Hyderabad businesswoman Sudha Reddy dazzles in $15 million jewellery at Met Gala 2026, spotlights south Indian heritage

Met Gala 2026: Sudha Reddy wore a custom 'Tree of Life’ outfit designed by Manish Malhotra that took 3,459 hours and 90 artisans to create.

On May 4 (May 5 in India), Hyderabad-based businesswoman and philanthropist Sudha Reddy made a return to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s red carpet for Met Gala 2026, turning heads in a breathtaking ensemble that included $15 million worth of high jewellery and a custom outfit that required over 3,000 hours of manual labour.

Embodying this year’s 'Costume Art' theme, Sudha’s look, titled ‘The Tree of Life,’ served as a high-fashion bridge between the ancient textile traditions of south India and contemporary global couture.

Sudha Reddy's outfit: a masterpiece of craftsmanship

The ensemble was a collaboration between Indian designer Manish Malhotra and renowned celebrity stylist Mariel Haenn. A labour of love, the outfit took 3,459 hours to complete, involving a dedicated team of 90 artisans. It featured a complex mix of zardozi, marodi, resham, and metalwork. The design was rooted in the Machilipatnam style of kalamkari, an almost 3,000-year-old Indian textile art.

The silhouette featured a sculpted, royal blue corseted bodice and a dramatic 7-metre train adorned with peacock motifs. A unique feature was a hand-crafted metal vine installation on the upper back, forged from brass, copper, and silver to represent the kalpavriksha (the wish-fulfilling tree).

The $15 million sparkle

While the couture was stunning, it was Sudha's jewellery, worth $15 million — pulled from her private collection — that commanded the most attention. The 'Queen of Merelani', a massive 550-carat deep violet-blue tanzanite, served as the centrepiece of a Victorian-finished diamond necklace. She also wore a 23-carat yellow diamond ring and a 30-carat rose-cut polki diamond ring from Rajasthan.

A theatrical, crystal-encrusted Dolce and Gabbana minaudiere paired with a custom Manish Malhotra zardozi clutch completed the look.

Sudha Reddy attends Met Gala 2026 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2026 in New York City. (Getty Images via AFP)

Paying homage to Telangana

Sudha, the wife of PV Krishna Reddy (managing director of Megha Engineering and Infrastructure, with a Forbes-estimated net worth of $2.2 billion, which is around ₹20,920 crore), used the Met Gala carpet to champion her roots. Her designer ensemble incorporated symbolic motifs of Telangana, including the palapitta (Indian roller bird) and the jammi chettu tree.

"Hyderabad is my foundation, and this ensemble is a translation of that cultural identity into a language that is both global and deeply personal," Sudha said in a statement. "It was vital to demonstrate that these ancient techniques possess the structural integrity and aesthetic power to lead the global fashion dialogue," she added.

Designer Manish Malhotra echoed this sentiment, stating that the 'Tree of Life' was intended to be 'experienced' rather than just worn, carrying the 'memory and soul of the craft'. Stylist Mariel Haenn, who has worked with stars like Rihanna and Jennifer Lopez, shared that the goal was to treat the red carpet appearance as a piece of 'high-concept art', projecting Indian grandeur through a 'cinematic contemporary lens'.

Sudha’s 2026 appearance marks her third turn at the Met Gala, following her debut in 2021 and a subsequent appearance in 2024.