Here’s his guide to picking the perfect gift. Manish Malhotra is to Diwali what Heidi Klum is to Halloween: its ultimate celebrity party host.
Every year, the Indian fashion designer throws a star-studded Diwali bash bringing together Bollywood’s biggest names. Film legends Shah Rukh Khan and Shilpa Shetty were among the A-listers in attendance during the most recent festivities in October.
Such is his reputation for hosting, Malhotra was hired as creative director to 2024’s headline grabbing mega-wedding between Anant Ambani, the son of India’s richest man, and pharmaceutical heiress Radhika Merchant. As well as overseeing venue decor he even found time to design outfits for the bride and the groom’s mother, Nita Ambani, as well as guests at the various wedding events, including Ivanka Trump and both Kim and Khloé Kardashian.
Malhotra knows a thing or two about gifting, too. Gold may be the luxury gift traditionally exchanged during Diwali, but the designer’s luxury make-up and skincare sets — alongside festive hampers he developed for a hotel group — are just a few examples of how he appeals to Indian clientele during the country’s increasingly diverse multi-billion-dollar holiday spending spree.
For Malhotra, the secret to memorable presents and parties is the same one underpinning his fashion career: narrative.
“I simply enjoy being the storyteller,” he said, revealing his holiday gifting tips to CNN.
Indian fashion is, the designer said, “having its moment.” The country’s craftsmanship and textile traditions are enjoying increased international attention — and few people can take more credit than Malhotra, who attended the 2025 Met Gala, where he dressed attendees Natasha Poonawalla and Coco Jones for the red carpet.
“Ultimately, when I showcase Indian fashion on a global stage, I want people to see its depth, its artistry and its timelessness,” he said.
Malhotra has branched out beyond fashion in recent years. A Bollywood costume stylist since the 1990s (“films were my first love,” he said), the designer has just made his production debut with Hindi-language romantic drama “Gustaakh Ishq,” which hit theaters last month. Then there is the high jewelry line his eponymous label launched in 2023.
“Luxury isn’t just about buying something that looks beautiful; it has to carry meaning. It needs a story,” he said, adding: “It’s about creating something that becomes an heirloom.”
Below, Malhotra shares his take on gifting and hosting during the holidays.
