Karan Johar credits Shah Rukh Khan for his Met Gala debut: 'He's the reason I stand here today'
ETimes | May 6, 2026 2:39 AM CST
Karan Johar made his debut appearance at the Met Gala, becoming the first Indian filmmaker to attend the event. For the occasion, he wore a bespoke ensemble designed by Manish Malhotra , inspired by the works of Raja Ravi Varma.
‘Shah Rukh Khan is a large part of my career’In a conversation with the BBC, Johar was asked about his bond with Shah Rukh Khan, who attended the Met Gala last year. Reflecting on following in his footsteps, the filmmaker spoke about their long-standing friendship and professional association.
He said, “For me, it’s so emotional. Shah Rukh is such a large part of my career. I’ve done my first five films with him and he’s the reason I stand here today. For him to have come last year and me this year, it feels like a complete circle.”
Calls debut a ‘full circle’ momentKaran Johar later shared a note on Instagram, describing his Met Gala debut as a “full circle” moment. He wrote about representing Indian art and storytelling on a global platform.
“From loving cinema and costume as a wide-eyed dreamer to standing on the steps of the Met Gala, life really does come full circle in the most unexpected ways. This moment wasn’t just about fashion. It was about storytelling—taking the legacy of Raja Ravi Varma and letting it live again, this time not on canvas, but in motion,” he wrote.
Ode to Manish MalhotraThe filmmaker also acknowledged his long association with Manish Malhotra, crediting the designer for the look.
“Thirty years of friendship and collaboration with Manish Malhotra and still creating firsts together—so grateful to you and your team for this core memory,” he added.
‘Shah Rukh Khan is a large part of my career’In a conversation with the BBC, Johar was asked about his bond with Shah Rukh Khan, who attended the Met Gala last year. Reflecting on following in his footsteps, the filmmaker spoke about their long-standing friendship and professional association.
He said, “For me, it’s so emotional. Shah Rukh is such a large part of my career. I’ve done my first five films with him and he’s the reason I stand here today. For him to have come last year and me this year, it feels like a complete circle.”
Calls debut a ‘full circle’ momentKaran Johar later shared a note on Instagram, describing his Met Gala debut as a “full circle” moment. He wrote about representing Indian art and storytelling on a global platform.
“From loving cinema and costume as a wide-eyed dreamer to standing on the steps of the Met Gala, life really does come full circle in the most unexpected ways. This moment wasn’t just about fashion. It was about storytelling—taking the legacy of Raja Ravi Varma and letting it live again, this time not on canvas, but in motion,” he wrote.
Ode to Manish MalhotraThe filmmaker also acknowledged his long association with Manish Malhotra, crediting the designer for the look.
“Thirty years of friendship and collaboration with Manish Malhotra and still creating firsts together—so grateful to you and your team for this core memory,” he added.
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