Why it's time to rethink the runway's final act—celebrity showstoppers

Another Indian Couture Week has come and gone, glittering with grand sets, mesmerising textiles, and crowds waiting to catch a glimpse of their favourite Bollywood star strutting down the runway. But as the applause dies down, a question lingers louder than ever—are we still rooting for the celebrity showstopper?

Born out of a uniquely Indian fashion culture, the showstopper—typically a film celebrity closing the show arm-in-arm with the designer—is a spectacle in itself. It's meant to be the grand finale, the cherry on top. But in the age of content saturation, its charm might just be wearing thin.

Whose runway is it, anyway?

 

This season, as is typical of Indian fashion shows, most designers had celebrities closing their shows. However, as it does each year, the phenomenon sparked conversations about priorities. After all, these shows are more than just photo ops—they're an experience, a living moodboard, and arguably the best place to truly see, learn and breathe fashion. They offer a front-row seat into the creative mind of a designer and how clothing moves, layers, and feels in real time. That immersive takeaway should centre around the pieces on the ramp, not the personality wearing them.

Having a celebrity own the final moment often shifts the gaze away from the craftsmanship and team behind the collection. Tailors, artisans, pattern-makers—those who spend months putting together thirty-odd looks—are overshadowed in a heartbeat by a viral clip of a star in a mermaid lehenga.

What's lost along the way

 

Some argue that celebrity showstoppers draw media and public attention—something vital in a country obsessed with film and cricket. And they’re not wrong. One social media post with a major star can skyrocket engagement, get a designer trending, and bring in a flood of eyeballs. But the cost—both literally and figuratively—is steep. Budgets that could be used to pay skilled workers or elevate production quality are often funnelled into a single appearance and a few media bytes. At times, it can feel like a substitute for real storytelling or strong design. If the only thing people remember from a collection is what the actor wore in the final minutes of a curated and choreographed show, was the show ever about the fashion?

The bright side

 

Of course, not all showstopper moments are created equal. Sometimes, they serve as heartfelt, thoughtful nods to long-standing relationships or shared histories. Take Arjun Rampal walking for Rohit Bal this season, as a tribute to an old friend. It felt personal, grounded, and rooted in support and mutual respect. There was no production gimmick, no transactional flair. Just a creative bond finding expression on the runway. When a showstopper is more muse than marketing strategy, it adds value. But when a celebrity walks out with a designer to take a bow as part of a larger deal or endorsement, that moment inevitably steals the show, whether the clothes deserve it or not.

So, are we a yay or a nay for celebrity showstoppers? In an ideal world, the real showstoppers should be the clothes, but if someone pulls the right strings and ends their show with a buzzy celebrity, none of us are really turning down the invite.

 

Lead Image: The brands

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