Alia Bhatt Channels Marilyn Monroe in Custom Gucci at BAFTAs

“I wanted to bring a touch of old-school glamour,” said Alia Bhatt as she reflected on her debut appearance at the BAFTA Film Awards. The actor made a striking entrance at London’s Royal Festival Hall, turning heads in a custom creation by Gucci that paid homage to Hollywood legend Marilyn Monroe.

Speaking over Zoom just hours before the ceremony, Bhatt laughed about the toll of long-haul travel. Flying in from Mumbai to present the award for Best Film Not in the English Language, she admitted that jet lag feels “a little more real” these days. Yet there was no trace of fatigue when she arrived on the red carpet — luminous, poised, and wrapped in silver sparkle.

Her look was inspired by a vintage photograph of Monroe draped in a shimmering gown with a soft white stole — the epitome of Old Hollywood elegance. With London’s February chill in mind and her gown featuring a daring backless silhouette, Bhatt and the Gucci atelier incorporated a plush shearling wrap to balance style with practicality.

The bespoke halter-neck dress was crafted from delicate tulle and meticulously adorned with silver sequins and microbead embellishments, creating a radiant, cinematic effect under the evening lights. For Bhatt, the collaboration was about more than just fashion. “When you build an idea together,” she shared, “it becomes something far more meaningful than just a garment.”

The result was a red-carpet moment that seamlessly blended Bollywood star power with timeless Hollywood glamour — a fitting statement for her first BAFTA appearance.