Met Gala 2025: Who is Natasha Poonawalla? ‘The Empress’ fashion icon brings Indian Gara embroidery at the event

The much-awaited Met Gala 2025 took place on May 5 in New York City, with celebrtities showing their best looks. This year's theme was ‘Superfine: Tailoring Black Style’, and the dress code was ‘Tailored for You’. Among the Indian celebrities in attendance were Shah Rukh Khan, Diljit Dosanjh, Kiara Advani, Isha Ambani and others. Also spotted on the red carpet was Natasha Poonawalla, who turned heads in a custom Manish Malhotra ensemble.

Who is Natasha Poonawalla?

Natasha Poonawalla, 43, is a businesswoman, philanthropist and fashion icon. She is married to Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute of India (SII), and serves as the executive director at SII.

She graduated from Savitribai Phule Pune University and later earned a Master's degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Natasha met Adar at a New Year’s Eve party in Goa hosted by business tycoon Vijay Mallya. The couple married in 2006 and have two sons, Cyrus and Darius.

Besides business successes, they have been praised for their philanthropic efforts, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the Serum Institute played an important role in vaccine production.

She is often spotted on the red carpets of prestigious events like the Met Gala, where her bold fashion choices consistently make a statement and challenge conventions.

Natasha Poonawalla at Met Gala 2025

Styled by Anaita Shroff Adajania and Lakshmi Lehr, Natasha's outfit was a masterclass in storytelling through fashion. At its core was a corseted, sculptural silhouette that seamlessly blended the intricate heritage of Indian Gara embroidery with the bold structure of Western tailoring.

The ensemble featured a reimagined fishtail skirt, meticulously crafted from two antique Gara saris, one over 100 years old, carefully revived from Malhotra’s archives. Its hand-embroidered fabric unfolded like a woven narrative, each motif rich with generational craftsmanship and artisanal finesse.

Embroidered with the rare ektaar technique, where a single thread creates an unbroken pattern, the black Gara jacket became a symbol of continuity and subtle defiance. Underneath, a vintage French lace bralette edged with pearls paired with a corset-cummerbund, blending elegance with the controlled flamboyance characteristic of dandyism.

According to Malhotra, Natasha was “The Empress of Indian Fashion".