The iconic Met Gala 2023 took place on May 1 in New York. This year’s theme for the red carpet was Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty. The event saw artists from across the globe including Alia Bhatt who made her debut at the gala. While Bhatt remained the talk of Tinseltown, the designer of her dazzling pearl ball gown, Prabal Gurung also hogged headlines.
Born in Singapore and raised in Kathmandu, Nepal, Prabal Gurung is one of the most sought-after faces in international fashion today. He has dressed public figures like Michelle Obama, the Duchess of Cambridge, Sarah Jessica Parker, and many more.
Prabal Gurung is a NIFT, Delhi alumnus
Gurung studied fashion at the National Institute of Fashion Technology in New Delhi, India, and then learned more about his craft by working under designers in Mumbai for a few years. In 1999, he moved to New York to study at the Parsons School of Design and after working under different mentors, he finally launched his own label Prabal Gurung in 2009.
The designer has created some breathtaking ensembles and won many prestigious accolades, but what keeps him amongst the biggest names internationally is the fact that his creations are chosen by celebrities worldwide and he always leaves a mark.
Here is a look at some of his notable works and moments:
Zoe Saldana at the Star Trek premiere in Berlin, 2009
Zoe wore a red one-shoulder dress from the first-ever collection of Prabal Gurung in 2009 when she made an appearance at the premiere of the popular film franchise Star Trek, in Germany. She was the first celebrity to be donning his creation on such a level.
First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House Correspondents Dinner, 2010
Another win for Gurung with a red dress, this must hold a very prominent place in his career trajectory. First Lady Michelle Obama looked gracious as ever in a red dress by him at the White House Correspondents Dinner in 2010, and this moment changed his life only for the better.
Kate Middleton at a State Dinner in Singapore, 2012
A crowning achievement for Prabal Gurung was when the Princess of Wales-Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton donned a wool silk dress from his collection in 2012 at a State Dinner held in Singapore. She made a statement in the white vibrant dress with blue, black and purple patterns on it.
Anne Hathaway at The Dark Knight Rises premiere, 2013
Hollywood star Anne Hathaway dazzled in a Prabal Gurung white gown at the premiere of The Dark Knight Rises in New York in 2013. The dress had a long train and embellished detailing on the neckline that created the drama.
Deepika Padukone at the Met Gala, 2018
The Bollywood superstar was seen in a stunning red floor-length gown, which had a high slit and a long trail that added to its beauty, at the Met Gala in 2018. This was a representation of Asian talent at one of the biggest international events.
Priyanka Chopra at Marrakech International Film Festival, 2019
International superstar Priyanka Chopra was interviewed in the “Conversation with” series, before her red carpet appearance at the Marrakech International Film Festival in 2019 and she was spotted wearing a chic white Prabal Gurung pant-suit with floral embossing.
Kamala Harris at the presidential inaugural prayer service, 2021
Adding another feather to his cap, Prabal Gurung had the privilege of dressing up Kamala Harris, the Vice President of the United States. She chose a classic wine-coloured wool crepe dress, with a matching overcoat, to wear at the presidential inaugural prayer service in 2021.
Alia Bhatt at the Met Gala, 2023
Bollywood superstar Alia Bhatt made her debut at the Met Gala, in 2023 in a Chanel bride-inspired white gown by Prabal Gurung. The ensemble had a tulle skirt, a long train and was decorated in hand-embroidered white pearls.
Dhurandhar raw and uncut version set for digital premiere on two major streaming platforms
In a major surprise for action film fans, the raw and uncut version of Dhurandhar is launching tomorrow across both Netflix India and JioHotstar with uncensored footage and multiple audio tracks.
Indian cinema enthusiasts are in for an unexpected treat as the highly anticipated unfiltered version of the blockbuster film Dhurandhar is officially heading to digital platforms. In a surprising double-platform strategy, the raw and uncut cut of the action-packed movie is scheduled to begin streaming on both Netflix India and JioHotstar.
The sudden announcement from the streaming platforms has sparked significant buzz across social media. While much of the recent digital speculation has centered around the streaming schedule for the sequel, media updates have confirmed that this specific raw release applies to the franchise’s first installment. Starting tomorrow, viewers in India will be able to watch the unfiltered version of the movie in multiple regional languages, including Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil, complete with intense gore sequences and raw dialogues that were previously trimmed.
Dual-platform digital release brings uncensored action
The announcement has cleared up initial confusion among fans who were anticipating updates regarding the franchise. While international audiences have seen varied streaming distributions for the franchise, viewers within India will uniquely get access to the first film’s “undekha” (unseen) cut simultaneously on two separate streaming applications.
The standard digital premiere for the second installment, Dhurandhar 2, remains locked for June 4, 2026, on JioHotstar and will mirror the standard censored cut that was showcased during its theatrical run. However, for fans seeking an uncompromising, high-octane cinematic experience, the original film’s extended, raw edition arrives online tomorrow on both competing streaming services.
The upcoming Bollywood film Dhurandhar 2 has reportedly secured a significant OTT deal, underlining its strong market buzz ahead of release. According to media reports, the film’s digital streaming rights have been acquired by JioHotstar for approximately Rs 155 crore.
The makers are expected to follow a strategic release plan, with the film likely to premiere on the platform after the conclusion of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. JioHotstar also holds digital streaming rights for the tournament, and the post-IPL window is seen as an effort to retain audience engagement.
Reports suggest that the film could arrive on OTT in late May or early June 2026, depending on its theatrical release schedule and run. However, there is no official confirmation yet regarding the exact streaming date.
Industry observers note that the reported deal highlights the growing demand for big-ticket Hindi films among streaming platforms, especially those expected to draw strong audience interest.
The teaser of Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming film Ramayana has been released, offering the first glimpse of Ranbir Kapoor in the role of Lord Rama. The film, which is planned as a two-part cinematic project, is scheduled for a Diwali release later this year.
The teaser shows several key moments, including scenes from the coronation and the exile period in the forest of Panchavati. Ranbir Kapoor appears in the role of Rama with a calm and composed presence. The teaser also briefly shows Yash in the role of Ravan towards the end.
Ahead of the teaser launch, Alia Bhatt shared a video message on social media asking audiences to support the project and Ranbir Kapoor’s work on the film. In the video, she said the “Rama unit” video would be released and encouraged audiences to watch and support the film.
Budget and scale
Producer Namit Malhotra said the film has been in development for six to seven years and is being made on a large scale. According to him, the total budget for both parts is around $500 million, which is over Rs 4,000 crore combined.
He said the film is being made for a global audience and aims to present the epic on a large cinematic scale while remaining efficient in production.
Music collaboration
The film’s music is being composed through a collaboration between AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer. Rahman said working on a project based on such an iconic epic is challenging, as the team wants to present something new while respecting the importance of the story.
Release plan and cast
The film will be released in two parts. The first part is scheduled for a worldwide release in October 2026 ahead of Diwali, while the second part is planned for release during Diwali 2027.
Apart from Ranbir Kapoor, the film also stars Sai Pallavi, Sunny Deol, Ravi Dubey and Yash in important roles.
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