Navya Naveli Nanda brought a touch of fashion history to Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla’s 40th anniversary celebration, stepping out in an ornate antique-gold mini dress that had previously been worn by her mother, Shweta Bachchan.
The celebration was held at Mubarak Baug, the designers’ new flagship space in Mumbai, and brought together a star-studded guest list including Nita Ambani, Isha Ambani, Radhika Merchant, Shloka Ambani, Sonam Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia and several other prominent names from the worlds of Bollywood and fashion.
Navya chose a heavily embellished gold mini dress featuring intricate circular and scalloped detailing across the bodice and skirt. She paired the ornate look with embellished pumps, keeping the rest of her styling relatively understated so that the dress remained the centrepiece.
But the outfit had a deeper connection to the Bachchan family’s fashion archive.
The same gold dress had previously been worn by Shweta Bachchan in 2015, when she attended an Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla show at BMW India Bridal Fashion Week. Navya’s decision to bring the piece back a decade later gave the anniversary celebration an added sense of continuity.
Interestingly, Navya had attended that 2015 show as a teenager, sitting alongside her grandmother Jaya Bachchan. More than ten years later, she returned to the designers’ world not as a young spectator but as one of the evening’s fashion standouts.
The Mumbai gala marked four decades of the creative partnership between Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla, who began working together in 1986.
The anniversary celebration at Mubarak Baug reflected the designers’ signature maximalist aesthetic, with guests arriving in elaborate couture, intricate embroidery, traditional Indian silhouettes and statement jewellery.
The event also brought together several generations of the designers’ clientele and fashion collaborators, making the evening as much a celebration of their legacy as their latest work.
Navya was among several celebrities and members of prominent Indian families who brought their own interpretation of the designers’ aesthetic to the event.
Nita Ambani wore a striking red saree, while Isha Ambani opted for a shimmering silver-white embellished look. Shloka Ambani chose an ivory-and-gold ensemble, and Radhika Merchant appeared in a white-and-purple outfit featuring intricate floral detailing.
Sonam Kapoor also embraced the occasion’s couture mood in an ivory-and-gold ensemble, while veteran actor Dimple Kapadia appeared in an embroidered look.
The diverse guest list reflected the designers’ four-decade presence across Bollywood, fashion and India’s luxury circles.
Navya’s appearance ultimately stood out for a reason beyond the gold embellishments.
By wearing a dress once worn by her mother for the same designer house, she turned a glamorous anniversary appearance into a quiet fashion tribute. The look connected Shweta Bachchan’s fashion moment from 2015 with Navya’s appearance in 2026, while also highlighting the enduring appeal of Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla’s design language.
Four decades after the designers began their journey, their creations continue to find their way across generations — sometimes even through the same family wardrobe.
