What if Emily moved to Mumbai? Step inside a fictional world of couture, chaos, and maximum drama

With Emily in Paris gearing up for its much-awaited season five, it feels like the perfect time to ask the only question that truly matters: what if Emily packed her berets, booked a very last-minute flight, and landed in Maximum City instead? Enter Emily in Mumbai—a reimagined fever dream where the chaos is louder, the glamour is stickier, and the content opportunities are truly endless.

Picture this: she arrives in the megacity with a ring light, a Duolingo subscription, and a suitcase full of misplaced optimism. Is she ready to ditch her gingham for relaxed chic, swap pain au chocolat for Aaram vada pav, and pretend the humidity is “good for her skin”? Let’s find out.

The humidity is high, the rents are higher, and Emily’s Ubering across the sea link like a tragic Bollywood heroine, homesick for Chicago, but determined to give Mumbai a chance. One stroll through SOBO, and her slumdog millionaire expectations shatter instantly. Naturally, she turns the chaos into content, all the while wondering why that kid at the airport just called her “aunty”. Ditching kitten heels for Kolhapuris (not Prada, though), she’s all in, and we’ve got every detail.

Caution: Everything you’re about to read is pure fiction—and open-mindedness and a generous sense of humour are strongly encouraged.

House-hunting in Kala Ghoda

With her office in South Mumbai’s plush Kala Ghoda district, Emily is actively house-hunting for an apartment in one of the nearby Art Deco buildings. Her balcony opens to sea views (and scaffolding!), and she can’t get enough of the old-world charm in the area. “Somehow, everything is cuter in Victorian Gothic—even my bad decisions.” And, post!

Mornings, musings, and coconut water

Funny how the city that never sleeps is also the city that dreams. Emily’s socials are oddly philosophical today, with mornings in Mumbai beginning much earlier than in Paris. She loves starting her day with a walk around Malabar Hill, followed by some fresh coconut water on the street outside—right before the notifications inevitably take over.

Soho House chaos and unexpected fame

Emily and Mindy are chilling at Soho House, where Gabriel is the special chef for the day at the in-house restaurant. Outside, they’re ambushed by a sea of paparazzi, who are shouting what sounds suspiciously like “ick day” (IYKYK). Emily spots a Bollywood celebrity posing with fans. Within seconds, she reel-bombs the celeb’s paid Insta moment and instantly goes viral as the “clueless foreigner” lurking in the background. One moment in Mumbai and she’s already a meme.

Muratori in Lonavala

Marcello and his mother are in India to source cashmere for Umberto Muratori, and Sylvie (somehow) convinces them to soft-launch for the upper crust of Mumbai. And since Muratori sits firmly in the quiet luxury space, Emily suggests heading out of the city for a more intimate showcase. Lonavala becomes the obvious choice, and the team books a plush villa with an infinity pool and gazebo for added privacy. Editors, writers, and stylists are invited for a weekend exploring the brand’s family-oriented ethos.

Alfie, who’s just invested in the brand, joins for a quick tour. “When Cooper meets Cooper’s fudge,” Emily captions her Instagram post. Suddenly, everything feels like a montage—with applause in the background.

Culture girl era

Emily’s cultural appetite is at its peak. She takes the group to watch The Nutcracker on Ice at NMACC, and by next week, she already has tickets booked for an Indian classical music concert at the NCPA. Très obsessed!

 

 

 

 

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On a sunny Saturday, Emily decides to feed her grid and explore Mumbai on foot—starting with a stop at the steps of The Asiatic Society for that perfect, old-world-meets-new-world post. From there, she turns the day into an art crawl through Mumbai’s iconic galleries—starting at the NGMA, where she takes in its blend of heritage architecture and modern retrospectives, before heading to Jehangir Art Gallery for its buzzing exhibitions. A quick Uber ride later, she’s at Chemould Prescott Road, for a dose of contemporary installations she doesn’t entirely get but still posts confidently on her IG Stories. And since she’s all about uncovering the “new new,” she winds up at Swadesh in Eros, swooning over India’s evolving design identity. Naturally, she posts a “Mumbai art crawl” reel with trending French pop in the background. And finally, comes the customary Marine Drive selfie (because was she really here if she didn’t take one?). 

Chai, dinner, and a Cinderella moment

Emily may have ditched her Starbucks Apple Crisp Macchiatos for a soothing cup of chai, but she still enjoys a touch of hedonism. Since it’s Marcello’s last night in town, he treats her to an authentic Italian dinner at the Taj President, where they bond over Margherita pizzas and tiramisu, all the while reminiscing about Rome. Later, Emily gets her street-style Cinderella moment in the electronic “Victoria” carriages along Marine Drive (with some traffic, obviously).

Derby day with a side of hustle

It’s derby season, and Mindy convinces Emily to join her at the iconic Mahalaxmi Racecourse. While everyone else is busy placing bets and debating jockey stats, Emily—ever the corporate girlie—can’t help noticing more than just the horses. She clocks Mumbai’s wealthiest, rolling in with vintage luxury cars, dressed in a quiet luxury meets casual comfort, and the kind of “I-own-the-city” aura deserves its own pitch deck.

Somewhere between the parade ring and the grandstand, a thought sparks: she may have just found the perfect inspiration for McLaren’s upcoming retro exhibit.

Couture dreams in Kala Ghoda

Wedding season in Mumbai is in full swing, and Emily has managed to score an invite to a colleague’s grand destination wedding in Udaipur. On the hunt for the perfect outfits for the wedding’s many ceremonies, Emily makes her way to the luxury boutiques near her Kala Ghoda apartment. From Sabyasachi to Anita Dongre, Falguni Shane Peacock, and Tarun Tahiliani, she browses her way through a couture spree, fully embracing her Indian Disney princess fantasy.

Afterwards, the trio heads to the St Regis for a potential client meeting, where Luc bumps into Marianne, who’s reviewing one of the restaurants for her blog, Marianne in Mumbai. And since India is still waiting for Michelin recognition, the city feels like the perfect playground for food, fashion, and content.

Sundays are reserved for football at the Oval Maidan, and Gabriel and Alfie always follow it up with breakfast at a legacy Irani café. As for Emily? It’s a sunrise jog along the Marine Drive promenade, followed by brunch with mimosas! 

The Taj takeover

Sylvie and Emily are at The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel for their biggest event of the year: Pierre Cadault’s latest collection. The evening kicks off with a runway show at the Gateway of India and wraps up with a sit-down dinner at the Taj. Pierre, of course, is questioning his entire existence as social media debates swirl over creativity versus cultural appropriation. The duo is doing their best to salvage the situation. Stereotypical style? Ringarde, at best.

The next morning, Sylvie strolls in with piping hot samosas, forcing Luc to cancel lunch, while Julian claims dibs on the leftover desserts. All’s well in Mumbai.

And just like that, Emily settles into Mumbai’s rhythm. She’s learning to navigate the humidity, the traffic, and the cultural quirks with equal parts grace and mischief, proving that even in a city as overwhelming as this, a little optimism and a lot of curiosity can turn every moment into content gold.

Season five of Emily in Paris may be just around the corner, but for now, Emily in Mumbai has already claimed her crown.

All images: Netflix, courtesy of the writer. 

Also read: Bonjour, Rome! Everything we know about 'Emily In Paris' season 5

Also read: ‘Emily in Paris’ costume designer: “Fashion is not serious, so have fun with it”