Manish Malhotra Dressed Michael Jackson Without Measurements

Celebrity designer Manish Malhotra took a nostalgic trip down memory lane, recalling his remarkable feat of dressing the late Michael Jackson for the 1998 Bollywood Awards in New York.

In an Instagram post on Tuesday, the ace couturier shared a video of the King of Pop thanking him onstage, alongside a photo of them together, with Jackson donning a bespoke sherwani ensemble Malhotra crafted in just one day—without measurements.

The outfit—a shorter sherwani with trousers and a textured handloom shawl adorned with woven silk and brocade borders—blended global flair with traditional Indian cuts, a vision Malhotra pursued in 1998. “It was an honour and so exciting,” he captioned, recounting how sponsors Kamal Dhandona and the late S.P. Hinduja tapped him for the task. “I was thrilled and wanted to infuse a global touch into the sherwani,” he added, calling it “memories for life.”

Jackson wore the creation at the Nassau Coliseum event, where Malhotra also won a costume award for Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. The designer’s anecdote, resurfacing 27 years later, underscores his early ingenuity—stitching a superstar’s look from scratch under a tight deadline, relying on instinct over precise fittings. Jackson, a global icon who died in 2009, left an indelible mark, and this moment remains a career highlight for Malhotra, who debuted in costume design with Swarg (1990).

Fans on X buzzed with awe, some marveling at the “MJ-Manish crossover,” others noting Jackson’s gracious onstage nod. Now a Bollywood fashion titan, Malhotra’s tale bridges his pre-label days to his current stature, having dressed stars from Kajol to Deepika Padukone. The throwback not only celebrates a unique collaboration but also cements his legacy as a designer who turned a 24-hour challenge into a timeless triumph.