The Metropolitan Museum of Art's annual fundraising benefit in New York City, famously known as the Met Gala, is renowned for its glamour and status as the biggest night out in fashion. As expected, the event made a grand return with all its glitz and glamour, but this year's gala was even more spectacular and extravagant, taking place on May 2, 2023.
The theme for the Met Gala 2023 was 'Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty,' which was announced by the Met during Paris Fashion Week in September. Recently, it was revealed that the gala would honour the late fashion icon, Karl Lagerfeld.
The Met Gala is the most luxurious fashion event in the world, with a red carpet that attracts fashion enthusiasts from all corners of the globe. The guest list is usually dominated by big names from Hollywood, but this year, several Indian celebrities also graced the event, representing India's fashion narrative on the global platform.
Indian celebrities were well represented on the iconic steps of the Met Gala, with Alia Bhatt making her much-anticipated debut at the event. Priyanka Chopra and her husband, Nick Jonas, also made a fashionable appearance, as did Natasha Poonawalla and Isha Ambani. Here is a rundown of the celebrities' looks on the Met Gala 2023 red carpet.
Indian cinema's darling, Alia Bhatt, stunned in a custom-made, Victorian-style gown by Prabal Gurung, adorned with white pearls. With this year's theme being "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty," the pearls and glove were a fitting tribute to the late designer. The dress featured a modern, sleek silhouette with a fitted bodice and a floor-length, flowy skirt.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 01: Alia Bhatt attends The 2023 Met Gala Celebrating "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 01, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Karl Lagerfeld)
The box-shoulder neckline added a touch of sophistication and elegance, while the structured waistline highlighted Alia's hourglass figure. The ensemble was completed with embellished gloves, matching diamond earrings, and rings.
Priyanka Chopra, known for her role in The Citadel, donned a striking black Valentino gown with a strapless neckline, featuring a large bow at the waist and a daring thigh-high slit. The actress completed her look with platform pumps by Valentino. The showstopper of her ensemble was a two-toned (black-and-white) long cape with ruffled lining and a trail, paying homage to the late German fashion designer's signature style.
(L-R) Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Nick Jonas attend The 2023 Met Gala Celebrating "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 01, 2023 in New York City. (Photo: Getty Images)
Priyanka accessorised with a bespoke Bulgari piece in Laguna blu diamond, perfectly complementing her gown. Her husband, Nick Jonas, coordinated with her outfit by sporting a black leather suit jacket layered over a crisp white shirt and a studded black tie.
Supermodel Naomi Campbell too made a stylish entrance in a salmon pink 2010 Chanel couture gown with silver sequin and glass bead embroidery, featuring an asymmetrical hemline. Known for her love of Indian sarees, Campbell wrapped the dress like a saree, adding a touch of her personal style to the look.
Comedian and actress Mindy Kaling opted for an accentuated white dress with a corseted silhouette by Jonathan Simkhai. The structured dress was adorned with fringed tassels and a Swarovski embellished straight cut, giving it a dreamy structure.
Mindy Kaling attends The 2023 Met Gala Celebrating "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 01, 2023 in New York City. (Photo: Getty Images)
Mindy Kaling also paid tribute to Karl Lagerfeld's design legacy by incorporating floral motifs with a 3D effect, inspired by the pearl concept. To complete her look, Kaling wore dazzling earrings, adding a touch of glamour to her already stunning outfit.
Socialite and fashionista Natasha Poonawalla also arrived at the event in style, sporting a striking structured Schiaparelli gown adorned with mirror-work. She kept her hair in a sleek ponytail and added silver accessories to complement her look.
Natasha Poonawalla - Image Credit: Instagram
Billionaire Mukesh Ambani's daughter Isha Ambani too walked the red carpet in a stunning Prabal Gurung creation. She wore a black silk saree gown with thousands of hand-embellished crystals and pearls, extending into a floor-length train. The ensemble featured black silk draped over one shoulder, adding a touch of elegance to the look.
Indian businessman Mukesh Ambani's daughter Isha Ambani poses for a photograph at the annual Met Gala 2023 with the theme of 'Karl Lagerfeld- A Line of Beauty', in New York, the USA on Monday. (ANI Photo)
While Huma Abedin opted for a vintage Fendi black, blue, and white gown covered in feathers. The sheer sleeves of her dress were adorned with bold lace appliqués, adding a unique touch to her ensemble.
Huma Abedin attends The 2023 Met Gala Celebrating "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 01, 2023 in New York City. (Photo: Getty Images)
The Met Gala, is a highly anticipated event for celebrities, fashion icons, and New York’s elite society. Held annually on the first Monday in May, guests are expected to dress according to the gala’s theme.
This year’s theme was “In honour of Karl,” paying homage to Karl Lagerfeld, the late fashion icon with a controversial yet undeniable impact on the industry.
As the creative director of Chanel and Fendi, and having worked with numerous other fashion houses over the course of his illustrious career, Lagerfeld was an influential figure in the world of fashion. His legacy continues to inspire designers around the globe.
Kim, Kanye, North and Saint West out in NYC Twitter/KimKFan
Anurag Bajpayee's Gradiant: The water company tackling a global crisis
In a world increasingly defined by scarcity, one resource is emerging as the most quietly decisive factor in the future of industry, sustainability, and even geopolitics: water. Yet, while the headlines are dominated by energy transition and climate pledges, few companies working behind the scenes on water issues have attracted much public attention. One of them is Gradiant, a Boston-based firm that has, over the past decade, grown into a key player in the underappreciated but critical sector of industrial water treatment.
