Here Are All Images From Our Cover Shoot With Rishab Rikhiram Sharma

He’s not your typical cover star — but then again, nothing about Rishab Rikhiram Sharma is typical.

He plays the sitar like it’s a secret weapon. Dressed in streetwear, armed with centuries of tradition, and plugged straight into the global mainframe, Rishab doesn’t just perform — he rewires your expectations. Of classical music. Of cool. Of what it means to be rooted and radical at the same time.

At 17, he left Delhi for New York — and instead of leaving tradition behind, he took it with him, string by string. A luthier’s son, a disciple of Pt. Ravi Shankar, and the first sitarist to ever perform solo at the White House — Rishab has done more than just arrive on the global stage. He’s cracked open the doors for a new wave of classical cool. Sitar meets lo-fi. Raga meets reverb.

And yet, his music is never just aesthetic. It’s intentional. Thoughtful. Healing. Through Sitar for Mental Health, his global initiative, Rishab has taken his art beyond the concert hall. He offers cost-free music therapy sessions, speaks openly about anxiety and burnout, and uses his platform to hold space for collective calm — a rarity in a world that never logs off.

It’s this layered mix — virtuoso and vulnerability, ancient and now — that makes Rishab an Esquire man. He’s not trying to make classical music cool. He already knows it is. He’s just offering a new way to listen.

You’ve seen the cover.

Now, here’s the full shoot.

Sherwani, shirt and trousers, all by Tarun Tahiliani, shoes from Jeetinder Sandhu, bracelet and ring, both by Amrapali JewelsPhoto by Charudutt Chitrak

Here are all the images from the Rishab Rikhiram Sharma shoot!

Clothing and neck jewellery, all by Tarun Tahiliani, shoes by Christian LouboutinPhoto by Charudutt Chitrak

Rishab Rikhiram Sharma wears a sherwani, shirt and trousers, all by Tarun Tahiliani; Shoes from Jeetinder Sandhu; Bracelet and ring, both by Amrapali JewelsPhoto by Charudutt Chitrak

Clothing and neck jewellery, all by Tarun Tahiliani, Shoes by Christian Louboutin, Sunglasses by Uniquedesignmilano x Maison Mavada at Drishti BoutiquePhoto by Charudutt Chitrak

Kurta, trousers, shawl and rings, all by Tarun Tahiliani, shoes by Kavith SainaaniPhoto by Charudutt Chitrak

Suit, shirt, both by Vivienne Westwood at The Collective, jewellery by Amrapali JewelsPhoto by Charudutt Chitrak

Trench coat, shirt, trousers, all by Rkive City, boots by Birkenstock, Sunglasses by Tom Ford at Drishti BoutiquePhoto by Charudutt Chitrak

Suit, shirt, both by Vivienne Westwood at The Collective, jewellery by Amrapali Jewels Photo by Charudutt Chitrak

Clothing and neck jewellery, all by Tarun Tahiliani, Shoes by Christian Louboutin, Sunglasses by Uniquedesignmilano x Maison Mavada at Drishti Boutique

Trench coat, shirt, trousers, all by Rkive City, boots by Birkenstock, sunglasses by Tom Ford at Drishti BoutiquePhoto by Charudutt Chitrak

Rishab Rikhiram Sharma wears a Sherwani, shirt and trousers, all by Tarun Tahiliani, shoes from Jeetinder Sandhu, bracelet and ring, both by Amrapali JewelsPhoto by Charudutt Chitrak

Clothing and neck jewellery, all by Tarun Tahiliani, Shoes by Christian Louboutin, Sunglasses by Uniquedesignmilano x Maison Mavada at Drishti BoutiquePhoto by Charudutt Chitrak

Suit, shirt, both by Vivienne Westwood at The Collective, jewellery by Amrapali Jewels Photo by Charudutt Chitrak

Clothing and neck jewellery, all by Tarun Tahiliani, Shoes by Christian Louboutin, Sunglasses by Uniquedesignmilano x Maison Mavada at Drishti BoutiquePhoto by Charudutt Chitrak

Credits

Chairperson: Avarna Jain

COO: Jamal Shaikh

Editor: Rahul Gangwani

Words, Styling and Creative Direction: Vijendra Bhardwaj

Photography: Charudutt Chitrak

Editorial Mentor: Saira Menezes

Managing Editor: Sonal Nerurkar

Deputy Editor: Mayukh Majumdar (@mayuxkh)

Digital Cover by: Siddharth Singh Bokolia

Grooming: Aryan Sharma Affinity Salon

Chief Assistant Stylist: Mehak Khanna

Bookings Editor: Varun Shah

Production: VG Creatives

Sr. Social Media Executive: Riti Ghai

Artist Reputation Management: Communiqué PR

To read more stories from Esquire India's May-June 2025 issue, pick up a copy of the magazine from your nearest newspaper stand or bookstore. Or click here to subscribe to the magazine.