Indholdsfortegnelse for June/July 2023 i Harper's Bazaar India

Change is in the air, and the winds are ushering in a new era in fashion. But this shift is more momentous than just seasonal clothes or runway trends; instead, we are seeing a triumphant leaning towards sustainable choices, gender-neutral garments, inclusivity and diversity in the modelling industry, and a slew of supremely talented designers with fresh designs and unique approaches. It’s about time. And it is the reboot we needed. There is formidable power in what is transpiring at the moment, and this issue of Bazaar India celebrates the reshaping and (r)evolution of Indian fashion. Our cover story this month turns the spotlight on nine new-age models—who defy traditional notions of shape, sexuality, and gender—dressed in nine brilliant, emerging designers who are embracing a vibrant, new design world…and are…

Nandini Bhalla: Sanjay, what are your earliest memories of fashion, saris, colours, and textiles? Sanjay Garg: “As a child, I didn’t understand these things separately or view them as being different… it’s just life. So you don’t view your dadi’s lehenga or a Bandhani sari or a Leheriya sari as something extraordinary. I didn’t view these items as fashion then, and it was only when I ventured out in the world that I took notice of their unique beauty.” NB: What imprints did the dadi’s lehenga or the women on the streets leave on your mind? SG: “Every community has its own unique design language. And I think the boldness of colour comes from Rajasthan. There, I was introduced to different colour combinations, which redefine sophistication. Culturally, Rajasthan is very rich, and…

“During my time in college in the US, streetwear and sneaker culture were really becoming a thing. I became obsessed with it—camping outside Supreme and Nike stores, travelling across the country for sneaker drops. It was the first time I saw fashion as a tool for cultural communication and conversation. Once I came back [to India] from college, I was determined to start this conversation in the country as well. Streetwear as a movement brought accessibility and interest to a world of fashion and culture that had seemed far removed from those not engaged in its discourse. It acted as an entry point for us into these conversations, however, the more time we spent building Almost Gods, the more we realised that it was a small component of the broader…

“Fashion has always existed as a medium to express a personal standpoint. Streetwear taps into the youth’s desire to challenge traditional norms. At Kanika Goyal Label, our perspective on self-expression and freedom of speech is built into the fabric of the brand. We combine elevated construction with elements that authentically define the ‘now’. Celebrating a non-traditionalist point of view, we intend to deconstruct the rigid perception of luxury, making it more individualistic and personal (not defined by the set norms). The brand language embodies a youthful and free spirit that draws inspiration from the current zeitgeist and, in return, adds to the cultural sphere, delivering intellectually-designed, statement neo-luxury with ‘a cool brand’ element. In this day and age where the Internet and social media have profoundly changed the way we…

Nandini Bhalla: Manushi, you debuted at the Cannes Film Festival this year. How was the experience? Manushi Chhillar: “Cannes was as exciting, busy, and chaotic as one would assume…My experience was fun; it was entirely different from the film festivals and red carpet soirées I have attended in India. Although, I have to say, Cannes is an organised chaos—each person has a specified time slot, and everybody is punctual. Everything begins and ends on time…it is well-balanced.” NB: Tell me a bit about that dress that you wore for your debut… MC: “Well, actually, we didn’t take the dress from India. The moment we landed, my stylist and I knew that we would get into fittings…We were running around from one place to the other, meeting up with different designers,…

Downsizing for all the right reasons, iconic timepieces such as Cartier Baignoire, Chopard Happy Sport, Vacheron Constantin Overseas, and Omega Aqua Terra are now available in mini versions that one can wear with the same ease as their larger counterparts. Unleashing an approach that lends well to all wrist sizes, these timepieces have been mindfully shrunk down keeping true to the ethos of their design ideology. Bulgari even developed a micro mechanical movement aptly termed Piccolissimo that translates to little in Italian.…

Think carbon, titanium, ceramic, and more, watch brands are constantly innovating with new materials to craft timepieces that still focus on high watchmaking but with a modern outlook. Take IWC Schaffhausen, for instance, the Ingenieur, which is one of Gérald Genta’s masterpieces from the ’70s, stays true to its iconic integrated bracelet but is now encased in a light yet effective titanium body. The TAG Heuer Carrera Plasma Diamant pushes the limits with the use of lab-grown diamonds that have literally been ‘grown’ to stipulate the watch. Hermès reboots its H08 with a compressed technology taking carbon to the next level and Rado achieves a new, truly-thin version with its ceramic mastery. The true nobility lies in timekeeping, not what it’s made of.…

