Esquire India's Cover Star Aditya Roy Kapur Is Playing The Long Game

There are good-looking men. And then there’s Aditya Roy Kapur—a man so absurdly easy on the eyes, he could stop traffic in Mumbai at rush hour. The scruffy charm. The offhand elegance like he’s just rolled out of bed and straight into a photoshoot. It’s infuriating. It’s magnetic. And it’s part of what makes his quiet, career-long evolution so damn watchable.

Aditya doesn’t chase the spotlight. He never has. But somehow, it has always found him. In an industry obsessed with noise and velocity, he’s built a career on quiet reinvention. He may have started off as a VJ with enviable hair and easy charm, but over the years, he’s carved out a filmography that’s layered, unpredictable, and entirely his own. First came Aashiqui 2 (2013), the role that turned him into the heartbreak anthem of a generation. Then, he reinvented himself as the brooding spy in The Night Manager (2023).

Even with blockbuster hits like Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013), Kapur isn’t one for the spotlight. Whether it’s the angst in Fitoor, the grit in Malang, or the duality in Gumraah, Kapur often leans into roles that are textured and often emotionally turbulent. His choices are rarely obvious, often surprising, and almost always anchored in reinvention. While many may chase projects, he has taken his time.

Now, he’s back at it with Metro… In Dino, Anurag Basu’s spiritual successor to Life in a… Metro—a film that promises emotion, complexity, and yes, more of that bittersweet romance he does so well.

With a lineage that includes film producers, actors, and artists, it’s tempting to see him as industry royalty. But Kapur’s appeal lies in his relatability and that 90s old-school charm he carries. There’s a quiet rebellion in the way he moves through the industry—low profile but always present, unbothered by trends yet consistently stylish. Whether he’s scoring goals at charity football matches or slipping into a perfectly cut jacket for a shoot, he does it with a laid-back confidence that’s effortlessly cool.

As the cover star for Esquire India’s May–June 2025 issue, Kapur is every bit the modern leading man: reflective, stylish, and forging his own narrative.

We hope you enjoy the cover shoot and images – it’ll all be unveiled soon.

Credits

Chairperson: Avarna Jain

COO: Jamal Shaikh

Editor: Rahul Gangwani

Style and Creative Direction: Vijendra Bhardwaj

Photography: Nishanth Radhakrishnan

Editorial Mentor: Saira Menezes

Managing Editor: Sonal Nerurkar

Deputy Editor: Mayukh Majumdar

Words: Jeena J Billimoria

Cover design: Jit Ray

Grooming: Stephen Jadhav

Hair: Raghu from Team Hakim’s Alim

Fashion Team: Komal Shetty

Location: The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai

Sr. Social Media Executive: Riti Ghai

Bookings & Production: Varun Shah

Artist Reputation Management: Think Ink Communications