The Met Gala 2025, held on May 5 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, marked a historic moment for Indian cinema and fashion, with Bollywood icons Shah Rukh Khan, Kiara Advani, and Diljit Dosanjh making their debut alongside veteran attendee Priyanka Chopra. However, the celebration of Indian representation was marred by online trolling, with some netizens derisively labeling the event the “Chandivalification of Met,” a term implying a cheapening of the prestigious gala due to the strong Indian presence. Actress Janhvi Kapoor fiercely responded to these critics, calling out their “classist” remarks and linking them to “colonial trauma” in a powerful defense of Indian designers and artists.
Met Gala 2025: Janhvi Kapoor SLAMS “Chandivalification” jibe after Shah Rukh Khan, Kiara Advani, and Diljit Dosanjh debut at red carpet
Despite widespread praise for these bold and culturally rich looks, a section of social media users criticized the Indian contingent, using the term “Chandivalification” to mock the prominence of Indian designers and celebrities. The term, referencing Mumbai’s Chandivali area often associated with budget film studios, was perceived as a classist slight against India’s growing influence in global fashion. Janhvi Kapoor, who did not attend the event but has long championed Indian craftsmanship, took to Instagram to respond via a comment on fashion watchdog Diet Sabya’s post. “It’s high time Indian designers and artisanal heritage get the global recognition they deserve,” she wrote, adding that such criticism reflects “a colonial trauma that hasn’t left us.”
Kapoor argued that the world has long borrowed from India’s textiles, embroidery, and jewelry without proper acknowledgment, and seeing Indian artisans celebrated at the Met Gala was a moment of pride. “Instead of being upset at seeing our own on the biggest stage, we should celebrate their success,” she urged, calling out the classist undertones of the trolling. Her remarks resonated with many fans, who praised her for addressing the deep-seated biases that undermine Indian achievements on global platforms.
The Met Gala, often dubbed fashion’s biggest night, raises funds for the Costume Institute and this year embraced the theme “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” celebrating Black dandyism and diasporic fashion. Indian stars brought their unique flair to the blue carpet, with Shah Rukh Khan donning a regal black Sabyasachi Mukherjee ensemble adorned with golden jewelry, Kiara Advani stunning in a Gaurav Gupta gown titled “Bravehearts” that honored her pregnancy with a symbolic umbilical cord design, and Diljit Dosanjh exuding Punjabi pride in a Prabal Gurung sherwani featuring Gurmukhi embroidery and a map of Punjab. Priyanka Chopra, in her fifth appearance, dazzled in a custom Balmain outfit paired with Bulgari jewels, while designers Manish Malhotra and Sabyasachi, along with philanthropist Isha Ambani and fashion icon Natasha Poonawalla, further elevated India’s global fashion footprint.
Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan reveals MET GALA was not ‘his space’ as he pens heartfelt note to Sabyasachi
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