Last night in Mumbai, designer Vikram Phadnis celebrated 35 years in the fashion and film industries with a spectacular display of his most recent collection, Ananta. Salman Khan, the actor who had been waiting years to return to the runway, took centre stage. Salman ended the presentation wearing a striking black raw silk open sherwani with elaborate resham embroidery, worn over a sleek pin-tuck kurta and straight trousers. Salman is Vikram's close friend and lifelong muse.

With Vikram, it's been a long journey," Salman remarked. "He's been a part of so many memories, from fashion to movies. It feels really special to be here to celebrate him reaching his 35th birthday.

Salman Khan and Sushmita Sen share a tender moment.
When Sushmita Sen and Salman Khan embraced warmly to welcome one another and then engaged in a light-hearted conversation that kept the cameras rolling, it was one of the evening's most talked-about moments. The two, who had a natural relationship, appeared to resume their previous level of warmth, humour, and that recognisable "gunda-style" friendship.

Their on-screen chemistry in Biwi No. 1 (1999) and Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya (2005) was electrifying, as fans of Bollywood from the 1990s and early 2000s would recall.

Concerning the show
This get-together of friends and movie icons was the ideal way for Vikram Phadnis to honour his journey. "Ananta means endless — and that's what these relationships are," he remarked of his collection. "Seeing so many friends like Sushmita and Shilpa here tonight and having Salman close the show made it even more special," he added. The people who influenced my story over the past 35 years are equally as important as fashion.