When it comes to high fashion in India—and indeed Bollywood—Manish Malhotra holds a near-unchallenged throne. His very name is synonymous with glamour, extravagance, and perennial elegance. He has dressed near enough every top actress multiple times—from turning red carpets, weddings, and film sets into their very own catwalks. His designs are a perfect marriage of painstaking traditional craftsmanship with modern sensibilities. This makes his designs a go-to for celebrities from bridal collections to ultra-contemporary lehengas and sarees. Bollywood's leading ladies have for many decades, turned to Manish Malhotra in order to make powerful style statements and each appearance is absolutely spectacular as a result. From his elaborate zardozi work to drapey silks and exciting bold metallics, his designs not only represent each actresses' conception of beautiful but they also advance the essence of contemporary couture fashion in India. Manish Malhotra knows exactly how to make magic even out of pastels, or with dreamlike lehengas, or even fantastical sequined gowns. In this list, we highlight 10 Bollywood actresses who have had a number of stunning moments in his designs to show that a “Manish Malhotra moment” is always a moment. Please enjoy flowers blooming at your imagination of absolute beauty, elegance, and creative fashion in this list.
10. Priyanka Chopra:
Priyanka Chopra looked divine in Manish Malhotra's ice-aqua net lehenga that seamlessly combined poise with ethereal charm. The soft pastel was brilliant against her dusky beauty, while the light netting offered a dreamy and fairy-like charm. The blouse, beautifully embroidered, exemplified the fine artistry, comfortably blending glamour with sophistication. The sheer net dupatta floating gracefully over Priyanka's shoulders lent her free-flowing poise to the entire ensemble. The graceful and ageless beauty of Priyanka lent even more to the outfit, making her a sight to behold. She added minimum accessories, and somehow her styling exuded the real feel of modern royalty in the ensemble.
9. Tamannah Bhatia:
Tamannaah Bhatia's dramatic black power-shoulder gown paid homage to fierce elegance and was strikingly glamourous. The luxe satin fabric had a sumptuous finish that glimmered under the lights, elevating her bold look with an even deeper sense of luxuriousness. The deep plunge neckline added to the sultriness of the look, and the oversized collar and structured shoulder gave the gown a couture quality. The sculpted silhouette hugged her body perfectly, displaying strength and sensuality simultaneously. With sleek hair and minimum accessories, Tamannaah was able to showcase the statement royal gown as the star of the cocktail hour! With her confidence and magnetic energy, this look will go down as a blend of sophistication and strength that is memorable.
8. Sara Ali Khan:
Sara Ali Khan looked ethereal in an amazing chikankari lehenga set by designer Manish Malhotra, emphasizing tradition and elegance. The stunning hand-embroidered chikankari lehenga set had beautiful chikanari work that spoke to the beauty of Indian craftsmanship. The pale pastel color of the lehenga was both refreshing and elegant. The lehega's drape highlighted Sara's natural beauty and charm. Sara paired the lehenga with a matching blouse, and soft dupatta, highlighting subtle detailing throughout the outfit, and created a perfect combination between traditional styles and contemporary couture. Styled with statement earrings and loose, free-flowing waves, Sara looked simply regal. Manish Malhotra offered an beautiful celebration of heritage and tradition with a modern approach, and Sara nailed it.
7. Kareena Kapoor Khan:
Kareena Kapoor Khan looked effortlessly glam in a nude embroidered draped saree set by Manish Malhotra, exuding understated luxury. The saree featured beautiful tonal embroidery that added depth and texture while maintaining the understated sophistication of the nude carry. The pre-draped style was a modern interpretation from a traditional saree -hugging her frame, while still allowing free-flowing movement. The draped saree was paired effortlessly with a matching embellished blouse, proving Kareena's timeless charm and sartorial sensibility. Her sleek hair, dewy makeup, and minimal accessories allowed the saree set to shine, making her a vision of contemporary glamor and sophistication in Manish Malhotra's design innovation.
