Many actors arrive on the sets of a cover shoot, but our latest Digital cover star Ishaan Khatter finds himself flowing into it like it is his second nature. He greets the crew, jokes in bursts, stretches between shots, and slips into character with the offhand ease of someone who knows the camera really well — and trusts it.
Along with a string of work including second season of the Netflix show The Royals, and his internationally recognised film, Homebound, alongside Janhvi Kapoor and Vishal Jethwa for Neeraj Ghaywan, waiting for its release in India, the star has also been keeping busy attending some of the best fashion events in the world.
If you have secretly lurked at his social media lately, you’d know he went to the Cannes film festival last month looking all dapper in a royal cut suit, attending the recently held Paris fashion week a few weeks ago, and before that an escape on his bike on his first brothers’ trip with Shahid Kapoor.
Instagram/Esquire India
Our exclusive shoot captures exactly that- the textures of an actor in between rest and rhythm: his usual curls, cotton denim fits, in profusion of florals in sightly shades of Uranian blue and ivory prints and pattern with the occasional glint of sun off skin all hint at the portrait of the actor. Remarkably, he doesn't posture. He listens — to direction, to silence, to the way clothes fall on his frame. He lets the images unfold.
The actor isn’t afraid to lay bare unlike many of his contemporaries bound to archetypes either. He simply allows himself to be seen while the presence is held in his big soulful eyes that don’t shy away from expressing the mood.
There is no single image that defines Ishaan Khatter. That’s the point. He belongs to a new grammar of fame: ephemeral, self-possessed, and uncategorisable. Sometimes, he is princely chic, a little experimental, and then, brings out the effortlessly structured glide in different frames.
Ishaan brings a sense of disarming honesty in all the frames just like he does for the big screen playing many shades of a modern man.
You’ve seen the cover.
Now, here’s the full shoot.
Seen here in a Harrington jacket, shorts and swish leather oxfords, the actor showcases monochrome dressing and a hint of military inspiration with a modern, urban twist.
Seen here in a Harrington jacket, shorts and swish leather oxfords, the actor showcases monochrome dressing and a hint of military inspiration with a modern, urban twist. Bikramjit Bose
Bleached GG cotton denim jacquard shirt and pant, both by GucciBikramjit Bose
our digital cover star showcases a new double denim look that's striking and sexy. The Gucci cotton denim jacquard look interprets it with monochromatic GG motif and ombré details. Bikramjit Bose
Laying it bare in a bleached GG cotton denim pant from Gucci
"I definitely agree that being a dancer is liberating. It has allowed me to express myself more freely and have more outer ease as a performer... it has surely had the largest impact on me as a performer in general." Bikramjit Bose
Blue-ivory washed certified cotton jacquard denim shirt, bermuda pants, ophidia messenger bag, horsebit 1953 loafers and 18-K horsebit chain necklace, all by Gucci Bikramjit Bose
our digital cover star dons prints and patterns. Gucci’s profusion of florals in sightly shades of Uranian blue and ivory ticks all the right boxes. The look is chic, poetic and princely. Bikramjit Bose
Tank and skirt, both by Bloni ; ear cuff by Tribe Amrapali; shoes by Jeetinder Sandhu.Bikramjit Bose
Tank and skirt, both by Bloni ; ear cuff by Tribe Amrapali; shoes by Jeetinder Sandhu.Bikramjit Bose
Trench and shorts, both by Ashdeen ; hat from Priya Patil Studio ; shoes by Jeetinder SandhuBikramjit Bose
Credits
Chairperson: Avarna Jain
COO: Jamal Shaikh
Editor: Rahul Gangwani
Styling and Creative Direction: Vijendra Bhardwaj
Photography: Bikramjit Bose
Words By: Prannay Pathak
Editorial Mentor: Saira Menezes
Managing Editor: Sonal Nerurkar
Deputy Editor: Mayukh Majumdar
Fashion Team: Komal Shetty, Assisted by: Ifrah Kadir
Hair: Aditya Shah
Grooming: Nalini Ferns
Bookings Editor: Varun Shah
Artist Reputation Management: Jio Creative Labs
Location: 38 Manhattan at The St Regis Mumbai
To read more stories from Esquire India's July 2025 issue, pick up a copy of the magazine from your nearest newspaper stand or bookstore. Or click here to subscribe to the magazine.
