Bollywood at the Met Gala: what Priyanka Chopra, Isha Ambani, Deepika Padukone and more Indian celebrities wore to New York’s hottest red carpet over the years

Dec 17 , 2020

Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone, Isha Ambani and Natasha Poonawalla at the Met Gala 2019 – who had the best look? Photos: @priyankachopra; @themetgala2019; @prabalgurung; @myfashionlady/Twitter

Isha Ambani donned Dior couture, Deepika Padukone looked angelic in a white Tommy Hilfiger gown and Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas arrived in matching Ralph Lauren looks – but who was best dressed?

Everyone who’s anyone knows of the Met Gala, the Metropolitan Museum of Art annual fundraising ball. The star-studded New York bash sees celebrities jostling to outdo each other on the red carpet, each trotting out looks that are more OTT than the last.

Attending the VIP event sets you back upwards of US$30,000 per seat or US$200,000 to US$300,000 per table; last year’s gala raised a whopping US$15 million – US$3 million more than the year before. Of course, Anna Wintour – Vogue editor and chairwoman of the event – and certain brands have their own guest lists, inviting designers who can enjoy the performances and charity auction without splashing out on the hefty price tag.

But money is no object for most attendees; Bollywood’s leading ladies have even been known to travel halfway across the world for a single night.

Unfortunately, the Met Gala – like many other events – was cancelled this year due to Covid-19. But had the ball gone on as usual, here are four Indian stars who would definitely have received an invite.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas attending the Met Gala in 2017. Photo: Invision/AP

Priyanka Chopra was one of the first prominent Bollywood stars to hit the red carpet of the fundraising benefit in 2017. Her custom-made Ralph Lauren overcoat gown with extended train made her the subject of endless memes, much to her amusement. (She reposted them herself for her millions of Instagram followers to peruse.)

Chopra arrived at the event in a bus matching her oversized ensemble, with both fit that year’s theme of “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between”.

Accompanying her was Nick Jonas, also suited up in Ralph Lauren. Rumours immediately sprang up about the potential budding romance, and although they weren’t officially a couple at the time, they married just a year later.

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas at the Met Gala in 2019 in outfits fitting that year’s “camp” theme. Photo: Reuters