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It’s been 10 heady years since this list was first launched. And this year’s edition celebrates India’s youth power like never before. These individuals are leaders of powerful tribes, and personalities bearing influence over millions across the globe. They are pioneering business models, defining culture, and disrupting the status quo. They are driving innovation, pushing boundaries, and effecting change. Welcome to the future, today.
Meet GQ's Most Influential Young Indians of 2024
The rabble-rousers of Seedhe Maut—Encore ABJ (Abhijay Negi) and Calm (Siddhant Sharma)—have been shaking up the desi hip-hop scene since 2017, and seven years on are only getting bigger and better. In an age of reels and hype, Seedhe Maut grew their 1.7 million monthly Spotify listeners organically, and their 12-city India tour for their new album Lunch Break has almost sold out. The product of a carefree three-month stay in Goa, the album features exciting collaborations with Badshah, KR$NA and Yungsta. However, the Delhi-based duo now plan to expand their label beyond music. Their latest project, currently in the works, is “DL91”, a platform to promote undiscovered artists as well as to venture into anime and production. “DL91 is an initiative by Seedhe Maut for Seedhe Maut and people that Seedhe Maut fucks with.” Their next mix tape Kavi Kehna Chahte Hai is also in the pipeline, and as for potential collabs, they’re calling out West Atlanta rapper Kenny Mason. —Sanjana Ray
Akshat Bansal reads a lot about the future and envisions a world where humanity exists in its purest physical form. “That’s why I design collections that are future-forward and have no gender,” he explains. His metallic teardrop sculptural couture piece, as worn by Natasha Poonawalla, epitomizes Bansal’s boundary-defying approach. “I can’t assign a gender to this piece, and I hesitate to even call it a ‘garment’, ” says the Delhi-based designer. For Bansal, fashion transcends categories; garments can serve as ready-to-wear, couture, or art pieces that can be repurposed uniquely—like the teardrop piece, which doubles as a flower vase or sculptural art. His creative process is deeply rooted in conceptualization, with each collection crafted to reflect and address significant cultural shifts. Shehar, his menswear label, which launched during the pandemic, embodies this ethos by supporting local artisans. Following a successful showcase of accessible resort wear in Goa, Bansal harbours ambitions to collaborate with scientists, biologists, and even NASA to push boundaries and redefine fashion as we know it. —Saloni Dhruv
Before coming onboard at The Bombay Canteen, Hussain Shahzad, the executive chef at Hunger Inc, which owns the popular restaurant along with O Pedro, Veronica’s, and Papa’s—some of Mumbai’s finest—had never dabbled in Indian cuisine. And when he did, it wasn’t in the way you’d expect; he decided to reinvent the classics. “The urban Indian audience we serve today is very mature; they’ve travelled the world, their palette is expansive and they want more,” says Shahzad, who has worked under the tutelage of two culinary legends, the late chef Floyd Cardoz and chef Daniel Humm. This was also what compelled the group to launch Papa’s, a buzzy 12-seater chef’s counter restaurant in Bandra that, according to Shahzad, is what fine dining in India in 2024 should look like. “Dining at Papa’s makes for a playful experience. It’s where you can expect char siu pork stuffed inside a modak. And we’re only just getting started.” —Sanjana Ray
“We’re both space nerds; that’s where the name Comet comes from,” says Utkarsh Gupta, who helms the hype-worthy homegrown sneaker label, alongside his business partner Dishant Daryani. Launched in June 2023, the Bengaluru-based sneaker label has seen nearly 50 per cent month-over-month growth, which is a testament to not just their entrepreneurship but also their innovative approach to business, with storytelling being the key component to their success. Whether it’s getting inspired by the king of fruits (mango) or turning their shoes into a canvas for artist Santanu Hazarika, Comet’s collaborations transcend marketing gimmicks to embody the essence of shared experiences and nostalgia. The duo’s vision for Comet is big, bold and ambitious. “We want to be the largest sneaker brand in India,” they say—and building their first brick-and-mortar store in 2024 is a step towards that. —Saloni Dhruv