6. Rasha Thadani:
Rasha Thadani shined bright in a fitted white, shimmery, embellished Manish Malhotra mini dress, perfectly embodying youthfulness and glamour. This modern party ensemble with a couture touch is adorned with intricate sequin and beadwork with metallic hardware to shine and sparkle with each move. The fitted midi dress complemented Rasha’s toned body, while the soft and playful shimmering design offered sophistication and glamour in one look. The sweetheart neckline was great for this look since it let the dress’s embellishments shine. Soft curls, glowing makeup, and dainty jewellery styled this fresh and elegant look, as Rasha proves that she is a rising fashion star in this stunning Manish Malhotra dress.
5. Khushi Kapoor:
Khushi Kapoor caught attention in a fabulous red drape saree by Manish Malhotra that she styled with a matching corset blouse, contributing a bit of a bold modern feeling to the traditional aesthetic. The saree had a loose pre-draped structure that allowed for easy elegance; the rich red hue represented the classic idea of glamour and confidence. The corset structured bodice was embellished but similar to the saree emphasized Khushi's waistline, providing just the right amount of drama and sensuality. Khushi styled the looks with newly styled sleek hair, a bold lip, and simple jewelry- allowing for the vibrant outfit to speak for itself. The ensemble combined modern aspects of fashion with an old-world vibe, illustrating not only Khushi's youthful grace but also her capacity to wear high-fashion, Indian couture with ease and personality.
4. Janhvi Kapoor:
Janhvi Kapoor looked like gliding romance and elegance in a blush ombre organza saree set with Manish Malhotra that radiated ethereal grace. The saree in delicate ombre transitions in soft blush and rose with a very light release printed design, delicately embroidered floral details, and colorful threaded embroidery, provided a dreamy canvas. It floated in the air like butterfly wings with the weightless organza fabric paired with Janvhi’s graceful energy. The sheer, embroidered blouse with a matching inskirt, highlighted the intricate embroidered details while mingling the boundaries of classic and modern aesthetics. Janhvi's dew watered down makeup and hairstyle was as simple as the gold accessories to settle into her breath taking look, giving way to the craftsmanship of the saree and blouse. Every small detail was in sync, but Janhvi as an overall looked fit into Timeless Beauty in this whimsical Manish Malhotra piece.
3. Kriti Sanon:
This specific look featured a hot pink chiffon saree from Manish Malhotra, showcasing the traditional elegance of the saree and bold modernity. The drape of the fabric was lightweight and flowed effortlessly, highlighting the feminine and graceful silhouette. The shimmering sequin borders added that touch of glamour. The vibrant pink colour was further elevated by how the light glinted off the sequins, with every little move catching the eye. The sequinned and heavily embroidered blouse, while a little outrageous in terms of embellishment, was perfectly designed to add structure and drama – absolutely fit for any festive occasion or red carpet moment. With soft curls and statement earrings and that glow – I thought this overall look was the perfect and striking balance of contemporary chic and timelessness that hinted at the designer's unique aesthetic.
2. Malaika Arora:
Malaika Arora certainly made a fashionable statement at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2024 recently when she walked the red carpet in a custom saree designed by Manish Malhotra. The saree was an exquisite creation featuring elaborate Swarovski beadwork that appears to have taken ages to hand stitch. The shimmering saree looked glamorous while beautifully hugging her frame, and the details screamed Malhotra as he is known for combining opulence and craftsmanship. Malaika’s dreapery was fluid, allowing the drape of the saree to look beautiful. Her fitted blouse paired with slick hair, statement earrings, and bold red colour to her lips, she looked fabulous! There is no doubt that Malaika presented herself with sophistication and confidence, which can elevate an ensemble, making her one of the qualified fashion icons of the night at the prestigious IFFM 2024 red carpet event.
1. Kiara Advani:
Kiara Advani stole the show in a custom-made, heavily embellished brown saree from Manish Malhotra’s festive collection, harmoniously blending glam and elegance. The rich brown was a nice break from traditional festivity colours, and was glimmering with sequin details all over, glistening with every movement. The saree had the interestingly dramatic pleated element at the back, which added an unexpected touch of drama and flowing movements to the drape. The silhouette proved to be gorgeous on Kiara's frame and she matched it with a embellished bralette that carried the luxuriousness. Styled with soft waves, bronzed make-up and statement earrings, Kiara looked modern and elegant, showing again that she can easily make the most extravagant piece look effortlessly chic.