“There’s a lot to celebrate about at Amazon Originals right now. We have released over 56 originals, nearly 60 direct-to-service films in six languages, and expanded our programming to 10 languages. And I am proud to have launched Maitri: Female First Collective, which is a safe space for women from the Indian media and entertainment industry to share their stories, challenges, and successes, and build a community for positive dialogue and change. At Amazon Originals, representation is extremely important to me. I realise that I have been able to succeed in my journey because somebody before me had carved the way. Women who are in positions of responsibility and authority, including me, should keep the doors open for other women to walk in. Many of us have been through difficult…

“I feel fortunate about leading a brand that has to its name several industry-first initiatives. Welspun India has witnessed so many milestones over the past few years… Crossing $1 billion in revenues for two consecutive years has been a significant achievement for the organisation. We have become India’s no. 1 home textile brand with 11,300+ stores in 500+ cities across India. The only way to ensure more female leaders is for women to have access to good mentors, receive quality education, network better, and more crucially, be recognised. As the patriarchal mindset is slowly fading today, the efficacy of women in top leadership positions is being tested and women are carving a niche for themselves. It is good to see the perceptions regarding the capabilities of working women changing. A…

“My content creation business is the foundation of what I do. I consider it a massive privilege because how many people actually have the opportunity to do what they love, love what they do, and also be able to make a difference through it!? Most days, I’m reminding myself that it’s pure destiny, and that, in itself, is enough motivation. When I started out, this was not a platform, and definitely not a business. I look back and realise that I was young, and I didn’t care about the opinions of others. I just experimented without overthinking. When you’re young and unsure what to do, it’s important to experiment, but on your own terms. It is also important to be consistent and not give up because you can never know…

“I like to think of myself as a child of the Indian Internet story. I built my first company in 1999, before tech became so intrinsically linked to our lives. But I was certain that the Internet was going to grow and that there will be growth in the tech space, and that became the central idea to everything I have done. Almost a decade later, I applied the same thought process to building an online platform for women and Flexi Moms was established. That is how my journey for building a tech company for women began. In 2013, I launched Sheroes, which turns 10 this year. It started as a small platform to support women and their careers but over time, it has grown into one of India’s largest…

“We used to be Raindrop Media, but I’ve recently set up a group of companies called Rain Reign and I am extremely proud of this reinvention. We launched 15 years ago—an impossible dream that is a reality today. Through Raindrop, we have been a part of the larger entertainment ecosystem, and now, we taking over the multiverse of entertainment. This has always been part of my plan—to grow and expand, to do more. I have always been ambitious. People keep saying ambition is a bad word, especially for women, but I would like to tell every person reading this—own your ambition; be proud of it. It is the backbone of success. I thrive on difficult situations and problems, and I believe that when a crisis strikes, you have an opportunity.…

“I am proud to have spearheaded the work done at the National Institute of Virology, Pune, to fight Covid-19 in India. I had taken over the reins at the Institute just two months before the pandemic struck, and the months that followed were dramatic, challenging, and demanding. There were endless sleepless nights, but there was a much larger purpose at hand—to curb the spread of a terrible virus, facilitate life-saving data, and enable vaccine trials. I truly think that there is no person—man or woman—who does not struggle with work-life balance. Different people face this challenge in different ways. I, too, have struggled with work-life balance, but when I am gripped with challenges and the pressures of work, I always enjoy looking at the funny side of life. What helps…

Jay Shetty—the former monk-turned-global best-selling author, podcaster, and motivational speaker who set out to make wisdom “go viral,” is now rooting for all-encompassing love. “Like a million others, our views on love are misguided and heavily influenced by movies and portrayals of relationships that just aren’t realistic,” says Jay. Bit by bit, Jay’s narrative in the form of his new book, 8 Rules Of Love, pushes us towards thinking about one eternal question—what does real love look like? “We have this idea that there is one perfect person for us, and when we meet them, it will be a fairy tale. Many of us grow up with these confusing concepts about love. But what we don’t get are the facts and the tools that can help us build successful relationships.…

