Before Nita Ambani, Sonam Kapoor rocked that ginormous maharani haar
The first thing you probably noticed about Nita Ambani's Ganpati celebration look wasn’t the vibrant silk saree. It was the necklace.
At the Ambani family's annual Ganpati celebrations at Antilia in Mumbai, Nita Ambani wore a bright orange-and-magenta silk saree, but it was the enormous, shoulder-to-shoulder bib-necklace sitting across her neckline that had everyone do a double take. The piece was so expansive that it almost blurred the line between necklace and jewellery tableau.
Called Amrapali Bharatam, the one-of-a-kind piece is an assemblage of vintage ornaments from different parts of India, brought together into a single jewel. Nita Ambani in Amrapali Bharatam necklace.
Look closely and there is plenty to discover. A traditional Kerala necklace forms part of its upper structure, while old South Indian naths, jhoomars, earrings, billas and chandbalis have been repurposed within the composition. Pearls, coloured gemstones and diamonds add layers of colour and texture, while the different forms and motifs retain traces of the jewellery traditions they originally belonged to.
It is, quite literally, a collection of many pieces made to look like one.
Tarang Arora, CEO and Creative Director of Amrapali Jewels, explains that this kind of piece cannot simply be designed on paper and then made. The elements have to be physically brought together, balanced and adjusted so that everything falls correctly. Even the pearl strings at the back were added as part of that process. Nita Ambani posing for the paparazzi at Antilia. (Photo: Yogen Shah)
And the work behind it is considerable. According to the brand, the antique and vintage components were collected over three years, before 14 master karigars worked on the final composition. The making itself took months, involving extensive research, trial and error, and painstaking work to make disparate pieces sit together as one.
That explains why the necklace doesn't look conventionally symmetrical. Instead, it has an almost museum-display quality to it, with different elements competing for your attention. One moment you notice a pendant, then a string of pearls, then an old earring or a traditional form tucked into the larger structure.
But here's the interesting part: this isn't the first time we've seen this necklace. Can’t recollect yet? Will help you!Before Nita Ambani, Sonam Kapoor wore it
Fashion watchers may recognise the same dramatic piece from when Sonam Kapoor wore it earlier this year with an ivory ensemble.
Unlike Nita's colourful Ganpati look, Sonam's styling gave the necklace a quieter canvas. She wore it with an ivory-and-gold anarkali, allowing the antique-looking jewellery to stand out against the monochrome palette. The ensemble featured a voluminous anarkali with a richly embellished yoke, wide-legged palazzos and a sheer ivory dupatta with intricate gold detailing. She finished the look with jhumkas, gold bangles, rings and a small potli. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Yash Raj Films Talent (@yashrajfilmstalent)
Honesty, the ginormous necklace complements both the looks, one muted and subtle, the other look at a much brighter canvas and both styling absolutely landed.
On Sonam, the necklace becomes almost like a piece of antique art placed against a blank canvas. The ivory lets you notice the individual elements, the different ornaments, stones, pearls and intricate metalwork — without another strong colour competing for attention.
Nita Ambani took the opposite route. She paired the same extraordinary piece with an equally vivid saree and more jewellery, leaning fully into the grandeur of it.- EndsPublished By: Tiasa Bhowal Published On: Sep 16, 2026 12:27 IST
