Le Bal des Débutantes in Paris is a society event where 25 girls from elite families around the world – the progeny of royalty, aristocracy, business tycoons and film stars – are selected to make their official public debut at a glamorous ball in the French capital. This year, it was Chunkey Panday’s daughter Ananya who made her debut in a fitted blue gown by Parisian couturier Jean Paul Gaultier.
Young men from these prominent families also have a special role to play at Le Bal, known as cavaliers, escorting the debutantes once they’ve been introduced by their parents. Ananya’s cousin Ahaan Panday, who has already made his acting aspirations public, was partnered with Princess Alice of Belgium.
Indian royalty was also represented by Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh of Jaipur and Princess Gauravi Kumari. The Maharaja was partnered with the Ava Phillippe, daughter of Hollywood star and Academy Award winner, Reese Witherspoon, who wore a custom Giambattista Valli gown.