Make-up: Krisann Figueiredo. Hair: Cletus Tachhang Liu. Make-up Assistant: Dinkle Gosrani. Fashion Assistants: Shubham Jawanjal and Chaitanya Balwant.Production: Akansha Productions. OPENING PAGE CREDITS On Raghvendra: Pocket Science Jacket, t-shirt and pants, all CMYKAY; shoes, stylist's own On Leeza: Growth Denim Textured Trousers and denim corset, both That Antiquepiece; Just Bloom Studs, Anatina On Prathiksha: Pearl Radiance Gown, Āroka; Balancing Act Statement Earrings, Zariin; shoes, Charles & Keith On Nin: 9 to 9 Bow Tie Shirt, Space Pants, and Vines Skirt, all QUOD; earrings and ring, both Varuna D Jani On Toshada: Lurex Glass and Chiffon Dress, AKHL; rhinestone earrings, Isharya On Teejay Gil: Harness Blazer, wrap pleated skirt, and Stitchline pants, all Line Out Line; Cavi Pendant (worn as a brooch), Bblingg by Meghana; shoes, stylist's own On Appoorva: Orchard…

Harper’s Bazaar: The La Beauté Hermès Metiers is a very carefully-crafted collection, focused on enhancing one’s skin and complexion. Tell us about the key qualities of each product. Gregoris Pyrpylis: “All of these collections carry the vision of the House of Hermès in its entirety. So we consider them as expressions that help express one’s personality—not trying to transform it, but just elevating one’s personality. That is the reason we don’t talk about trends. Trends have the power to unify beauty, and sometimes, you see women who follow the same trends perhaps end up looking similar. Hermès is about finding what makes you unique. What makes each of these beauty collections special is that it blends skincare and colour at the same time, be it Rose Hermès or Plein Air.…

Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty launched in the midst of a global pandemic [September 2020, in the USA]. A time when make-up had taken a backseat and self-care products and rituals were the focal point of every beauty conversation. But the brand’s ethos challenged that, and successfully managed to merge the two worlds to create a unique community for beauty aficionados. Built on the idea of celebrating people’s individuality, Rare Beauty made an impact that transcended borders and reached people in regions where the products were not even available at the time. [All hail the powers of social media!] The brand has many distinguishing qualities: Rare Beauty has been consistently working towards breaking down unrealistic ideals of perfection since its inception. Owing to Selena, its Founder, Rare Beauty is also synonymous…

FLUTTER FANTASY The Spring/Summer 2023 runways ushered in a new era for lashes. We observed a bevy of styles that featured borrowed accents from the past, and some that presented a futuristic edge. At Givenchy, for instance, chunky, mascara-laden lashes were reminiscent of the iconic Twiggy aesthetic. Models at Giorgio Armani were given curled-up, fanned-out lashes, while at Vivetta, each lash appeared separated, paired with an extra-long liner. The backstage pros at Prada added a bit of whimsy with extremely long, inverted false eyelashes that cast a shadow on the cheeks. WELL-OILED MACHINE The temperatures might be rising, but that doesn’t mean you can’t treat your skin to a good old oil massage, which has countless benefits. Regular massages aid muscle relief, improve blood circulation and sleep patterns, and hydrate,…

Model: Emmanuelle Lacou at The Hive Management. Make-Up: Marco Antonio. Set Design: Marco Turcich. Photographer’s Assistant: Lily Sadin.…

Nandini Bhalla: Congratulations on launching your new prêt collection Aikya in collaboration with Pride at Google and the Indus Google Network. Tell me how the collaboration came into being? Mayyur Girotra: “I did a show in New York in September 2022, and I wasn’t aware that someone from Google had attended it. Later, I received a call from my partner in NewYork and she said Google wanted to collaborate with us. I couldn’t believe it… I was thrilled! One of the leaders at the Indus Google Network, Shilpa Maniar, was impresed by the language, designs, and concepts we showcase at Mayyur Girotra, and the project materialised beautifully. And so, we decided to kickstart Pride Month in New York. This was a very exciting project for me, and also rather different, because…

“Streetwear for me has always been about regular, daily-wear clothes. When I started my brand, there were little to no places where I could find a good, loose-fitted printed shirt. Most brands only crafted tailored or formal versions, which did not resonate with me. So, I thought of doing exactly that [making clothes according to his style] and it has been a joyful journey ever since. All of the prints and artwork you see in my designs have been developed in-house, and a number of them are created by me—I think that adds a unique perspective to my work. Apart from that, most of the silhouettes are based on my personal style. I usually end up making garments that were not accessible to me, eventually releasing them for my audience.…

