Neha Dhupia’s sari-inspired Anamika Khanna gown came with a sweeping embroidered pallu

The shimmer of sequins and zardozi announced Neha Dhupia’s arrival before she did, wrapped in an Anamika Khanna sari-inspired gown that turned craft into performance art. A stark black column slit high at the thigh formed the base, overlaid with an embroidered drape that swept across one shoulder and fell like a modern pallu to the floor.

The embellishment was dense: sequins, beads and zardozi arranged into oversized leaves and florals in antique gold and silver. Against the minimalist base, the embroidery shimmered like armour, underscoring Khanna’s instinct for turning traditional craft into something resolutely contemporary.

Neha Dhupia treated everything around the gown like stage lighting; pared back so the embroidery remained the script. Her hair was pulled straight and sleek, left to fall down her back. Makeup stayed in warm tones: bronzed lids, luminous skin, lips in muted beige, all designed to complement the metallic drape without competing with it.

Accessories functioned less as adornment and more as reinforcements. Oversized floral studs mirrored the motifs on the gown, while a single ring added punctuation. Even the choice of footwear felt choreographed: classic black Louboutins, their red soles flashing briefly through the slit, delivering a final beat of drama.