It’s no surprise that The Way of the Superior Man by David Deida was the last book Ishaan Khatter read.
Having heeded Hollywood’s siren song, the all-new Ishaan Khatter is the siren now. Be it his slinky turn on Nicole Kidman-headlined The Perfect Couple or sightings at press tours and fashion parties from London to Los Angeles that make no bones about his newfound status as a style icon—Khatter recounts having a “whirlwind time” in the West of late.
“I was in Los Angeles for the premiere of The Perfect Couple,” Khatter rattles off. “Then, I flew to New York City for a day-and-a-half to shoot for something exciting,” he teases—in character, of the serpent-like sex symbol image that he’s built up for himself. “Afterwards, I went to the VMan + MontBlanc party while the New York Fashion Week was underway. And yes, I did get the time to have breakfast at my favourite bistro on Grove Street. Two days in a row, I gorged on French toast!” chortles Khatter.
Evidently aware of his growing stature as an actor and global entertainment figure, Khatter knows it’s the right time in his life and career to venture into this space. “The more eyeballs are on you, the more cognisant you are of your choices. I’m relying more on my instincts instead of overstrategising,” he muses.
Having broken out with a Majid Majidi film (Beyond the Clouds), starred in the screen adaptation of a Vikram Seth novel directed by Mira Nair (A Suitable Boy) and headlined a Vishal Bhardwaj film made on an iPhone (Fursat)—Khatter has moulted to reveal a velvety new sex symbol coat underneath. His collaboration with stylist Alexander Roth reserves a lot of the credit. “A big part of developing your own fashion sense involves borrowing ideas from others. I have had the opportunity to work with some incredible stylists, and while working with them, I found the people who are my tribe and get my vibe,” Khatter notes.
The spirited actor admits he’s prone to breakouts and scarring, and only adopted a proper skincare routine—“moisturiser, sunscreen, skin repair serum, and a night cream”—in the past two years. “I used to wash my face with whatever was handy, even detergent,” he laughs. His naturally curly hair requires attention too: “It gets dry and frizzy, so I opt for shampoos with fewer sulphates and parabens. After washing, I apply a leave-in conditioner and sometimes use Moroccanoil hair oil for styling. I can’t stand hair gels!” says Khatter, whose go-to wardrobe is typically distressed tees and jeans. “I’ve also come to realise that India produces the best cotton T-shirts, and we should champion this industry instead of letting foreign labels capitalise on it.”
The 28-year-old’s next is the hotly anticipated rom-com show The Royals, the cast announcement video for which has him dressing up his chiselled beach bod from The Perfect Couple with a muscle-fit white shirt and inevitable boyish charm. Slated to release early next year, it is something he seems to have fun describing. “Even when I first read the script, I felt this fictional take on royal families would be binge-worthy and fun. My character has got all the tropes and surprises, grey shades and layers—with a bit of a heroic treatment.”
Of course, the other conversation waiting patiently for its turn is how he has shed his boy feathers. “Actors are largely a product of the opportunities they receive. The more people can see me in a light different from the last, the more opportunities are likely to come my way,” he proffers. Here for the long run, he continues, “I have to find something that is engaging and entertaining for the audience. I don’t give too much importance to creating a fabricated image. I stay true to myself and remain consistent with my performances.”
It's a feast of excess right now for Khatter, both with parts and projects, and he regularly turns to other art forms in order to symphonise. “My process for fleshing out and developing my characters has been while listening to music. I’ve had playlists for every character in the past six years. I start shooting for my new film in a few days and the playlist runs close to four hours.”
His current favourite is The Hill by Hendrix Harris. And the lyrics go, “I don't give a f**k 'bout no stupid brands/N***a got his own style from the motherland.” It figures.