“I started Kardo because I couldn’t see beautifully crafted textiles in menswear. I saw khadi being worn by bureaucrats and thought that it would be interesting to use it in a contemporary way. The brand was born from the need of making slow clothing by combining traditional Indian textile techniques that are transparent in their approach. We work with many craft communities such as weavers, dyers, and printers across India in order to support NGO-based organisations and local artisans that are perhaps not getting the recognition that they deserve. We explain the process of making our textiles on our hang tags, along with adding a provenance tag to each piece so as to highlight all the hands involved in the making and manufacturing of the garment. We are not in…

Production: Concrete Rep; Set design: Lilly Marthe Ebener.…

The booming sales of vintage watches at auction have led to a ripple effect when it comes to rediscovering classics. Watch brands have taken note and 2023 is about embracing pathbreaking styles of the 1930s all the way up to the ’70s with open arms, reissuing them powered with complications that are relevant for today. Panerai celebrates its Italian heritage with the Radiomir, presenting it with an annual calendar all worded in Italian, Rolex has brought back the Panda Daytona, Jaeger-LeCoultre commemorates the iconic Reverso, Tudor Royal reimagines itself in a champagne tint, and Longines claims its Pilot Majatek heritage. Each one is a piece from yesteryear, still relevant today more than ever before.…

“We started our business over a decade ago with the mission of being the most cherished beauty brand for young, working women. Today, women all over the country have more access to the Internet and greater control over what’s being consumed. In fact, they make up over 25 percent of the workforce in the country. Our mission has now expanded to being more innovative and inclusive. We are amongst the top three brands in India in the make-up category…and our goal is to be the largest make-up brand in India. We make sure that our team factors in regional conditions, Indian aesthetic, and global trends in all our launches. I am extremely proud that there are more than 2,000 women working at Sugar! During the pandemic, we did not lay…

“I never set out to be a film producer… I always believed that if you want to be a film producer, you have to invest your own money in it. After moving to Delhi for my college years and exploring journalism and history, I found myself unsatisfied with the city and decided to visit Mumbai for a weekend. I instantly fell in love with Mumbai and decided to live there. I started out with an internship at Percept Pictures, where I met filmmaker and actor Anurag Kashyap. Anurag changed my life. One day, out of the blue, he handed me the script for Dev D, which he was directing at the time, and said, ‘Why don’t you work on this?”’. And that’s where my journey in the film industry began.…

“When we talk about female entrepreneurs and their ability to source funding for a business, I must admit that it is much tougher for a woman to raise money. Biases and inherent gender-based discrimination still persist in the startup ecosystem, all over the world, where only a small percentage of global venture capital goes to female-founded companies. The situation in India is no different, with limited funding opportunities for female founders. To address this issue, multiple interventions are required. First, there is a need for more women in decision-making roles in venture capital firms. This includes not just junior positions, but also leadership positions. Secondly, efforts should be made to increase the number of women founders who operate in technology and digitalisation. This can be achieved by proactively creating opportunities…

“I hail from a small town called Vidhisha in Madhya Pradesh. I was 17 years old when I ran away from home in the middle of the night without any money… I was just tired of living in an environment where I was not allowed to express my feelings. So I took a train to Bhopal and started doing odd jobs there. And quite unknowingly, I began advising people how to style their clothes. Around then, someone suggested that I study fashion design. So I enrolled in a local school but it was challenging because in 1997, fashion was not a profession one could survive on, at least not in Bhopal. However, I knew in my heart this is what I wanted to do and so I moved from Bhopal…

“I’m an accidental ‘foodpreneur’. I began my career in banking and moved to food quite unexpectedly. My mother used to take cooking lessons at home. And you know how mothers are—they don’t tend to run an extremely professional setup! That’s when I stepped in, only to realise that this was my calling and passion. I am a people’s person and I love to win hearts through food. My journey began, literally, from a home kitchen. Mom and I started a catering company called Sage and Saffron in 2011-12. Since we’re from Rajasthan, we curated flavours of the home and served them on beautiful platters… it gained attention for the authentic flavours. Since I did not hail from the food industry, I began training in different kitchens to upskill myself. I…

