Sonam Kapoor Ahuja On Fashion, Film And Family

Long before Instagram aesthetics and TikTok trends dictated style, movie stars were our ultimate arbiters of global fashion—serving up aspirational looks straight from the big screen. Case in point: Sonam Kapoor Ahuja. A true arbiter of fashion, Ahuja—now Dior’s first South Asian ambassador—took her rightful place at Paris Fashion Week at the end of January, turning heads with every impeccably curated look. That’s exactly what makes her an Esquire woman—always on point, and now a global fashion force.

“My story is about embracing my roots and balancing it with the modern world,” says the actress. Of her association with Dior, she reflects, “I truly admire the respect Dior has for Indian artistry and karigari,” she tells me. “Bringing their show here was yet another commitment to India. I’ve done so many covers with Dior, and there’s always been a deep alignment of values.”

Ahuja is more than just a style icon—she’s a champion of heritage, a storyteller through fashion, cinema and now, entrepreneurship. Last October, she and her husband, businessman Anand Ahuja, acquired Rhythm House, Mumbai’s iconic music store in Kala Ghoda, with plans to give it new life. “We wanted to do something meaningful. Rhythm House was always an integral part of Mumbai’s soul, a piece of our musical legacy. Acquiring it through Bhaane was our way of preserving its history while reimagining its future. This isn’t just retail for us,” she says.

Photo by House of Pixels

Her connection with the city of her birth has always been a driving force— think back on her appearance in Coldplay’s Hymn for the Weekend music video. “Shooting at the historic Vasai Fort was beautiful,” she recalls. “I loved that the world got a glimpse of India through its own lens. It was chaotic, colourful and profoundly beautiful. Coldplay has this ability to weave culture into their music, which I love.”

Along with her reverence for the past, Ahuja has a relentless drive to explore the new. “I love to travel, read and talk to different people… I don’t like staying in a bubble,” she says. This cultural curiosity has shaped both her worldview and career, leading to defining roles in Raanjhanaa (2013) and Neerja (2016).

Motherhood has deepened her perspective on legacy and values. “Every time I speak to Vayu, I tell him, ‘You’re kind, you’re beautiful, you’re sweet.’ We don’t say that to our boys enough. I believe strength comes from kindness,” she says. “I’ve always wanted my work to have lasting impact, and that applies to every facet of my life—even as a parent. We have to leave the world better than we found it, for our kids.”

Dior

From the rookie reporter who once misquoted her—much to her displeasure—to today, where I call her a friend and well-wisher, Ahuja’s evolution has been striking. She isn’t just a fashion icon; she’s a tastemaker. Cultured, self-assured and forward-thinking, her dedication to legacy, reinvention and impact—now deepened by motherhood—is why she’s a woman we love.