In February 2026, Sonam Ahuja Kapoor celebrated her second pregnancy with a godh bharai ceremony, hosted by her family. For the occasion, the mother-to-be opted for a bespoke outfit by friend and designer Shehlaa Khan. The lime look was conceived in close collaboration with Kapoor’s sister and stylist Rhea Kapoor. “We wanted to do something special and still use a signature style of my label,” Khan shares.
Instagram content
What they arrived at was a silhouette that is thoughtful and comfortable, featuring a bubble skirt, a contoured blouse and a flowing kimono cape, defined by a classic Indian-style dupatta. “Given that it's an Indian godh bharai, the only thing contemporary about the outfit was its silhouette,” explains Khan. Despite that deliberate modernity of form, the overall impression is traditional. On Kapoor, the structure of the blouse and the volume of the bubble skirt introduced a sculptural quality, whereas the kimono cape softened the look with fluid movement.
The starting point for the look’s embellishment was unambiguous in its ambition. “The idea was to resemble a Mughal style painting, and therefore we used the signature hand-painting technique as the base of the embellishment on a Chanderi silk fabric. which is rich yet represents a vintage Indian aesthetic.” Mughal miniature painting, which flourished as a courtly artform between the 16th and 18th centuries, is defined by vibrant mineral pigments and an obvious synthesis of Indian, Persian and European influences. The paintings are celebrated for their realistic portraiture and naturalistic depictions of flora and fauna, and this is the exact visual language that Khan has translated onto fabric.
Instagram content
The hand-painted crimson blossoms and brushed-gold leaves were elevated through zardozi embroidery worked in nakshi and saadi materials. “The festive nature of the event required some sparkles, to give the look of Zari work used in extensive garments of women from royalty in the Mughal era," Khan adds. “The outfit was a very intricate yet heartfelt tribute to the relationship Sonam holds with the brand since its early years," adds Khan. “It took a long time and several hours of handwork of various artisans to bring this outfit together.” Colour, too, Khan says, played a defining role in shaping the mood. “We chose lime because Sonam loves green but yet wanted it to be a bright and a happy shade for the joyous occasion.”
Rhea styled her look with jewellery that blended heirloom sentiment with artisanal charm. The necklace and earrings were from Kapoor’s personal collection, while the ring and gucha came from Amrapali Jewels, the hathphool, waist belt and pearl kadas from Sheetal Zaveri, and additional kadas from Maalka By Varun Haria and Falguni Mehta.
Also read:
Sonam Kapoor: “I don’t have personal opinions on people anymore”
7 looks from Sonam Kapoor’s style playbook to build your next wedding guest outfit
Khushi Kapoor's summery Raw Mango sari features dancing peacock motifs
