Manish Malhotra’s Mijwan fashion show returned to Mumbai with a milestone 15th edition, and it closed in true Bollywood fashion — with Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal taking centre stage as the evening’s showstoppers. Held at Taj Lands End, the annual showcase marked 15 years of the designer’s association with the Mijwan Welfare Society.
Alia walked the runway in an ethereal ivory ensemble, pairing a corset blouse and skirt with a sheer dupatta embroidered with delicate white florals, a statement kundan choker and maang tikka. Vicky followed in a striking deep royal blue sherwani jacket with heavy zardozi embroidery over a white kurta. The two walked together to close the show, their chemistry one of the evening’s standout moments.
Beyond the glamour, the Mijwan show remains rooted in its social mission: spotlighting the intricate chikankari embroidery crafted by women artisans from Mijwan in Uttar Pradesh, translating village craft into contemporary couture. Founded by poet Kaifi Azmi and led by Shabana Azmi, the Mijwan Welfare Society empowers rural women through education, skills and employment — and Malhotra’s long-standing collaboration has carried their work to high-fashion runways. The front row reflected the show’s enduring Bollywood pull, with Madhuri Dixit, Urmila Matondkar, Khushi Kapoor, Ananya Birla and Pratibha Ranta in attendance. On the cinema front, Bhatt and Kaushal are set to reunite with Ranbir Kapoor in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love & War, slated for January 21, 2027.
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