“I love what I do and I’m passionate about it. I’ve been brought up working within the family business and work has been a part of my daily life… through discussions with my father at the dining table, or with my sisters, or my mom. During my last year at university, I went up to my professor and told him that my father needed me back home. And that while I would finish my paper, I would not stick around for graduation. I returned to India, slept for two days and then threw myself into work and joined the family business. I absolutely love what I do. I love building factories. I love the challenges. I love working with people. I believe leadership is all about building confidence. You have…

“While I was blessed to have a lot of help and support from my family, I faced both gender bias and age bias because I was fairly young when I started. So whether it was sexism during investor pitches, or prejudice from senior employees who didn’t want to report to a female founder, or whether it was the babus in the government bureaucracy—I have faced all kinds of challenges. But I have come a long way since then. I am recognised as a fairly established entrepreneur in India, and I received an award from the President of India for being the first female fintech founder. I am proud to say that today, at Mobikwik, we have a consumer base of 140 million people and that we are a profitable company.…

Landscapes in Flux, a group exhibition presenting the works of twelve contemporary artists hailing from different regions of the country, compels the viewer to employ a keen eye while observing the topography and elements of his/her surroundings. Showcasing creations by artists Mayadhar Sahu, Sachin Pandey, Diptej Vernekar, Bhaskar Boldoi, Keerti Pooja, and Tsering Negi, among others, the presentation by Delhi-based Modern Art Gallery addresses the complexities of city life and impending ecological deterioration, while also paying homage to India’s diverse cultural and religious heritage. Landscapes in Flux will be on view at The Gallery in Bikaner House, New Delhi from July 21 to July 27…

In his over three-decade career in Bollywood, Manoj Bajpayee has played a variety of critically acclaimed roles. From Bhiku Mhatre in Ram Gopal Varma’s Satya to Sardar Khan in Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur, Bajpayee’s characters have remained etched in the minds of viewers. His latest film Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai that premiered on Zee 5 has him playing the role of a small-town lawyer fighting a criminal case against a godman accused of rape of a minor. Bajpayee, who is known for getting into the skin of his character, speaks to Bazaar India about his new film, his creative process, and how Bollywood has changed over the years. Harper’s Bazaar: In Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai, you are playing the role of a lawyer struggling to find justice…

We never started out to create Spice PR. The idea was simply to create something we loved, so we combined marketing and movies, and ended up doing PR. Back then, there was a vacuum in the space and we knew there was ample scope to do things. Fortunately, Aditya Chopra—known to be one of the most difficult persons to meet and approach—was our first client. Having Chopra on board can be purely attributed to providence. It was also a time when Yash Raj Films (YRF) was reinventing itself—we brought the studio format into the industry. The first film was Hum Tum (2004), and, in the same year, there was Salaam Namaste (2005), Dhoom (2004), and Veer-Zaara (2004). We were just surrendering to the experience, and we learnt many things on…

Hair & Make-up: Rakshanda Irani; Hair & Make-up Assistant: Fauziya Shaikh; Model: Meenakshi Rathod; Assistant stylists: Shubham Jawanjal, Chaitanya Balwant and Arjun Kumar; Production: Akansha Maheshwari…

Harper’s Bazaar: Tell us your secret for flawless skin. Is it high-quality ingredients, ample sleep, or treatments… Athiya Shetty: “I think it is a healthy mix of all of the above. It is difficult to credit just one thing for healthy skin, one needs to strike a balance. I ensure I get eight hours of sleep and follow it up by eating balanced healthy meals.” HB: What about professional treatments—do you have any favourites? AS: “More than professional treatments, I love DIY skin recipes, which have been passed on to me by my mother. These home remedies have stood the test of time and work like magic on my skin.” HB: Who are your beauty idols? AS: “My mother and my grandmothers… everything I know about beauty and self-care, I…

Harper’s Bazaar: Tell us about how motherhood changed you… Sonam Kapoor Ahuja: “Motherhood has been an incredibly rewarding journey so far… but it comes with its own fair share of challenges. I am more conscious than ever and that’s why I tend to monitor and inspect everything as it will directly affect my baby.” HB: How did you manage to strike a balance between work and personal life when you were expecting Vayu? SKA: “I was already working on a few projects before Anand and I discovered that we were pregnant. I ensured that I fulfilled all my commitments before my due date because I was certain that in my new phase of life, I would be just available to my son as a mother. And if that meant that…

