At the 2025 Academy Awards, Manish Malhotra dressed Guneet Monga Kapoor, the celebrated producer of the Oscar-nominated short film Anuja, in a brown corset sari ensemble, a look that blended Indian ethnic and modern couture.
Taking to Instagram, Malhotra shared his excitement about styling Monga in what he described as an “Indian contemporary sari with a constructed corset and trench.” The ensemble was crafted in Mocha Mousse, the Pantone Colour of the Year, and was made from handwoven handloom tissue, a fabric that has long been a part of Indian fashion. To complement the look, Monga adorned Imperial Heirlooms jewellery, featuring uncut diamonds set in 18K gold.
A day before the Oscars, Karan Johar had treated fans to an exclusive preview of Guneet’s look on Instagram. The video showcased the mocha-hued sari, structured corset, and statement overcoat, teasing an additional after-party outfit crafted from the same exquisite handwoven fabric.
In the video, Monga expressed her thrill and disbelief at having two custom-designed outfits for the occasion: “This didn’t even exist in my vocabulary that I can also have an after-party outfit. So Manish went on to make two outfits in the same hand-woven fabric, and I can’t believe it.”
Interestingly, Bollywood seems to have skipped the Oscars this year. Designers Rahul Mishra and Gaurav Gupta, who have received international acclaim through their Paris Couture Week collections, were also absent from the red carpet.
