Oct 19, 2026 12:25pm IST
Aneet Padda Stuns as Showstopper at Amit Aggarwal’s Grand Finale at Lakmé Fashion Week
Dancers swirled, balloon and ice cream vendors paraded their colorful wares, and people walked around carrying everything from yoga mats and bouquets to toffee-shaped bags. The streets came alive at designer Amit Aggarwal’s AM showcase, 5PM Glam Reset, which brought Lakmé Fashion Week 2026 to a theatrical close.
Blending music, dance, fantasy and everyday street scenes, the grand finale celebrated the modern working woman and her transformation from workday mode to after-hours glamour. Adding star power to the spectacle was Aneet Padda, who is also Variety India’s cover girl this month. The actor, fondly dubbed the national crush, turned showstopper in a striking creation by the designer.
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The ramp was transformed into a bustling street, complete with traffic signals and signs bearing messages such as ‘No stress’ and ‘Pace yourself’. As pulsating beats filled the venue, the audience watched and tapped their feet to the spectacle. Titled On a Day Like Today, the presentation explored the possibilities that unfold as the workday ends and the hours between 5 pm and 9 pm take on a life of their own.
The collection drew inspiration from India’s visual vocabulary, looking beyond conventional ideas of craft to find beauty in the rhythms and details of everyday life. Woven chattai mats, colorful household objects, tarpaulin-covered streets and shirts casually tied around waists found their way into the designer’s creative language. Among the models walking the ramp was lifestyle content creator Ankush Bahuguna, who sported one of Aggarwal’s creations.
Amit Aggarwal, founder and creative director of AM, said, “The collection moves from the structure of the working day into the freedom of after-hours expression, bringing together utility, craft, color and ornament to reflect the spirit of Lakmé’s ‘5PM Glam Reset’. For me, it is about finding the extraordinary in the familiar and recognizing that while the person remains the same, their energy and expression can evolve.”
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