Elegant in embroidery: Eight of the best celebrity looks from the Ambani reception

From opulent saris to embellished pathanis, ethnic Indian outfits were the look of choice for Bollywood celebrities at the wedding of the year

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. EPA

Karan Johar. Reuters

Madhuri Dixit. AFP

Indian actor Shahid Kapoor along with his wife Mira Rajput pose for photographs as they attend the blessing ceremony of Anant Ambani, son of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani post wedding ceremony, in Mumbai, India, 13 July 2024. Various global celebrities have arrived in Mumbai to attend the grand wedding of Anant Ambani and his bride Radhika Merchant. EPA / DIVYAKANT SOLANKI

Sania Mirza. EPA

Vidya Balan. EPA

Janhvi Kapoor. AFP

In addition to welcoming a gamut of guests and performers from around the world, the Ambani wedding also served up a fashion extravaganza, with ethnic Indianwear the highlight of the dress code.

The outfits – and jewellery – donned by the celebrities at high-profile weddings often provide inspiration for future brides and grooms-to-be. Here are eight outfits that caught the eye at the reception and blessings ceremony of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant on July 13.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Looking regal in a black anarkali suit strewn with multicoloured patchwork embroidery, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan kept her dupatta and potli bag simple in black with blue and red piping respectively. Wearing heavy polki jewellery and with her hair tied back in a simple style, the former Miss World managed to walk the line between colourful and classy.

Karan Johar

One of the most stylish men in Bollywood, the filmmaker wore a heavily embroidered jacket, paired with simple cream pyjama pants. Studded with peacock motifs and gemstone-encrusted embroidery, his garb perfectly matched his twin cocktail rings.

Mira Rajput and Shahid Kapoor

For the occasion, actor Shahid Kapoor's wife Mira Rajput wore a mustard sharara-style outfit with asymmetrical silver embroidery. The metallic threadwork was interspersed with pops of orange, especially at the hem that had two layers of embroidered foliage in the form of a thick border.

Kapoor looked smart in a black pathani with heavily embellished shoulders and colourful patchwork embroidery scattered throughout, right down to his matching footwear.

Madhuri Dixit

An opulently embroidered sari, the colour of hammered gold, was the outfit of choice for the actress with the million-watt smile. Madhuri Dixit also made a statement with her scarlet-coloured blouse, a modest choice in terms of length and coverage.

Sania Mirza

The tennis star wore a co-ordinated lehenga and choli in warm vermilion with gold embroidery from top to toe. With raised shoulders and a tastefully slashed midriff, the outfit was modern yet maximalist. Mirza also opted for strands of pearls interspersed with diamonds and emeralds for her jewellery choice of choker and matching earrings.

Vidya Balan

Rumoured to have one of the best jewellery collections in Bollywood, the actress wore a deceptively simple outfit to offset her statement earrings, maang tikka and multiple polki-cut diamond bangles. A highlight of her mustard ensemble was the metallic dupatta draped artfully around the shoulders.

Janhvi Kapoor

Known for her penchant for a mermaid silhouette, Janhvi Kapoor teamed her hourglass-shaped skirt with a bejewelled and plunging corset. The top came attached with a sheer dupatta trailing off to one side embellished with pearls and sparkling buttis, in another example of creative draping.