Anamika Khanna: A Celebrity Favourite for Every Occasion

Sonam Kapoor Ahuja in Anamika Khanna

Start naming the celebrity looks you still remember and Anamika Khanna is likely to enter the conversation sooner than expected. A wedding here, a red carpet there or a particularly memorable festive appearance. Over the years, the designer has amassed quite the wardrobe of fashion moments, with a remarkable roster of women bringing something entirely their own to the label.

For more than two decades, the Indian couturier has changed the face of Indian fashion through impeccable craftsmanship and a distinctive approach to heritage. Traditional dressing takes on a new attitude, silhouettes are reconsidered and occasion wear feels altogether more personal, with a sensibility that continues to feel relevant, season after season.

Look at the women who keep coming back and the appeal becomes quite clear. Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Alia Bhatt and Deepika Padukone have all found their own way into the world of Anamika Khanna. From the regal purple embroidered cape set chosen for Anshula Kapoor’s wedding to an ivory and gold lehenga inspired sari, their choices have shown just how beautifully the label lends itself to different personalities. From a sculpted corset sari to a contemporary take on the navratan patan patola, the styling tells much the same story: tradition, but never quite as expected.

Priyank Chopra Jonas in Anamika Khanna

Alia Bhatt in Anamika Khanna

Deepika Padukone in Anamika Khanna

The list only gets more interesting. Kareena Kapoor Khan, Tamannaah Bhatia and Athiya Shetty have each brought a distinct mood to the mix, moving effortlessly between glamour, romance and something altogether more contemporary. It is this versatility that makes the label such a compelling one to return to when the calendar begins filling up. There’s no prescribed way to wear her couture, only plenty of possibilities!

Kareena Kapoor Khan in Anamika Khanna

Sonam Kapoor Ahuja in Anamika Khanna

Tamannaah Bhatia in Anamika Khanna

Athiya Shetty in Anamika Khanna

Perhaps, that is also why the label has found a natural following among a new generation of style icons. Janhvi Kapoor, Khushi Kapoor, Ananya Panday and Suhana Khan are giving it a fresh energy, taking its sensibility from Cannes to weddings and festive occasions. There is no obvious formula to their choices and that is precisely the point.

Janhvi Kapoor in Anamika Khanna

Khushi Kapoor in Anamika Khanna

Ananya Panday in Anamika Khanna

Suhana Khan in Anamika Khanna

Janhvi Kapoor in Anamika Khanna

Not surprisingly, the fascination extends well beyond India. Jennifer Lopez, Shakira and Ellie Goulding have all chosen the designer for global appearances, while Saffron Vadher and Maria Sharapova have added their own international stamp. There is something rather lovely about seeing Indian craftsmanship travel this far without losing its character. Good design, after all, rarely needs translation.

Jennifer Lopez in Anamika Khanna

Shakira in Anamika Khanna

Saffron Vadher in Anamika Khanna

Maria Sharapova in Anamika Khanna

Closer to home, the Ambani family has given us some of the most talked-about examples. Be it Isha Ambani’s Met Gala couture appearance, Nita Ambani’s chikankari-embroidered sari or Radhika Merchant’s striking red pre-wedding look – each made a different kind of statement. For anyone currently saving looks for a wedding wardrobe, this is the most interesting part: the same designer can move from a gala to a family celebration and a once-in-a-lifetime wedding without ever feeling repetitive.

Isha Ambani in Anamika Khanna

Nita Ambani in Anamika Khanna

Radhika Merchant in Anamika Khanna

Brides, naturally, have their own reasons for turning to the house. Rashmika Mandanna and Kriti Kharbanda both chose Anamika Khanna couture for their wedding celebrations, adding their names to a remarkable roster of celebrity brides. When the photographs are going to live on for years, there is something reassuring about choosing a designer whose work already knows how to stand the test of time.

Rashmika Mandanna in Anamika Khanna

Kriti Kharbanda in Anamika Khanna

The Anamika Khanna x H&M collaboration opened up an entirely new chapter, taking the designer’s distinctive design language to a global audience. With names like Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Khushi Kapoor at the launch, it felt like a natural next step for a sensibility that has always travelled well.

Samantha Ruth Prabhu

Khushi Kapoor

Today, Anamika works alongside her sons, Viraj and Vishesh Khanna, continuing to shape the future of both houses. Perhaps, that is what makes the story particularly worth following. The heritage is still there, the craftsmanship is still central, yet the conversation around how women want to dress keeps moving forward.

For celebrations ahead, Aashni + Co brings together an edit spanning intricately crafted lehengas, statement jacket sets and stunning co-ord sets. Consider it a starting point, with plenty of room left for your own point of view.