Bollywood’s go-to fashion guru Manish Malhotra just dropped a fashion industry mic-drop moment! He took a trip down memory lane to recall the time he designed a sherwani for Michael Jackson… and get this, he did it in just ONE day! In a recent Instagram post, Malhotra shared that when MJ was hosting an awards show in 1998, there was a last-minute request to dress the legend in something desi. And who better to answer the call than Manish himself?

In an Instagram post, Manish Malhotra shared a throwback video of Michael Jackson at the Bollywood Awards in New York, where the music icon donned a traditional Indian outfit—designed in just one day and without any measurements! Malhotra revealed that the award organizers approached him with the special request to create an ensemble for Jackson, who is globally celebrated for hits like Thriller, Beat It, Smooth Criminal, and Billie Jean.

“Throwback: It was an Honour and so Exciting to be dressing Fabulous @michaeljackson at the Bollywood Awards held in 1998 at Nassau Coliseum, Long Island, New York and I won a Costume Award for @karanjohar s #kuchkuchhotahai… (sic)."

“When I got a message from Kamal Dhandona and the late SP Hinduja, the sponsors of the show, to dress # Michael Jackson, I was thrilled. At that time, 1998, I wanted to blend a Global infusion into the traditional sherwani cut, so I worked on a shorter sherwani with trousers and a shawl / stole in textured handloom with woven silk and brocade borders, all of it made in 1 day and without measurements. #memoriesforlife," Malhotra captioned his post.

Jackson also thanked the designer for his “wonderful costume".

In January 2025, Malhotra made his debut at the Golden Globe Awards ceremony.