Reflections on the NMACC Opening

The NMACC – Nita Mukesh Ambani Culture Center

Cover Photo by Dollar Gill on Unsplash

The divide between my worlds was always clear cut. The Bollywood side only ever came out during the limited hours with my family, while elsewhere it was the dominant pop culture which defined my interest. Like most celebrity obsessed and fashion intrigued individuals on this planet, the first Monday in May has always been marked in my calendar. The Met Gala has never failed to entertain me. The latest, most extravagant and outlandish looks always seemed the most enthralling despite their lavishness. The prominent few individuals have annually gathered the same reactions – every year, I wait to see what Zendaya will wear, how Kendall Jenner will pose for the cameras, will Rihanna even come!? And then it started to expand. It went beyond the typical Hollywood A-list celebs. Soon it went across borders. The year that Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone both walked down the carpet, something went off in me – were my two worlds colliding? 

This thought wasn’t clear until the first weekend of April. The NMACC – Nita Mukesh Ambani Culture Center - opened up in Mumbai, India. Right off the heels of the Dior Pre-Fall 2023 show in Mumbai, the cultural center opened an exhibition demonstrating the history of Indian clothes and textiles as times have changed and also presented a dance filled musical depicting India's journey over the years. While the Center in itself holds great potential to further represent the nuanced beauties of Indian culture, one of the greatest powers of the weekend was the star-studded attendance of global celebrities. 

Over the years, the presence and prominence of South Asian representation in Hollywood and the Western industry has drastically increased. Thus, seeing the faces of Liza Koshy, Deepica Mutyala and Poorna Jagannathan felt very wholesome, like the family finally came together for a reunion. To add to the amalgamation, though her presence is often anticipated, Priyanka Chopra, who was accompanied by her superstar husband, Nick Jonas, almost felt like the well-established cousin whom everyone looks up to, who actually made it to the family dinner. It was so heartwarming to see these amazing global representations of Indian culture and diversity come together in the promotion and celebration of the vibrant nation. 

While seeing various celebrities of Indian backgrounds come together was quite momentous, it was the attendance of the non-Indian celebs which resonated the most. Zendaya, Tom Holland and Gigi Hadid, just to name a few, put the event on the map. There isn’t a single moment in which Zendaya lacks in any way. Her poise and demeanor make anything she does a memorable occasion. Draped in a hand embroidered Rahul Mishra saree, Zendaya exuded grace and elegance. Another memorable individual who stole the weekend was Gigi Hadid. Anywhere the top-tier supermodel goes, she garners an incredible global audience. Taking a twist on the traditional saree look, Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla wrapped Gigi up in a heavily embellished gold and white-tasseled outfit. 

While India has many such illustrious occasions within their booming Bollywood industry, the panning out of the events to further envelop varying artists and creators across the globe is rare. With tradition, language and industry qualification often serving as a roadblock in these cases, there truly has never been a defining characteristic of fashion which should delineate amongst those who can and cannot take part. It was truly in my wildest dreams that I would ever expect an influencer like Emma Chamberlain to be wearing a two-piece lehenga design by husband-and-wife duo Falguni and Shane Peacock. 

Though it’s been a while since the NMACC opening event, I don’t think the reality of the event has truly sunk in. And I may sound dramatic (I truly do), however, to slowly see a world that I, and many other second generation and even third culture kids, had kept divided finally come together, seamlessly, shows that there truly are a greater number of similarities than differences, even across oceans. While culture and traditions, and even language and food may change, elements of the arts and fashion resonate beyond borders. With the recent New York Met Gala , and future events with a diverse and international roster of attendees, we can only hope that the connection of industries only grows from here.