Janhvi Kapoor gave surrealism an Indian twist at a Paris gala, draping a sari by New Delhi label Pankaj S Heritage, founded by designer Pankaj S Chadha. The six-yard drape was woven in fine 460-count Bengal muslin and left undyed in its natural ivory shade, known as khud-rang.
A Fabric Once Called Woven Air
This muslin traces back to Mughal-era Bengal, where weavers around Dhaka produced cloth so sheer it was nicknamed baft hawa, or “woven air”. Kapoor’s version was styled with a ruched bustier and a pleated drape, a restrained canvas for the details to come. The pallu carried dense white chikankari embroidery, adding depth without disturbing the soft palette.
The real showstopper was the blouse. Its sleeves were crafted from polkis, garnets and emeralds and finished with saraafa tassels and pink fringing in kiran and resham. They cascaded down her shoulders like jewellery, echoed by arm chains set with the same stones.
Jewellery and Soft Glam
Kolkata-based Virrayaa Jewellery supplied the stacked earrings and cuffs. A statement cocktail ring with emerald accents echoed the green in the sleeves and tied the look together. With the sleeves doing so much work, she skipped a necklace altogether.
Makeup artist Nora Kourkis kept the beauty look understated, with a muted nude lip, minimal blush and shimmering eyes in a matching palette. Kapoor’s hair was swept into a slicked-back bun. The soft-glam approach follows similar looks seen earlier on Alia Bhatt and Khushi Kapoor.
Together, the heritage fabric, artisanal embroidery and gem-laden sleeves made the outfit a quietly dramatic take on the sari, and a standout moment from her Paris appearance.