Ever since his debut in Heropanti (2014), Tiger Shroff has been intentional in his goal to become the “Action Hero” of Bollywood. The 34-year-old actor is a veritable fitness enthusiast, and spends most of his free time performing deadlifts at the gym or training in martial arts. Being skilled in Kalaripayattu, modern kung fu and Krav Maga (all of which he picked up in less than a year), as well as taekwondo and wushu, has come in handy, considering most of his films—Heropanti, Baaghi (2016), War (2019) and this year’s Bade Miyan Chote Miyan—have demanded he carry out some physics-defying action sequences. Shroff is also a fitness entrepreneur and, along with his mother and sister, runs India’s biggest mixed martial arts (MMA) platform Matrix Fight Night. Next up, the actor is all set to re-enter the cop-verse with Rohit Shetty’s Singham Again. —Sanjana Ray
Whether it’s playing a menacing serial killer or a police officer, Vijay Varma’s versatility shines through the diverse roles he tends to hand-pick. Last year, the 38-year-old actor starred in two web series (Dahaad and Kaalkoot), one anthology (Lust Stories 2) and one movie (Jaane Jaan), and this year, Varma was seen in the multicast movie, Murder Mubarak. “For a change, I play a guy who’s actually not a killer or evil in any way,” he chuckles, referencing the “bad guy” characters he’s taken on in his career. His forthcoming releases include a film, Suriya 43, and series, Matka King, and the highly anticipated third season of Mirzapur. Varma’s off-screen fashion choices, too, are as eccentric as his characters, earning him a spot on GQ’s Best Dressed list in 2023. Currently, the self-confessed sneakerhead is now on a shopping spree to collect luxury watches. “I’ve bought five Rolexes in a year!” he declares. —Saloni Dhruv
When Alizeh decided to make her film debut last year with Soumendra Padhi’s Farrey, she met with a ton of resistance. Despite the privileges that come with belonging to a family rooted in the entertainment industry, most newcomers of her ilk choose safe, big-banner launches. However, Alizeh’s character in the film Niyati—a brainy orphaned teenager who gets roped into a cheating racket by her school’s elite classmates—isn’t your archetypical self-righteous role, and despite doing all the heavy lifting (there’s no male lead in the movie), is downright unlikeable at times. It’s exactly the sort of unconventional role she was hoping for, and one that earned her widespread accolades and praise. “What’s the point of having the privilege of choice and then making safe choices?” she asks poignantly. —Sanjana Ray
Sharan Hegde believes schools should teach students how to file their own taxes, instead of why mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell. So he took it upon himself to educate fellow millennials about how to manage their money better. The idea to create content around personal finance in bite-sized and easy-to-consume formats came to him during the lockdown. Over the next four years, the finfluencer and founder of The 1% Club, India’s biggest finance community, built on his personal brand, which resulted in 2.4 million followers on Instagram, and 2.73 million subscribers on YouTube, and a ₹10 crore investment from Gruhas, a venture capital fund backed by Zerodha cofounder Nikhil Kamath. —Sanjana Ray
Navya Naveli Nanda is a multihyphenate: She hosts the podcast What the Hell Navya; plays an active role in her father’s agriculture machinery business, Escorts Kubota; and follows her passion as a social entrepreneur. Her podcast tackles important topics from the perspectives of three different generations, including her mother, Shweta, and grandmother, Jaya Bachchan. “It’s about the equation that the three of us share and a small glimpse into our opinions and beliefs,” she says. As part of her induction into the family business, Navya was trained on the shop floor, learning all about tractor production. These days, she oversees and manages the company’s digital marketing. As the founder of Project Naveli, an NGO, she advocates for policy changes related to women in the workplace and has expanded the organization’s impact through on-ground efforts. She also cofounded the Nimaya Foundation, a workplace accelerator that empowers women from disadvantaged backgrounds by providing them opportunities to pursue their aspirations. —Priyadarshini Patwa
