Diljit Dosanjh’s debut at the Met Gala 2025 wasn’t just a fashion statement—it was a heartfelt tribute to his Punjabi roots. In a candid interview with BBC Asian Network, the singer-actor revealed that his appearance was designed to represent Punjab on the global stage, complete with a turban, a cape embroidered with the Punjab map, and a ceremonial kirpan.
“It Wasn’t About Me, It Was About Punjab”
Diljit shared that he became emotional while envisioning his Met Gala look during the shoot of Sardaarji 3. “I cried when I thought of my look—that I would wear an outfit with the Punjab flag on my back and Gurmukhi script written on it. It wasn’t important that I go there; it was important that Punjab goes there, that the turban goes there,” he said.
The Kirpan Controversy—and Shakira’s Accidental Assist
One of the most striking elements of his ensemble was the kirpan, a sacred Sikh symbol. Initially, event organizers told him he couldn’t carry it onto the blue carpet. Diljit requested to at least take photos with it backstage. But in the rush, he accidentally left for the venue with the kirpan still under his cape.
That’s when fate—and Shakira—stepped in. “Shakira was ahead of me, and her dress had a lot of metal pins. When she went through the metal detector, it beeped. I just walked through with her. They checked Shakira but didn’t check me,” Diljit recalled, laughing.
A Cultural Milestone
Diljit’s look, inspired by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, featured a regal diamond-and-emerald necklace and a turban—making him the first turbaned artist to walk the Met Gala carpet. His presence was widely celebrated as a moment of cultural pride and representation.
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