Ananya Panday attended the annual Academy Museum Gala last night. The young Bollywood actor walked shoulder to shoulder among celebrities like Taylor Swift, Kim Kardashian and Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber,
Charlize Theron and more.
As the first-ever brand ambassador for Chanel in India, it was obvious that Ananya Panday would be dressed by the French brand.
While Ananya Panday’s outfit was simple, edging on plain, the actor looked beautiful in her gown. She wore a sleeveless black off-the-runway gown from Chanel’s Fall–Winter 2026 collection. It featured fluid draping and pleats that ran down the length of the dress. It was cinched halfway down the gown, giving it a balloon effect.
With an asymmetrical hemline, the gown was shorter in the front to allow a peek at the simple black pumps that Ananya was wearing and then flowed into a mini train that pooled on the floor. Adding some visual interest, the gown had a few chunky ornamental jewels around the neck that doubled up as a pop of colour and a necklace. The dress did nothing for the actor’s figure, but she pulled it off the best she could.
Ananya Panday’s glossy brown hair had voluminous curls that added movement to the entire look. As the face of Chanel beauty in India, her glam was minimal yet chic – dewy skin, bronzey glow and a nude lip, with minimal blush. Her eyes were rimmed in kohl with a baby wing liner that accentuated her eyes. She accessorised with a black Chanel clutch, tiny silver earrings and a couple of gold rings.
What is the Academy Museum Gala?
The Academy Museum Gala is a prestigious annual black-tie fundraising event hosted by the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles. It supports the museum’s film screenings, educational programmes, and exhibitions celebrating cinema while ranking as a major highlight on the Hollywood social calendar.
The evening brings together actors, directors, producers, and arts patrons for a red-carpet reception, seated dinner, and awards ceremony. During the course of the evening, celebrities were honoured for their contribution to the arts and it included Charlize Theron with the Icon Award, John Carpenter with the Luminary Award, and Colman Domingo with the Vantage Award. The 2026 gala also featured a special performance by Taylor Swift.
