Manish Malhotra is back on the fashion-week runway — and he made sure no one missed the moment. The designer staged ‘Manish Malhotra Luxury Prêt 2026’ at Taj Palace in New Delhi on Saturday, October 17, as part of Lakmé Fashion Week in partnership with the Fashion Design Council of India, marking his return to the Lakmé Fashion Week ramp after nearly three and a half years. The showcase, presented by Maruti Suzuki NEXA, was closed by Bollywood stars Ayushmann Khurrana and Sara Ali Khan, who walked as showstoppers in coordinated black looks.
The evening was signature Manish at scale: dreamy lighting, live percussion, an energetic set by musician Donn Bhat, and the dramatic entry of a car just before the showstopper moment. The collection itself leaned into a lighter, more fluid expression of his famous glamour — elongated silhouettes, structured corset blouses paired with dhoti-style skirts, jewel-tone velvet, luminous metallics and flowing drapes, all finished with the intricate craftsmanship the house is known for. The show also debuted a new pillar for the label: Manish Malhotra Menswear Luxe Prêt, translating the house’s occasionwear language into relaxed tailoring, wide trousers and embellished jackets for elevated everyday dressing, alongside signature occasionwear, fine jewellery and accessories.
Both showstoppers committed fully to the monochrome brief. Ayushmann wore a black shirt beneath a tailored black jacket carrying intricate silver-toned floral and ornamental embroidery across the shoulders, lapels and sleeves, paired with sleek black trousers and polished shoes — classic tailoring with a bold, embellished finish. Sara closed in a couture-inspired black ensemble: a sculpted, strapless bodice with an asymmetrical neckline and delicate floral embellishments in metallic and multicoloured tones, a fitted corset-style top with shimmering embroidery over a flowing black skirt, finished with a sheer black drape for movement and theatrical elegance. She kept her hair sleek and centre-parted, letting the outfit do the talking. The pair walked out hand in hand with the designer for the finale — a fitting full stop on his comeback show, and a handy bit of cross-promotion: the two co-star in ‘Udta Teer’, arriving in theatres on October 23.
Malhotra framed the outing as a deliberate evolution rather than a victory lap. Describing Luxury Prêt 2026 as a new expression of glamour that feels effortless, contemporary and deeply personal, he said he wanted the collection to carry the richness of Indian craftsmanship while reflecting the way people actually dress and celebrate today — glamour that belongs to confidence and attitude, not just to occasions. Coming from the designer who made glamour aspirational through Bollywood for decades, it reads as both a homecoming and a commercial pivot: a bid to make his kind of luxury wearable well beyond the wedding season.
Elsewhere at the week, bridal couture had its own moment. Designer Anushree Reddy, in collaboration with Lakmé Salon, presented ‘Maya’ — a makeup-artistry showcase built around modern bridal wear — with young actor Sara Arjun turning showstopper on October 16. Fresh off her breakthrough in Dhurandhar, Arjun walked her first-ever runway in a powder-blue gown with intricate white embroidery, a sculpted peplum blouse and a mermaid skirt: a deliberate step away from the red-and-gold bridal palette, and one of the week’s most talked-about looks.
