they were like, ‘Baby, kya ho raha hai?’ (What’s happening?) and they quickly put my pleats back for me,” Alia revealed in a video for Vogue.
Now Alia has reached the stage where she can masterfully wear an extravagant sari, with a 23-feet long train. The mint green masterpiece featured a blouse studded with real gemstones along its bodice, along with silk floss, and glass beads.
Bhatt’s ensemble perfectly interpreted the Met Gala’s theme, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” inspired by the short story “The Garden of Time,” which also served as the dress code. The translucent fabric mirrored the ethereal gardens in the story, while the delicate embroidery showcased the enduring artistry of Indian sari making. The mint green was a deliberate choice by Sabyasachi to give Alia the look of an ethereal forest fairy.
Look at Alia’s 23-foot-long train (Source: PR Handout)
“The sari’s design, with its translucent, glasslike appearance, is not just a nod to the ethereal quality of the garden in Ballard’s story but also a tribute to the exquisite, enduring craft of sari making,” the actor told Vogue ahead of her red-carpet appearance.
But the sari wasn’t the only Indian influence Alia carried to the Met Gala red carpet. In pictures, now viral on Instagram, you can see her wearing a kala teeka behind her year, adding another layer of cultural significance.
For the unversed, several Indians believe in putting a kala nazar ka teeka to safeguard themselves from the evil eye.
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Breaking down Alia’s look
Bhatt, along with her stylist Anaita Shroff Adajania, aimed to create a bold look that blended traditional Indian craftsmanship with modern aesthetics.
Proclaiming Sabyasachi was the perfect choice to bring her vision to life, Alia told Vogue, “What drew me to this look was the sheer audacity of it—how it merges traditional craftsmanship with avant-garde aesthetics. Sabyasachi, known for his dedication to bringing old-world charm and modern sophistication together, seemed like the perfect choice to encapsulate the theme of this year’s Met Gala.”
True to Met Gala fashion, Bhatt’s look embraced maximalism. Her hair cascaded down, adorned with gemstone ropes. Dazzling tourmaline and diamond earrings and a collection of cocktail rings from Sabyasachi Accessories completed the ensemble.
Bhatt, along with her stylist Anaita Shroff Adajania, aimed to create a bold look that blended traditional Indian craftsmanship with modern aesthetics.(Source: PR Handout)
This is Sabyasachi’s second appearance at the Met Gala carpet, after he made his debut with Natasha Poonawalla’s golden cage sari in 2022. “I am honored to create the signature garment of India, a sari, handcrafted from techniques handed down over generations and mastered during a lifetime of effort for Alia. It represents the history and pride of Indian craftsmanship that I have dedicated my career to promoting, protecting, and preserving,” Sabyasachi Mukherjee told Vogue.
According to the American magazine, which is also behind the extravagance of the Met Gala, a team of 163 artisans in India, including craftsmen, dyers, and embroiderers, poured their talent and time into creating this masterpiece. It took an astounding 1,965 hours, spanning several months, to bring this vision to life.
The couturier’s artistic flair wasn’t limited to the sari itself. This year, he showcased his growing love for jewellery design by crafting a stunning bralette for Bhatt. This piece wasn’t just an accessory; it was a tribute to India’s rich heritage of jewellery making. Sparkling emeralds, Basra pearls, tourmalines, and multicoloured sapphires adorned the bralette, adding another layer of opulence and cultural significance to Bhatt’s entire ensemble.
