Bollywood stars dazzle at Esquire's Diwali bash in festive glam

From Akshay Kumar's son Aarav to Sonakshi Sinha-Zaheer Iqbal, Bollywood stars stole the show at a pre-Diwali bash in glamorous festive looks.

The party was hosted by Michael Kors in Mumbai on November 4, 2026.

Sonakshi Sinha arrived in a deep black brocade anarkali kurta set.

She was accompanied by her husband, Zaheer Iqbal.

Zaheer wore a golden-beige traditional ensemble with a short, relaxed kurta and flared silk pants.

Sonakshi styled her anarkali suit with jhumki earrings, a centre-parted bun adorned with a silver hair jewel, a potli bag, and minimal glam.

Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna's son, Aarav Bhatia, opted for an ivory look.

He wore a short chikankari kurta with intricate zari embroidery along the borders and a plunging V-neckline.

He completed the ensemble with an organza dupatta and ivory silk pants with a flared silhouette.

Ali Fazal chose a sleek, tailored chocolate-brown blazer and matching pants.

He styled the notch-lapel suit with a yellow printed crew-neck T-shirt, dress shoes, and a bracelet watch.

Richa Chadha complemented him in a vibrant blue anarkali suit set with jhumki earrings and minimal glam.

Natasa Stankovic turned heads in a lemon-yellow lehenga set.

It featured a strapless bustier blouse with beaded tassels along the borders, a sweetheart neckline, and a cropped silhouette.

She paired it with a tulle lehenga skirt, a bracelet, rings, and dangling earrings.

Delicate floral embroidery on the ensemble stole the show.

Kritika Kamra arrived in a rani pink, ultra-elegant silk saree.

She styled it with a deep purple spaghetti-strap blouse.

Other celebrities at the event included Palak Tiwari, Alizeh Agnihotri, Anjini Dhawan, Huma Qureshi, Mrunal Thakur, Mouni Roy, Krithi Shetty, Avneet Kaur, Ayesha Khan, Daisy Shah, Karishma Tanna, Kim Sharma, Krishna Shroff, Maanvi Gagroo, Mahima Makwana, Malavika Mohanan, Mona Singh, Nimrat Kaur, Saiee Manjrekar, Sayani Gupta, Shalini Pandey, Sonal Chauhan, Sonam Bajwa, Tulsi Kumar, Vedang Raina, Vijay Varma, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Dino Morea, Armaan Malik, Aparshakti Khurana, and Orry.

The event was covered by multiple outlets including Hindustan Times, Bollywood Hungama, Social News XYZ, and News18.

Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, is celebrated by millions around the world.

It traditionally involves lighting lamps, exchanging sweets, and wearing new clothes.

Bollywood pre-Diwali parties have become an annual tradition in Mumbai, where stars showcase festive fashion weeks before the actual holiday.

The 2026 season has seen several such gatherings, with the Michael Kors bash being one of the most star-studded.

Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal's appearance together continues their pattern of making joint public appearances since their marriage.

Aarav Kumar's choice of a chikankari kurta highlighted the resurgence of hand-embroidered textiles in festive fashion.

Chikankari is a traditional embroidery style from Lucknow, India, known for its intricate white threadwork on fine fabric.

The party also marked a rare public sighting of several younger actors, including Alizeh Agnihotri and Anjini Dhawan, who are building their careers in Bollywood.

Fashion critics noted the variety of styles on display, from traditional anarkalis and lehengas to modern blazer-and-tee combinations.

The event was photographed extensively, with galleries published by several news websites.

No official statement has been released by Michael Kors or Esquire regarding the event's purpose or guest count.

The Diwali holiday in 2026 falls in early November, making this party one of the first major celebrations of the season.

For fans of Bollywood fashion, the gallery provides a look at how the industry interprets traditional wear for modern red carpets.

The full set of photos shows each celebrity's complete look, including accessories and footwear.

As the festive season continues, more parties and gatherings are expected in the coming days.