“Occasion wear is an exciting market if you’re original and have an authentic voice,” notes Kunal Rawal, reflecting on his successful couture week presentation in New Delhi last year. His designs, worn by Akash Ambani, Sachin Tendulkar, John Abraham and Ranbir Kapoor at Anant Ambani’s pre-wedding celebrations, signal a pivot from the contemporary menswear he’s known for, towards pushing the boundaries of traditional attire. This year, Rawal is doubling down on occasion wear with another couture collection; has plans to open three new stores, including one in Kolkata; has collaborations with Birdhichand Ghanshyamdas Jewellers and an international footwear label; and even has a fragrance line in the works for the festive season. Juggling multiple projects, including costume designing for two upcoming movies, Rawal admits, “may sound like a lot, but this is two years of work coming out now, one after the other”. You can expect the Mumbai-based designer to break new ground in menswear as he spearheads his brand in diverse directions. —Saloni Dhruv
The story of Amrapali Jewels is not just about a jewellery brand; it’s about legacy and evolution that’s intertwined with Tarang Arora’s own journey. “I was an 18-year-old student when I was tasked with managing the business in London,” Arora recalls. Twenty two years later, the CEO and creative director of Amrapali Jewels now oversees 40 stores across the globe, has built a museum in Jaipur dedicated to Indian jewellery and decorative objects, and is creatively involved in the development of every piece of jewellery that emerges from his maison. Arora’s constant need to evolve and use traditional tribal designs with contemporary sensibilities is also the reason why Amrapali is one of the most sought-after brands to collaborate with, whether it’s Manish Arora, Masaba or Anamika Khanna. “Every time I think this is it, no more expansion, let’s chill out, there’s something new that comes up,” he laughs. This year too, Arora’s calendar is packed with collaborating on a new book with author Usha R Balakrishnan and expanding Tribe Amrapali with two new outlets, one in Ahmedabad and a new concept store in Mumbai. —Saloni Dhruv
Among the glut of podcasts in the YouTube ecosystem, The Neon Show stands out for its clarity. The host, Siddhartha Ahluwalia, does not have the disposition of a star, and allows his guests to be the heroes. His questions are direct and simple, often phrased how a common person would ask them. And once he asks his questions, he listens. This is his secret sauce. His guests include an incredible range of experts who cover topics of national importance. “Our intent is for every episode to serve as a learning mechanism for us, to help us understand new industries and meet people who are better than us.” —Priyadarshini Patwa
For Nayanthara, the staggering success of Atlee’s Jawan, her Bollywood debut and the second-highest grossing Hindi film worldwide, is testament to the audience’s growing appreciation for narratives celebrating powerful women-centric storylines. Her other film from 2023, Annapoorani: The Goddess of Food, the actor’s 75th leading role in a movie, was another title highlighting the resilience of women. “Portraying empowered women who choose to defy social stigmas is not just a creative choice, but also a personal commitment to amplifying voices that are often overlooked or silenced,” says the actor, who’s also an entrepreneur and recently launched a new skincare line, 9Skin, which is “less about aesthetics and more about skin nourishment”. —Sanjana Ray
Bhumi Pednekar knew that Thank You for Coming, Karan Boolani’s raunchy comedy, was going to make a lot of people uncomfortable. She did it anyway. A look back at the 34-year-old actor’s filmography speaks to her conviction to take on challenging roles, which includes playing a doctor treating Covid patients at the peak of the pandemic in Bheed (2023) and a young journalist investigating cases of abuse in Bhakshak (2024), which ranked among the top five Non-English films on Netflix globally following its release. Up next, she plays an unstable cop in the web series Daldal, which she says is “nothing like any cop drama that the world has seen”. A passionate climate activist, Pednekar is one of the seven Indians in the World Economic Forum’s young global leaders class of 2024, through which she will expand her efforts in promoting sustainability and protecting the environment. In fact, that’s the whole plan for 2024: “creating more impact through my work, both on- and off-screen”. —Sanjana Ray