Ah, the magic of Bhutan! From the moment my Druk Air flight, which had been hovering dizzyingly close to the tree-clad 18,000ft peaks around Paro, takes an abrupt right turn, and miraculously lands on a relatively short runway of the country’s only international airport, there’s a sense of excitement and well-being. As I exit the aircraft, literally a two-minute walk from tarmac to airport, I breathe in the delicious serenity of this rugged, majestic landscape, on a cool 18°C, overcast day. This landlocked Buddhist kingdom with a population of just under eight lakh, nestled cozily south of the eastern Himalayas, where spectacular mountains, valleys, dzongs (fortresses), and Buddhist temples abound, is a country like no other, where it seems time has slowed, if not stood still, a perfect blend of…

Against the backdrop of the tall yellow flowers, emblematic of happiness, positivity, and adoration… the July 1915 cover of Harper’s Bazaar US, illustrated by the master of fashion and society portraiture, Adolph de Meyer captures a leisurely world, all while offering visual relief. We turn to the sunflower for its beauty, and the power to reflect the human desire for wisdom and transcendence. Often praised by literary authors, William Blake uses the sunflower as a metaphor for the human soul as being “hungry for the light” and “full of sweet desires”. As the model strolls through the sunflower field, she reminds us to break free this season, spend more time with nature, and channel that spirit of calm.…

To even insinuate that the founders of Huemn—a brand that can rightly be called the early custodian of India’s streetwear movement—started their design journey by creating a teal blue Anarkali would seem implausible. But Pranav Misra (currently the CEO, he co-founded Huemn with Shyma Shetty) confirms, explaining that “the landscape was very different” back when they were still to launch. “The moment we made that Anarkali dress, we realised this is not what we are,” he adds. Huemn launched in 2012, and quickly became the kind of label that was popular with the 'cool kids'. Sufficient credit may be given to the brand’s sartorially unconventional designs that “throw light on the reality of life”. Case in point: Huemn’s Blood range of T-shirts, featuring patterns that resemble blood stains, which was…

“In a world where there are countless macro- and micro-trends to choose from, street style is all about feeling confident in your own skin and owning your identity. For me, streetwear has always been about finding the perfect balance between high- and low-end fashion. I love putting together outfits that combine clean and tailored pieces with rugged, oversized items. When I envisioned my brand, I didn’t want to conform to any specific style. Polite Society was founded with the goal of bringing a touch of femininity to the typically-genderless streetwear genre. Instead of relying on androgynous silhouettes, I want to experiment with daring cuts and body-fitted silhouettes while also ensuring that design innovation remains at the forefront of everything we do. We are actively looking at minimising our waste production.…

A sign of the time quite literally, these timepieces have only one agenda—to make a statement. Some of the most coveted houses are embracing colours—Patek Philippe is turning their classic Calatrava into a canvas for a radiating purple hue, Rolex has opted to eliminate vital complication indicators with emojis and words of gratitude, and Oris is making friends with Kermit and splashing his hue across its 39mm dial. While every brand takes this as an opportunity to have ‘fun’ with time, it is also a clear indicator that a watch is the best way to express your inner mood, and what better than a happy one?…

The idea of concealing a watch in a piece of jewellery stemmed from the notion that looking at your watch was considered rude, especially when you are out for an occasion where high jewellery is the norm. While back in the day it was a functional necessity, today it is transcended to a hallmark of true craftsmanship. Celebrating this very art, Chanel, Van Cleef & Arpels, Piaget, and Jaeger-LeCoultre have taken the sautoir route, embedding their fine creations in necklaces that can be worn as pendants that are truly timeless. Bulgari, Cartier, and Chopard, on the other hand, opt for a more hands-on approach, gilding bracelets and cuffs with rare gems that petal around a dial.…

“Netflix India has achieved so much over the last few years. We are extremely proud of the phenomenal content that we’ve managed to create, the passionate team that we’ve built, and the manner in which we have scaled up. We ‘programme’ in every category and create conversations that really matter. Our content is more inclusive and diverse, and we tell powerful stories about change. Netflix stands for innovation and has set the bar high. It is a company that has transformed the way people consume entertainment today. When we build our teams, we pay close attention to inclusivity—50 percent of our leadership and of our overall employee strength is women. I believe in leading by example. I like to be humble, confident and always excited about what I’m doing. I…

