Manish Malhotra hosted approximately 300 guests at his Pali Hill residence in Mumbai on November 5, 2026, for his annual Diwali celebration.
The event, which transitioned from an expected 400-person gathering to a more intimate inner circle, served as a high-profile industry tradition bringing together Bollywood stars, entrepreneurs, and media personalities.
The party, held on the second floor of the designer’s home, featured a spacious layout including a dining area, multiple terraces, a bar, and an entertainment room.
Guests in attendance included Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Nita Ambani, Akshay Kumar, Twinkle Khanna, Vicky Kaushal, Karan Johar, Zoya Akhtar, Madhuri Dixit, Kajol, Kriti Sanon, Malaika Arora, Huma Qureshi, Sanya Malhotra, Janhvi Kapoor, Ananya Panday, and Shanaya Kapoor. Also present was Suhana Khan, who, alongside Ananya and Shanaya, caught the attention of attendees with their festive fashion choices.
Bollywood ka Chhaava ❤️🔥 Next Mahavatar loading 💥 Vicky Kaushal yesterday at Manish Malhotra's Diwali party #VickyKaushal pic.twitter.com/2OsqU2hs94
“This year, he decided to make it a bit more intimate and invited mostly his inner circle of around 200 guests. It was an elaborate, meticulously planned and flawlessly executed celebration, bringing together almost the entire Bollywood fraternity, along with some of India’s most prominent media personalities, entrepreneurs, industrialists and influential personalities,” said Mahesh Bang, a South African-based astrologer who attended the bash.
The celebration featured a strict dress code, with guests expected to wear outfits created by the designer. His team reportedly prepared nearly 300 looks in six days to accommodate the attendees. “He carries himself with a great amount of prestige, yet equal humility,” said Mahesh Bang, a South African-based astrologer who wore an outfit designed by Malhotra.
According to reports from the event, Salman Khan occupied this section for much of the evening, with other celebrities, including Madhuri Dixit, queuing to greet him. Once Salman departed, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan reportedly took over that seating area.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan arrived together in contrasting outfits, drawing attention. Aishwarya wore a red saree with a golden zari border and an embellished pallu, paired with a statement necklace. Abhishek chose a textured black ethnic jacket with intricate detailing, paired with matching black trousers and glasses. Their joint arrival followed years of separate public outings, effectively countering recent speculation regarding their personal life.
The actor reportedly utilized a private back entrance and followed a strict no-photograph policy. According to reports, his bodyguard, Ravi Singh, requested the deletion of any unauthorized images captured of the actor, and guests were warned that posting such content could result in the loss of future invitations.
Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan are known to occupy their usual seats in the living room area when in attendance. Despite the privacy rules, Shah Rukh Khan participated in the evening’s entertainment.
Abhi-Aish at Manish Malhotra’s Diwali party ❤️✨ So happy she’s entering her sari era! And the way she effortlessly serves face, beauty, and looks every single time at Manish’s Diwali🔥#Aishwaryaraibachchan #AbhishekBachchan @ManishMalhotra @pinkvilla pic.twitter.com/7DsMgWkkSq
Suhana Khan, who attended the bash in a brocade lehenga, shared a behind-the-scenes video of her preparation for the event on social media. The film also features Abhishek Bachchan as the antagonist, alongside a cast including Jackie Shroff, Rani Mukerji, and Deepika Padukone.
“How do you remember the words!!! It was so difficult for me because Ed sings so fast!!!” Shah Rukh Khan wrote to Suhana Khan on social media.
Other fashion highlights included Ananya Panday, who wore an ivory-pink lehenga inspired by Rani Mukerji’s look from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, and Kareena Kapoor, who wore a champagne-gold sequin saree. Nita Ambani attended in a fuchsia pink satin saree, while Janhvi Kapoor appeared in a black-and-gold lehenga with animal-inspired patterns. Sara Ali Khan chose a red embroidered lehenga and was photographed with her brother, Ibrahim Ali Khan.
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The OG Fashionista arrives. #KareenaKapoorKhan attends #ManishMalhotra's diwali bashed in a gorgeous champagne saree. #FilmfareLens pic.twitter.com/pPdrbMjzCZ
Akshay Kumar was right there, but the paparazzi had only one priority: Aarav's solo pictures! 😭😂 Priorities, man! 🤣 credit :- Yogen shah pic.twitter.com/2X6hcuahkf
