Diljit Dosanjh at the Met Gala 2025: A Regal Ode to Punjab and Personal Legacy

For years, Diljit Dosanjh has serenaded audiences with his music and captured hearts with his effortless charm. But on the night of the Met Gala 2025, he did something else entirely—he etched a moment into global fashion history. Walking the world’s most scrutinized red carpet, Dosanjh didn’t just show up as a celebrity; he arrived as a cultural force. Rooted in Punjab, wrapped in heritage, and styled in a language that blended reverence with royalty, his appearance was a love letter to legacy—and a powerful reminder that identity is the truest couture.

The theme for this year’s Met Gala, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” invited guests to interpret beauty not just as aesthetics but as preservation, revival, and personal history. Its dress code, “The Garden of Time,” referenced a 1962 J.G. Ballard short story that explored memory and fragility. It was a poetic framework, and Diljit’s look—conceptualized by designer Prabal Gurung—answered it with layered meaning. Rather than chasing spectacle, Dosanjh chose narrative. Rather than costume, he chose culture.

Dressed in an ivory achkan-style sherwani, hand-embroidered with the Mool Mantra in Gurmukhi script and overlaid with a golden map of Punjab, Diljit’s ensemble was a visual hymn to Sikh philosophy and Punjabi geography. It was spiritual. Political. Personal. The embroidery, rather than being decorative, was declarative—a statement of where he comes from, what he believes in, and whom he represents. Paired with wide trousers and a matching floor-length cape, the silhouette drew from Mughal courts, Sikh regalia, and Western tailoring all at once, creating a dialogue across continents and centuries.

Accessories didn’t merely complete the look—they amplified it. Around his neck, Diljit wore layers of uncut emeralds and pearls reminiscent of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala’s opulent style. His fingers bore regal rings; his shoes echoed juttis worn by Punjabi nobility. Every piece was curated with purpose, and each detail sang in harmony with the others. There was no fashion-for-fashion’s-sake here. This was a conversation in textile, stone, and thread—a tribute to lineage.

Grooming remained characteristically understated. A trimmed beard, neatly styled turban, and clean lines across the face emphasized Dosanjh’s authenticity. He did not yield to Western red-carpet tropes. He held his ground—dignified, grounded, and sovereign.

Fashion critics responded swiftly and with fervor. The Indian Express called his appearance “a cultural reclamation,” praising the way his outfit channeled both grace and gravitas. Vogue India highlighted how the script on his cape wasn’t just embellishment, but embodiment—a way of wearing faith and philosophy without dilution. GQ India applauded the jewellery, pointing out its fusion of archival Mughal design with modern layering. On social media, fans declared him “a walking museum,” and designers from across the globe hailed his decision to showcase Punjabi heritage with such elegance and intention.

What made Diljit Dosanjh’s appearance unforgettable wasn’t just the craftsmanship or the couture—it was the courage. The courage to show up as himself. The courage to wear his beliefs. The courage to let his history—not just his stardom —speak.

In a night built on fantasy, Diljit offered something rare: truth. And in doing so, he redefined what it means to dress for the Met. Not just to be seen—but to be known.

(Photos by Michael Loccisano/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images and via Instagram)

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