Filmmaker Karan Johar has penned a heartfelt tribute to fashion designer Manish Malhotra, reflecting on their decades-long friendship and a creative partnership that began on the sets of 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai'. The tribute, shared alongside a video from Malhotra's latest fashion show, marks a celebratory moment as the designer prepares to debut his collection MAA on the official calendar of Paris Haute Couture Week.

A Friendship Forged on Screen

Johar traced the arc of their relationship back to 1998, when 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' became their first on-screen collaboration. In his own words, the film 'strengthened our friendship off the screen.' Before that milestone, Malhotra had already made his mark — debuting as a costume designer with 'Swarg' in 1990 and becoming the first-ever recipient of the Filmfare Award for Costume Design for 'Rangeela' in 1995.

Johar wrote: 'Some journeys are measured in years. But yours is measured in dreams, one that is stitched into every seam. I have had the privilege of witnessing this story from the front row... and often, from right beside you.'

From Bollywood Sets to Global Runways

Johar credited Malhotra with elevating Indian couture onto the world stage. He noted that the 2000s were 'your era,' during which Malhotra took 'the artistry of our karigars, our textiles, our culture and our cinema' to platforms ranging from Dubai Fashion Week to the Met Gala. Johar also acknowledged that 2026 marked his own debut at the Met Gala, calling it 'a core memory' made possible by Malhotra.

Malhotra established the Manish Malhotra label in 2004, which has since grown into a globally recognised name in Indian luxury fashion.

The MAA Collection and Paris Haute Couture

The tribute coincides with the launch of Malhotra's new collection, MAA, which is set to be showcased at Paris Haute Couture Week — a landmark moment for Indian couture on the international stage. Johar described the collection as 'ground breaking... from structure, silhouette, construction to the drama,' adding that Malhotra had created 'the mother of all collections.' He noted that the collection is rooted in heritage, 'in the hands that embroider dreams' and 'the mothers who teach us beauty before we even understand its meaning.'

Decades of Collaboration in Cinema

Beyond their personal bond, Malhotra has been a defining creative force across several of Johar's most celebrated directorial projects, including 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai', 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham', 'Kal Ho Naa Ho', and 'My Name Is Khan'. The carousel of photographs shared by Johar included images of Malhotra with the late actress Sridevi, along with glimpses from his fashion shows and career milestones.

As Malhotra steps onto the Paris Haute Couture calendar, his journey — from a debut costume designer in 1990 to a name on the world's most prestigious fashion stage — stands as one of Indian fashion's most consequential stories.