Priyanka Chopra Jonas who has been a regular at the Met Gala--the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art’s annual fundraising event--will be skipping the esteemed function this year. As part of the Indian representation, filmmaker Karan Johar will be attending the gala dressed in a Manish Malhotra ensemble while Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt are also rumoured to be present.

As to why Priyanka is not attending the coveted event this year, reports state that she is busy with the promotions for the upcoming second season of her spy-thriller series Citadel. She also has to travel to Los Angeles for the Gold House Gala, where she will be honoured with the Global Vanguard Award.

“Priyanka Chopra is unable to attend the Met Gala this year as she is currently in the middle of a global press tour for the promotions of the upcoming season of Citadel, which releases on May 6, followed immediately by her travel to Los Angeles for the Gold House Gala, where she will be honoured with the Global Vanguard Award for the second consecutive year,” states a source as per Hindustan Times.

Scheduled to take place on May 4 in New York City, this year marks the 78th edition of the iconic fundraiser that brings together the biggest names from fashion, film, music, sports, and beyond.

The much-awaited red carpet will be streamed live at 6 pm ET on May 4, which translates to 3:30 am IST on May 5 for viewers in India.

This year’s theme is “Costume Art,” while the dress code for attendees is “Fashion Is Art.” While the theme is tied to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s spring exhibition, the dress code gives celebrities creative freedom to interpret the idea on the red carpet.

The event will be led by a powerful lineup of co-chairs, including global icons like Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman, and Venus Williams. Co-chairs play a key role in shaping the event, from helping define the theme and dress code to curating the guest list and promoting the gala.

As always, the Met Gala is expected to be packed with A-list celebrities. Names like Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Zendaya, and Kim Kardashian are likely to make appearances.