“Being the founder of Inde Wild is an honour. Inde Wild is a global beauty brand that we launched about 18 months ago, and it has already exceeded expectations. My husband and I also launched an NGO called Post for Change about four years ago. And then, let’s not forget my personal online brand—Diipa Khosla [laughs]. I believe I was always a businesswoman. Even as a teenager, I would sell friendship bracelets in high school. I’m a natural entrepreneur, and branding and marketing is what interests me. It has a lot to do with the psychology of people and storytelling, which has been an innate part of me. When it comes to my own beauty business, I tell my team that as long as the product and the story is…

“What truly interests me is how to build a brand and get people to emotionally connect with it. Bisleri already has that advantage and I can see how deeply ingrained it is in people’s minds. I applied some of these learnings to our new brands at Bisleri, such as Vedica Natural Mountain Water, and our recently launched carbonated sodas—Rev, Pop and Spyci Jeera. Today, there are so many brands on shelves, and the consumer has many choices. So why should they pick your brand? There has to be a story around your product—some emotional connection or a preference for a specific flavour. To succeed, it is extremely important to have a good team, which I am lucky to have. They are on top of things, and they won’t let me…

“I had been dreaming about going to space ever since I was a very young girl… However, it was one of those distant dreams that I thought could never be achieved because I had weak eyesight. You see, in order to join NASA and become a professional astronaut, you need perfect vision, and my eyesight disqualified me from pursuing my greatest goal. The day I found that out, I asked myself, ‘What should my next career path be?’. Around that same time, in 2004, the SpaceShipOne—which won the Ansari X Prize—went to space and returned, and it did it twice. I remember seeing a video of Richard Branson [British businessman and commercial astronaut] standing up on a pedestal with the founders of SpaceShipOne and saying, ‘Hey, I’m going to create…

“I always wanted to win an Oscar. I have manifested this all my life. And ever since we won it [for The Elephant Whisperers], it’s been so overwhelming, beautiful, and surreal. I recently got married in December and the Oscars were on March 12, so it’s been an ‘Everything, Everywhere, All at Once’ situation [laughs]. I believe there are more Oscars coming for Indian feature films and feature documentaries, and I want to continue the winning spree. I was always determined about chasing my passion and not money. I chased my dreams and happiness, and the money always followed. I’ve worked on more than 40 films up till today, and filmmaking was always my priority. I said ‘yes’ more often than I said ‘no’, and I always showed up for…

“I started my career in 1992 at Hindustan Lever after completing my MBA. It was a very different India then, with very few women in the corporate sector to begin with. But it was also the cusp of liberalisation with business and industry just opening up. After a couple of years, I joined Titan in international marketing, then moved to Tanishq. In 1997, after my elder daughter was born, I felt pulled in different directions. So, I took a break for almost three years. I joined a tech company in 2000 and then a textile company for a few years before rejoining Titan in 2006. I have been with the company ever since. The company has been kind in giving me many opportunities, which have developed many sides of me…

“We are in the midst of a crucial shift in India where we are transitioning over to a cleaner economy. While it is important to make greener options accessible to everyone, that option must also be commercially viable. Children should start talking about climate change at an early stage. But that conversation should be like normal business throughout their school and college years. We must have a generation of people knowing that it is their personal responsibility to change the world, and only then will they be motivated to do or say something. In the area of ‘clean energy’, the government’s role is that of an enabler. After the government enables, our market is big enough to get things moving, and then the government becomes the regulator. But it is…

Oscillating in a sweet spot between horror and mental health, author Kritika Kapoor’s novel canvasses the life of 20-something Pia Bhandari—plagued by the dark forces… living inside her head. [Pan Macmillan India] Debrakot, a quaint hill station, houses mysteries aplenty. Faced with a double-murder case, retired deputy inspector Lionel Carmichael embarks on his journey towards the truth, marred with deceit. [Aleph Book Company] Mahika’s unborn child is on the quest to free his mother from the man who created him—his genius geneticist father. Will his extraordinary powers come to aid before it is too late? [Penguin Random House India] A small town. A summer wedding. A stolen necklace. A trinity that makes for a compelling cat-and-mouse chase in this non-fictional criminal case. Hop on this incredibly gripping ride, replete with…