Sara Arjun at Lakmé Fashion Week was one of the most talked-about moments of the week in New Delhi. On Friday, 16 October 2026, the 21-year-old Dhurandhar actor walked her first-ever runway as the showstopper for designer Anushree Reddy, closing the Lakmé Salon x Anushree Reddy presentation of MAYA, the label's fall bridal collection, at the Taj Palace. Instead of the expected red-and-gold bridal lehenga, she wore a strapless, powder-blue embroidered gown with a sculpted peplum and a mermaid hem. Here is the look in detail, what she said after the show, and the bridal beauty trends that came with it.
Sara Arjun's Lakmé Fashion Week look, explained
Moneycontrol describes the outfit as a strapless powder-blue gown with a sweetheart neckline finished in delicate white lace. The fitted bodice was covered in intricate white floral embroidery, and the most distinctive element was a sculpted peplum at the waist, cut into pointed, petal-like panels that gave the gown a structured, dramatic shape. Below the peplum, the skirt stayed fitted before flaring into a sweeping mermaid hem, with the white threadwork growing denser towards the bottom.
The Free Press Journal adds that the ensemble featured zardozi embroidery, delicate threadwork, shimmering sequins and glass-bead detailing, which is what gives the pale blue its frosted, light-catching finish on the runway.
Styling was deliberately minimal. Sara wore a few delicate rings, skipped a statement necklace to keep the neckline clean, and let the gown carry the look.
Sara Arjun's hair and makeup
Her beauty look was built to match the romance of the gown. According to Moneycontrol, she wore her dark hair in loose, glossy waves with a centre parting, falling naturally over her shoulders. Makeup was soft: gently defined eyes, flushed cheeks and a muted rose lip.
Asked about her glow after the show, she credited her team. "First of all, I think a lot of it goes into having my hairstylist, makeup artist and stylist. So, I don't look this gorgeous all the time, and I'm not always flawless!" she told ANI, as reported by Republic World. "None of us is perfect all the time. I think that's what I'm trying to say: everybody should do what's right for them."
What Sara Arjun said about her runway debut
Speaking to ANI, Sara said the moment matched what she had imagined. "You know, I always had a picture in my head of what my first time would look like, and very coincidentally, it aligns a lot with how it is today," she said. On the gown: "I really like the silhouette, the structure and the colour. It's very me; it reflects who I am."
On her personal style, she was refreshingly honest. "I think I'm still figuring that out. I'm very fluid when it comes to dressing up, and usually, comfort is what I look for."
Inside Anushree Reddy's MAYA collection
MAYA is Anushree Reddy's fall bridal collection, shown in collaboration with Lakmé Salon. The designer described it to Variety India as a fresh start. "MAYA began with a question I asked myself: what next? After more than a decade of building a world I love, I wanted to step back, start from scratch and challenge my own aesthetic," she said. "This collection allowed me to explore craft in its most exuberant form while imagining a bride who dreams freely and sees herself in 100 different ways."
The show had a strong wedding atmosphere. Republic World reports that models walked to live bridal tracks performed by the Nankhathai band. Variety India called it the week's biggest celebrity-spotting turnout, with front-row guests wearing Reddy's designs, and noted that veteran supermodel Sheetal Malhar walked in a blood-red sari with a backless choli, a striking contrast to Sara's pastel closing look.
The Lakmé Salon bridal beauty trends from the show
Because the show was a Lakmé Salon collaboration, the beauty looks were part of the message. The Free Press Journal reports that the bridal beauty trends ranged from soft and romantic to timeless elegance and bold maximalism, featuring:
Glowing, velvet-like skin rather than heavy matte coverage.
Watercolour blush, diffused across the cheeks instead of placed in a sharp stripe.
Diffused lips, with softened edges rather than a crisp liner.
Statement eye makeup for brides who want one bold focal point.
Contemporary hairstyles, including loose, glossy waves like Sara's.
How to wear the powder-blue bridal trend
Sara's look is a strong argument for pastel bridal and reception wear. Moneycontrol points out that powder blue offers a contemporary alternative to traditional red and gold without losing the craft. If you want to try it:
Choose structure, not just colour. A peplum, corset bodice or sculpted waist keeps pastel from looking washed out.
Let white or ivory threadwork do the detailing. Tone-on-tone embroidery photographs beautifully and feels modern.
Keep jewellery light. With a strapless neckline this ornate, rings and small earrings are enough.
Match the makeup to the mood: dewy skin, a soft flush and a rose lip, as on the runway.
Who is Sara Arjun?
Sara Arjun began her career as a child artist at just 18 months old, appearing in television commercials, before making her film debut in the 2011 Tamil film Deiva Thirumagal at the age of six, according to The Free Press Journal. She went on to appear in films including Jazbaa, Saivam and Ponniyin Selvan, and earned wider recognition for playing Yalina Jamali in Dhurandhar.
FAQ
Who did Sara Arjun walk for at Lakmé Fashion Week 2026?
She was the showstopper for Anushree Reddy's MAYA fall bridal collection, presented with Lakmé Salon at the Taj Palace, New Delhi, on 16 October 2026.
What did Sara Arjun wear on the runway?
A strapless powder-blue gown with a sweetheart neckline, white floral embroidery, a sculpted petal-like peplum and a mermaid hem.
Was this Sara Arjun's first runway walk?
Yes. Lakmé Fashion Week x FDCI 2026 marked her runway debut.
More from Lakmé Fashion Week 2026
Catch up on the full week with our Lakmé Fashion Week 2026 Delhi schedule at https://thecoverissue.com/lakme-fashion-week-2026-delhi-schedule-designers — and see how Suneet Varma turned Varanasi into a collection at https://thecoverissue.com/suneet-varma-kashi-lakme-fashion-week.
