Style Recognises Style: Kalyani Saha Chawla’s It-Men List

To paraphrase and borrow from the great Oscar Hammerstein II and Richard Rodgers: How do you find a word that means Kalyani? How do you catch a cloud and pin it down? The first one’s easy: refreshing.

Kalyani Saha Chawla began her career in journalism and moved back to Kolkata to open a boutique. Sometime after, she moved to Delhi. Got married. Separated. Started a company. Worked with top legacy houses like Jimmy Choo and Harrods. Took Dior’s marketing and communications game in India to another level during the ten years she was with them. She’s been a muse to some of India’s top couturiers, dined with King Charles, and appeared in a Netflix show.

For our latest issue, she lists the five men who make it to her OG IT-Men list.

Raja Dhody

“The reason why he’s on the list really is that he is actually one of the OG men I know. He’s just dandy and cool. He used to have the best parties. He still does—he just doesn’t invite me as much as he used to! There was Parmeshwar Godrej, there was some supermodel from some part of the world, all beautiful people, people from Bollywood—you never wanted to miss any of Raja’s parties. He’s a voracious traveller, and I always tell him, ‘You go to the office only to talk to your travel agent’, which is a fact. I basically want his life. I mean, ask anyone who knows Raja Dhody—he is one of the OG guys and I love him to death.”

Rituparno Ghosh

“The way he represented women—I think it’s so beautiful. I had this lifestyle store in Calcutta (Kolkata) called Kalyani. I used to source things from all over the country, a lot from the South because I was living in Madras (Chennai). And Rituparno Ghosh, who absolutely adored my mom, would come all dressed up to source artefacts for his sets, for set design in his films. I admired him for his craft so much. And of course, he was Bengali—I think being a Bengali is enough for him to be on my top five.”

Sunjay Kapur

“I met him soon after I came to Delhi, right after he returned from his honeymoon with his first wife. He was Mr. Cool, you know? He didn’t try to be cool... he just was. There isn’t a single girl who could meet him and not fall in love with him. I was always the only one who got away—that was the joke. Anyone who touched his life, even for a brief moment, will remember him with fondness, love, and borderline hero worship—because of the person he was. This is something I endeavour to—when I go, I want to be remembered the way my friend Sunjay Kapur is remembered.”

Mohit Gujral

“Mohit is just the funniest guy I know. He’s just Mr. Funny Bones. I’ve had a crush on him since I was 16 and he’s well aware of that. If I need advice for my business or my questionable choices, I’m going to go to him. He's always been there for me, and he’s just such a great husband, and a great father and friend. He’s like the perfect man, and I’m not just saying this because I find him really hot. I mean, he’s become grey and he looks even sexier. Yeah, so that’s Mohit Gujral for you.”

GV Sanjay Reddy

“There’s not a single human being who has anything remotely negative ever to say about Sanjay Reddy. He’s also one of the most fun people I know. And the last to leave the dance floor. That man has the energy of a 16-year-old, and he’s so positive, always smiling and laughing. Sanjay has no vices. I don’t know anybody else like him. That’s why he’s on the list. I think that's just such a great trait—just to be…happy, you know?"

As told to MAYUKH MAJUMDAR

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