Chanel Even Got an Indian Model Now! Bhavitha Mandava From Hyderabad: Emmanuel Macron | N18V

Emmanuel Macron used the story of a rising Indian fashion model in an awkward attempt to highlight India’s growing global influence during his keynote speech at the India–France Innovation Forum in Mumbai on Tuesday. “The CEO of Alphabet is Indian, the CEO of Microsoft is Indian, the CEO of IBM is Indian, the CEO of Adobe is Indian, the CEO of Palo Alto Networks is Indian, the CEO of Novartis is Indian,” Macron said. “Chanel's new creative director chose a young woman from Hyderabad, Bhavita Mandava, to open his show in New York. She was the first Indian model to open the Chanel runway. She was discovered on a subway platform,” he continued. “So India does not just participate in global innovation, India leads it.” Mandava, a 25-year-old architecture student from Hyderabad, was reportedly scouted on a New York subway platform in 2024 while commuting to classes at NYU. In December 2025, she became the first Indian model to open a Chanel runway show, leading the Metiers d'Art 2026 collection. Macron’s remarks came as he was welcomed to Mumbai by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the start of a three-day state visit, his fourth to India, but his first official trip to the financial capital. The two leaders discussed the Horizon 2047 Roadmap, focusing on defence cooperation, trade, technology and artificial intelligence. They also inaugurated India’s first helicopter final assembly line, a joint venture between the Tata Group and Airbus, which will produce the Airbus H125, the company’s best-selling single-engine helicopter. The visit follows India’s approval last week of a major $40 billion defence package, including the procurement of 114 Rafale fighter jets from France. It also comes weeks after India and the EU signed a landmark free trade agreement in January. #emmanuelmacron #chanel #pmmodi #bhavithamandava #cnbctv18