It took Kunal Kemmu exactly one month to write Madgaon Express, a riotous comedy that marked the 40-year-old actor’s foray into direction. The idea had been brimming for a while, but the discipline for screenwriting came with penning down the dialogues for Go Goa Gone (2013), which introduced a quirky brand of comedy to Indian cinema. The choice to make his directorial debut with comedy came easily, but the risks were high. “It’s the toughest genre in cinema, because you can either make someone laugh or you can’t,” he says. Before the movie was picked up by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani’s Excel Entertainment, Kemmu thought he’d just star as one of the characters. After this recent success, however, he’s ready to make more films. He has an Amazon Prime series in the pipeline, but for now he says, “I’m just happy to enjoy the fruits of my labour.” —Sanjana Ray
Buoyed by a whirlwind of passions and accomplishments, Diipa Büller-Khosla has evolved from being classified as an influencer to an entrepreneur and a speaker at Harvard. “It’s unbelievable that they did a case study on me and what I’ve achieved,” she says about her most recent speaking engagement—her second—at the Ivy League institution. That’s not where it ends. “I’m going back to Harvard to showcase a documentary on the making of Indē Wild to the students there,” she reveals. Apart from the documentary, the 32-year-old is most excited about her partnership with Sephora, making Indē Wild the first Indian brand to retail across the US and UK. When she’s not doing “Champi Tours” or revamping her homes, Büller-Khosla is nurturing partnerships with luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Tumi and Cartier, and is eagerly looking forward to returning to the Cannes Film Festival later this year. —Saloni Dhruv
Lisa Mishra wants to make music that will help young girls feel seen. “I want an army of young girls saying ‘Lisa is singing about me’, ” says the Chicago-raised singer-songwriter, who shot to fame after her stirring rendition of “Tareefan” went viral in 2018. The next five years went in chartbusting collaborations, with artists like Chance The Rapper and Divine, and popular covers, but it brought with it this burning desire to tell her own story. An anthology seemed the obvious way to go. However, more than spinning her own narrative, Sorry, I’m Late, her debut album, ended up becoming an authentic lens into the female journey. “There are songs about loneliness, passionate love, heartbreak, empowerment, and also, a ‘fuck you’ anthem.” Simply put, the 30-year-old musician wants young girls in India, the ones who cry to Taylor Swift and SZA, to know that they have a safe space in her music. The relatability factor in Mishra’s compositions can’t be denied; “Aadat”, a song about toxic love from the upcoming collection, has already amassed over 2 million views on YouTube. The goal for the year ahead is clear enough: more concerts for young girls to “cry, laugh and dance their hearts out at”. —Sanjana Ray
“Pav bhaji inspired me to become a chef,” says Sanjyot Keer. The Mumbai-based chef and content creator can’t get enough of Mumbai chaat—from vada pav to toasties. He even introduced Ed Sheeran to misal pav in a video on his YouTube channel, Your Food Lab, which garnered 1.2 million views. “It’s my mission to highlight Indian food that’s not very well-known across the world. That’s why I chose to cook misal pav with him,” he adds. Keer’s journey from the kitchen to the internet is marked with diverse desi flavours, demystifying the overwhelming range of Indian dishes and making cooking more accessible, whether through YouTube videos, his celebrity cooking show “Chef It Up”, or kitchenware essentials. At the moment, Keer is focused on conjuring up a travel series that explores regional flavours and narratives, spotlighting India’s diverse culinary heritage. —Saloni Dhruv
It’s been a year filled with success for Sanya Malhotra, whose roles in Jawan and Sam Bahadur—two of the biggest hits of 2023—and Kathal, a satirical comedy, have been widely praised. “I’m a bit of a nerd when it comes to preparing for a role,” she says, describing how stepping into the shoes of Silloo Manekshaw involved rigorous readings and meet-and-greets with the Manekshaws. On director Atlee’s sets, with SRK taking centre stage, she had to be at her fittest and “like a sponge”—ready to absorb it all. The results were remarkable: validation from Silloo’s daughters for her performance in Sam Bahadur; Kathal receiving widespread critical acclaim; and Jawan going on to become the second-highest grossing Hindi film worldwide. —Sanjana Ray