A Company Born from MIT, and from Urgency
Founded in 2013 by Anurag Bajpayee and Prakash Govindan, two researchers with strong ties to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Gradiant began as a scrappy start-up with a deceptively simple premise: make water work harder. At a time when discussions about climate change were centred almost exclusively on carbon emissions and renewable energy, the trio saw water scarcity looming in the background.
Their insight was that some of the world’s largest industries—semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, food and beverage—were facing acute water-related challenges long before the general public grasped the issue. “Without water, these industries don’t just slow down; they stop,” Bajpayee has often remarked. What Gradiant offered was not just a way to save water, but a way to rethink how it is used, recycled, and valued.
The Engineers Behind the Mission
Anurag Bajpayee, the company’s CEO, whose academic path took him to MIT, where he completed a PhD in Mechanical Engineering focused on water treatment technologies. It was there that he met Govindan, a fellow engineer and now Gradiant's co-founder and COO, whose expertise complemented his in fluid mechanics and process engineering.
Unlike many founders who drift towards the language of venture capital and corporate strategy, Anurag Bajpayee and his team remained grounded in the technical problem: how to make industrial water treatment more efficient, more affordable, and more sustainable. The company still bears the imprint of its founders’ engineering roots. Gradiant is less Silicon Valley startup and more MIT lab, albeit one that has quietly expanded across Asia, the Middle East, Europe and North America.
What Gradiant Actually Does
The company specializes in designing and building bespoke water treatment and reuse systems for industrial clients. Its technologies are aimed at enabling factories and plants to reclaim water that would otherwise be discarded as waste, reducing both the amount of water withdrawn from natural sources and the volume of contaminated water discharged.
At the heart of Gradiant’s portfolio are proprietary technologies such as Counter Flow Reverse Osmosis (CFRO), Carrier Gas Extraction (CGE) and Selective Ion Recovery (SIR), developed from the Gradiant founders’ early research at MIT. Unlike traditional methods like reverse osmosis, these systems are designed to handle highly contaminated or complex wastewater streams, enabling clients to extract clean water even from previously unusable sources.
But Gradiant does not sell “one-size-fits-all” machines. Each project is tailored to the customer’s unique needs. For a semiconductor plant in Singapore, this might mean achieving ultrapure water reuse levels of 98%; for a food and beverage factory in Texas, it might be about safely treating wastewater for discharge while minimising energy consumption. The company's approach—sometimes called "solutioneering" internally—is both its competitive advantage and its raison d'être.
Expansion Without the Usual Hype
Gradiant’s growth has been quietly impressive. From its first commercial project in the oil and gas sector, it has gone on to complete over 500 installations worldwide. The company has raised more than $400 million in funding from a mix of institutional investors and private equity firms, achieving so-called “unicorn” status, with a valuation reportedly over $1 billion.
Unlike many green tech firms, Gradiant’s expansion has not been accompanied by flashy marketing campaigns or grandiose statements. Instead, the company has preferred to build credibility client by client, particularly in Asia, where water-intensive industries and growing environmental pressures make its services indispensable. Anurag Bajpayee, never one to speak in superlatives, frames the company’s expansion as a “response to urgent need” rather than a triumph of business.
Inside Gradiant’s Operations
At its core, Gradiant is still an engineering-first company. Anurag Bajpayee and Govindan, both technically trained and heavily involved in the company’s operations, have instilled a culture where R&D is not just a department but the lifeblood of the business. The firm currently holds more than 250 patents globally, a testament to its ongoing commitment to innovation.
But Gradiant’s success is not just about technology. The company has differentiated itself by offering not just equipment but full-service solutions, including project design, construction, operations, and maintenance. This full-stack approach has been particularly attractive to clients in highly regulated industries, who need water management solutions that work seamlessly and reliably without requiring deep in-house expertise.
Gradiant’s clients include some of the world’s largest manufacturers, including Fortune 500 companies in sectors like microelectronics, pharmaceuticals, and energy. Some, like semiconductor producers, rely on Gradiant to help them meet stringent water reuse targets while maintaining ultra-clean production environments.
Navigating a Changing World
Gradiant operates at the intersection of several converging trends: climate change, regulatory pressure, and industrial decarbonisation. In many regions, water scarcity has become the limiting factor for industrial growth, sometimes more than energy availability or supply chain constraints.
While public attention often focuses on domestic water use, it is industries that consume the lion’s share of freshwater. Gradiant's pitch is straightforward: industries will have to do more with less, and Gradiant offers the tools to make that possible.
Anurag Bajpayee is keenly aware of the paradox that water, despite being vital, is often underpriced and undervalued, especially when compared to energy. “We don’t pay what it’s worth, only what it costs,” he told an audience at a recent conference. Yet, the landscape is shifting. Regulators, investors, and companies themselves are increasingly acknowledging water as both a business risk and a social responsibility.
What's Next for Gradiant?
Looking ahead, Gradiant appears poised to play a central role as industries adapt to water scarcity. Yet, Anurag Bajpayee remains cautious about the hype cycle. "The problem we’re working on isn’t going anywhere," he says. "It’s not a question of innovation alone, but of execution—of making sure these solutions actually reach the places that need them most."
In an era where water risk is increasingly material to business, Gradiant’s quiet, technically grounded approach may prove to be exactly what is needed.
(The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Eastern Eye. The publication does not endorse or take responsibility for the accuracy of any statements made by the author.)