Shah Rukh Khan Makes his Debut at the Met Gala

The annual Met Gala hosted by Anna Wintour has often been seen as the biggest, shiniest, grandest fashion show. But this year it was all that and something more. The theme ‘Superfine: Tailoring Black Style’ which focuses on Black male style was especially thorny at a time when words like ‘diversity’, ‘inclusion’ and ‘wokeness’ have all but been cancelled. When the theme was chosen nearly a year ago, Kamala Harris, the first female vice president and the first Black woman to reach that post, was a top contender for the highest job. But since then, a lot of water has flowed under the bridge, making this year’s show a flashpoint between American arts and politics.

Back here in India, the Met was of special interest as Shah Rukh Khan made his debut. Sabyasachi Mukherjee created Khan’s Bombay don-meets Brooklyn rapper look. He wore a floor-length black trench coat over a shirt with a plunging neckline. Chains with beads and lockets graced his neck, and the chunky K pendant was unmissable. On closer inspection, an SRK pendant on a choker could also be seen. Khan leaned against a walking stick crowned with a tiger’s head, reminiscent of the tiger’s head that was the centrepiece of Tipu Sultan’s throne. Fat rings (one with the head of a ram) graced his fingers. His comment to the foreign media, “I am Shah Rukh” got his Indian fans dizzy with excitement. This was a true Khan moment, one of the world’s most loved super stars taking the humble route at the world’s biggest fashion stage.

There were other Indian men who also made their mark this year. Punjabi singer and international superstar Diljit Dosanjh also made his debut. He looked like he had just walked out a royal durbar after gracing his subjects. His maharaja do was complete with a turban and a rapier. Diamonds and emeralds cascaded down his neck. Prabal Gurung designed Dosanjh’s all-white and ivory outfit.

While designers are often off stage, allowing their creations to shine, 2025 saw fashion designers Manish Malhotra and Sabyasachi Mukherjee in attendance. Malhotra chose the bling route donning a long coat whose torso was speckled with embroidery and brooches in the shape of elephant and lion heads. Mukherjee was a tad more diminutive in his choices, as he went with a layered white robe, but not to be left behind, he chose a feathered headgear.

This year’s Met Gala showed that Indian men like their accessories and are not one to shy away from bling. Who said jewellery is only for women? India’s most stylish men have proved that rings are in, necklaces are kosher, the chunkier the better.

Anna WintourfashionMet GalaNews BriefSabyasachi MukherjeeShah Rukh KhanWeb Exclusive