When Mira Rajput Kapoor launched her YouTube channel back in 2021, it was to host candid conversations with a diverse audience on things she was passionate about. Over the past three years, it has transformed into a go-to space for tips on skincare, beauty, wellness and living a more holistic life. With over 4.7 million Instagram followers and over 310,000 subscribers on YouTube, Kapoor has amassed an audience for these subjects and frequently holds Q&A sessions with dermatologists, nutritionists and other experts. Her passion for skincare blossomed at 13, when she discovered Shahnaz Husain’s book on face masks and scrubs made from edible products. Over time, this interest expanded to include performance skincare, with Kapoor now taking to social media to share her daily skincare routine—a mild cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen—as well as product reviews. Kapoor’s future plans include a beauty line and creating a wellness business that’s rooted in Indian customs. —Sanjana Ray
After years spent acting at the highest level, Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal have ventured into producing with Pushing Buttons Studios. Their debut film, Girls Will Be Girls, won an audience award for best world cinema dramatic film and a jury award for best actor, for lead Preeti Panigrahi, at the Sundance Film Festival. Chadha says, “My friend Shuchi Talati wrote her first film. We pitched it at the NFDC Film Bazaar. We didn’t have a company then, so we formed an Indo-French production house. Soon, we realized we needed a formal setup, so Pushing Buttons was born between Ali and me.” Discussing their film preferences, Fazal mentions, “We’re not fixated on genres or specific storylines. We’re drawn to narratives with an edge—drama, horror, or action. They all have an element of edginess that we enjoy.” Their upcoming slate includes crime thriller Papita, adult animation Doggie Stylez, musical comedy Pinky Promise, documentary RiAlity, and fantasy drama Miss Palmoliv All Night Cabaret. —Priyadarshini Patwa
Calling Bhavisha Dave and Meenakshi Singh trailblazers on the Indian streetwear scene is an understatement. The duo challenged gender stereotypes by starting Capsul—the country’s first streetwear multi-store featuring international brands like Thrasher, Pleasures, and Carhartt WIP in Bengaluru in 2018. They’ve only just expanded their foothold in Mumbai at the tail end of 2023 and Ahmedabad earlier this year. “Sometimes we wonder how unbelievable it is to actually open two stores in the span of three months,” Dave reflects. Their growth underscores a commitment to expand streetwear beyond hype, emphasizing community building to foster inclusiveness in the ecosystem. A recent immersive VR-based shopping experience with Biskit highlights their unique approach, where streetwear is a canvas for storytelling and artistic expression. —Saloni Dhruv
In 2017, soon after returning from the US with a business degree, Yogesh Kabra noticed that the men’s innerwear options available at retail were indistinguishable. “Why were Indian men restricted to such limited choices?” he wondered. This pushed him to start XYXX, a digital-first innerwear brand that addressed the country’s climatic conditions and offered more aesthetic choices. His plan worked. Over the last five years, the brand has recorded 100 per cent revenue growth year-over-year. In decades past, this category has been controlled by mom-and-pop hosiery stores. But today, it’s e-commerce players like XYXX that dominate. —Ojas Kolvankar
Ever since his Bollywood debut with Love Sex Aur Dhokha (2010), Rajkummar Rao has made it his mission to take on projects that make him nervous. “My aim has been to grow with every film,” says the actor, who recently played a spanner-wielding lover in Raj & DK’s 2023 black comedy series Guns & Gulaabs, a role he found as challenging as playing a gay cop in a lavender marriage in Badhaai Do (2022) or a terrorist in Omerta (2017). Personally, Rao resonates with characters like those in Newton (2017) and Srikanth, his upcoming biographical drama on Srikanth Bolla, a visually impaired Indian industrialist, because they reflect the unfettered discipline and passion he embodies in his craft. Up next, Rao will be seen in Dharma’s Mr & Mrs Mahi; Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video alongside Tripti Dimri; an untitled romcom with Wamiqa Gabbi; and Raj & DK’s Stree 2, which he promises will be “bigger and better”. —Priyadarshini Patwa & Sanjana Ray
Fatima Sana Shaikh almost didn’t take up the role of Indira Gandhi in Sam Bahadur—until director Meghna Gulzar convinced her. “Meghna was clear how she wanted her Indira to be. And when a director has so much clarity, I just become a vessel and strive to be honest and true to her vision.” The actress believes that her debut film, Dangal, set the standard for the kind of scripts that come her way. Whether it’s Geeta Phogat in Dangal (2016) or Sky in Dhak Dhak (2023), Shaikh shares the same ideology as her on-screen characters—independent and liberated women who are seen breaking stereotypes. This year is a busy one for Shaikh who has a lot of gratitude for the opportunities she’s received. Her next film, Ul Jalool Ishq, is in production while Dhak Dhak 2 is ready to hit the floor. “Right now, I just want to work, and fortunately I’m getting the kind of projects I want.” —Shabdita Pareek
Radhika Gupta may be one of the youngest CEOs in the country, but it’s really her role as a shark on Shark Tank that has made her a celebrity. Known as one of the most talked-about sharks, she’s often called the “strict Hindi math teacher” on social media for asking tough questions. As a shark, she’s direct, concise, and focused on business, while being empathetic. Having experienced the struggles of entrepreneurship first-hand, she understands the challenges fellow entrepreneurs face. “It’s not easy standing before so many people and asking for money. So if the business doesn’t make sense, I say no, but I am still nice about it,” she says. —Priyadarshini Patwa
It all started with a delicious bowl of ramen that Kavan Kuttappa had sampled in New York back in 2011. Since then, the young chef—who founded Naru Noodle Bar, one of Bengaluru’s buzziest eateries, in 2022—has been obsessed with all things ramen. As the former culinary head at Toit Brewpub and The Permit Room, Kuttappa decided to follow his passion and focus on ramen during the pandemic. What started out as a delivery service of DIY ramen kits blossomed into a full-blown ramen bar in a 250-square-foot space in Shanti Nagar. With no takeaways or deliveries, and an 8-seater arrangement that expanded to 20 in December, dining at Naru is a rarefied experience. Up next, Kuttappa plans on experimenting with a true-to-style (no bookings!) ramen shop like in Japan. —Sanjana Ray
Khushi Kapoor experienced a dream-come-true moment when she was offered the role of Betty Cooper in Netflix’s The Archies. Reflecting on the life-changing call with director Zoya Akhtar, the 23-year-old actress recalls feeling overwhelmed. “Knowing that I was getting an opportunity like this and a chance to portray such an iconic character, I was thrilled, nervous, and had a wave of emotions running through me,” Kapoor reveals. Having embodied the girl-next-door archetype in her debut film, Kapoor now seeks to explore darker, emotionally driven roles. “I want to try every kind of role, but for now, I want something that will test and challenge me as an actor, perhaps a dark thriller or romantic drama,” she shares. Besides acting, fashion is a familial passion that comes naturally to her. “It’s something I would have probably explored if it wasn’t for acting,” says the Gen Z fashion icon who is currently “obsessed” with Swedish model Elsa Hosk’s style and aesthetic. —Saloni Dhruv
At the age of 19, Palicha and Vohra left Stanford’s undergraduate computer science programme to launch Zepto. It soon became India’s fastest-growing quick commerce app, entering the unicorn club in 2023. “We didn’t start with the intention of building a business. KV and I delivered groceries through a WhatsApp group chat in Sher-e-Punjab, Andheri East (Mumbai), to help our neighbours during the pandemic. That project slowly iterated and snowballed into what eventually became Zepto,” says Palicha. They introduced Zepto Pass, Zepto Café, and Relish (in-house meat and seafood) to stay competitive, launching new categories like toys and beauty. The company secured $236 million of funding in September, has over five million active transacting customers with Rs 800 crore monthly sales, growing 100 per cent year-over-year, and a $1.4 billion valuation. —Priyadarshini Patwa
Varun Dhawan has been busy delivering the hits with a number of action-packed entertainers, from Baby John, the Hindi-adaptation of Jawan director Atlee’s Tamil film Theri, to Citadel: Honey Bunny, Raj & DK’s spin-off of the popular American TV series that will also star Samantha Ruth Prabhu. “As an actor, I like these larger-than-life action sequences, so I’m always jumping, falling, getting beaten…but I’m enjoying the grind,” says the 36-year-old actor, who will be seen in new avatars in both projects. An upcoming Dharma release—Shashank Khaitan’s Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari—will have the actor once again teaming up with Janhvi Kapoor after last year’s Bawaal, which despite mixed reviews witnessed a favourable response towards its leads. An undisclosed “madcap comedy” with his father, veteran director David Dhawan—their fourth such collaboration—is also in the works. But the role he’s most excited for? Fatherhood. “It’s a new beginning and I couldn’t be more excited.” —Sanjana Ray
Despite becoming one of the Bigg Boss finalists this year, Mannara Chopra says she’d never watched the popular show. And before her long, eventful stint in the BB house, the only fights she says she would engage in were with her sister over clothes. “Everyone in the Bigg Boss house is in constant hulk mode. One of the ways I got through that time was by remaining unapologetically me—that is, happy-go-lucky,” says the 32-year-old actress whose unfiltered innocence gained her huge support among the show’s significant fandom. Chopra is no stranger to the limelight, having featured in several Telugu and Tamil films, as well as being cousins with Priyanka and Parineeti Chopra. The next step is to re-enter Bollywood, a little older and wiser. As for life after Bigg Boss? It’s been a mixed bag of fashion shows, music albums, web series and films. “I even did a TEDx talk!” she says. —Sanjana Ray
As a cofounder of India’s first all-electric ride-hailing company, Anmol Singh Jaggi managed to breathe fresh, emission-free air into the country’s decaying cab-aggregator ecosystem. BluSmart proved to be the antidote not only to ramshackle fossil fuel–powered cars but also the frequent driver cancellations and arbitrary surge prices that accompanied them. With a fleet of freshly minted EVs, BluSmart has managed to expand its operations to Bengaluru from Delhi NCR. After raising over $200 million in venture capital, the firm received an additional $25 million from global climate fund ResponsAbility Investments to set up a vast network of EV charging hubs. BluSmart has also become the only ride-hailing firm in India to transition from zero tailpipe emissions to a 100 per cent emission-free company, using only renewable energy to power its ever-expanding network of charging “superhubs”. What’s next? With Dubai on the brand’s immediate horizon, BluSmart is going international. —Parth Charan
The opportunity to join a fledgling company called Zomato came unexpectedly for Akriti Chopra. At the time, she was studying for her chartered accountancy exams as well as completing her articleship. A friend who worked at the nascent company suggested she join. “After my exams, I met Deepinder [Goyal, cofounder], and had a five-minute conversation. I joined the same day.” Though she worked on the operations side initially, Chopra gravitated towards finance. In 2021, she was declared a cofounder at Zomato, but the declaration happened without an official conversation. “Deepinder and I never spoke about it; an email was sent to everybody, and that’s how I got to know,” she says. —Priyadarshini Patwa
While the physics-defying action sequences of Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire (Prashant Neel’s Telugu blockbuster starring Prabhas and Prithviraj Sukumaran) captivated audiences, it was Sriya Reddy’s antagonist—Radha Rama Mannar—that left a lasting impression. The actor, who returned to Telugu cinema after 16 long years with this epic action film, made the case for giving agency to characters in a villain’s role. “The antagonist doesn’t have to be ugly. He or she can look stunning and call all the shots,” she says. To Reddy, the fact that audiences took favourably to a woman who craves power—an anomaly in Indian cinema—is a win. “Most of my contemporaries wouldn’t have dared take on a role like this. Maybe now they will change their mind.” —Sanjana Ray
One look at Ishaan Khatter’s filmography and you’ll notice the actor’s commitment to portraying complex characters, whether a street hustler and drug dealer with a raw authenticity (Beyond the Clouds, 2017) or a naive romantic navigating social complexities (Dhadak, 2018), or exploring a forbidden romance with an older woman (A Suitable Boy, 2020), or even adding comedic flair as he confronts supernatural beings (Phone Bhoot, 2022). However, the 28-year-old’s standout performance in Pippa last year demonstrates his evolution as a character actor, personifying the real-life army commander Balram Singh Mehta during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 with compelling depth. Khatter also starred in the short film Fursat (2023) in which he unearths an ancient relic in an attempt to manipulate the future. But we don’t need a mystical artefact to foresee a bright future for the young actor. As he gears up for his next project, The Perfect Couple, a limited series co-starring Nicole Kidman and Liev Schreiber, Khatter’s trajectory continues to ascend towards global recognition. —Saloni Dhruv
