If polite society allowed it, Ishaan Khatter would walk around town in a silk robe and nothing else.
“Nice and airy,” he calls it. He laughs when I say that it would do numbers on Instagram. Maybe he’s joking. Maybe he’s not. Either way, it would go perfectly well with the thirst-trap image that he has unconsciously (or consciously) cultivated for himself.
We're almost at the end of our conversation and he’s mentioned “playfulness” quite a few times. Makes me wonder if beneath the structured fits and rock-hard physique lies a guy who just wants to goof around, like any regular 29-year-old.
But Khatter isn’t just another 29-year-old. Regular 29-year-olds don’t get to star opposite Nicole Kidman. Or get styled by Alexander Roth. Amongst other things, the NYC-based creative put him in Daniel W. Fletcher (the corset underneath was a big hit), a Helmut Lang denim set (delicious) and a tantalising leather number from Courrèges (the fire emojis under that post are in the thousands).
Trench coat and trousers, both from Rishta by Arjun Saluja; Boots by Birkenstock
“Alexander’s a fashion guy and, I mean, he’s incredible at what he does. You know, I didn’t come in with restrictions or any preconceived notions and so, we were able to stumble upon things and find a way together. I think that’s when you’re most creative—when you’re kind of open and flexible to letting things happen,” he says over the phone. The crackling network makes his voice sound gravelly.
“For example, the corset was such an interesting look—it was sort of androgynous and pushed the envelope. I think he was able to really tailor it to my body in a very flattering way and I felt very comfortable in it,” he adds, after a pause.
Suit, dress shirt and shoes, all by Gaurav Gupta
It wasn’t such a big deal when they were doing the fittings, he says, not at that time. Only much later, when he saw the comments and likes. But of course, that is how these things work.
Khatter was thrust into the limelight when he was 22. At that time, his sense of style was “haphazard”. He was a bit too “playful”, he believes, a bit too excited to experiment. His understanding of fashion is a lot more elevated now. But he’s retained his IDGAF. There’s the occasional cravat and asymmetric jacket but there’s also the skin-tight ganji and black short shorts.
He’s never been a big fan of creating a moment just for the heck of it. Why bother? People can always make out when you’re trying too hard to be someone you’re not. So, he’d rather go for something simpler and elegant.
Suit, shirt, tie and pocket square, all by Louis Phillipe
Suit, shirt, tie, pocket square and shoes, all by Louis Phillipe
Take his recent appearances, for example. Yes, he’s opted for sharply cut double-breasted suits and velvet bandhgalas. But there was also the classic done-to-death black-satin-shirt-with-black-trousers combo. And to the delight of his ever-drooling fans, he also kept things interesting in a custom magenta suit which showed off his bulging biceps and toned arms. That’s how he showcases his individuality.
“That’s really where I think you can make a look yours. The way that you want the fabric to fall on your body, the way you want to move in it—those are the things that really matter. I’m a dancer so I don’t want to be wearing anything that makes me feel like there’s no space to move. When an outfit allows me to express myself effortlessly while also complementing my body—that’s the sweet spot. That’s what I go for.”
Suit, shirt, pocket square/cravat and shoes, all by Louis Phillipe
Suit, shirt and pocket square/cravat, all by Louis Phillipe
His entire line of work is built on the gospel truth that perception is reality and that you need to dress the way you want to be appraised yet he firmly insists that he doesn’t believe in Polonius’s proclamation that ‘clothes maketh the man’.
Jacket, shirt and trousers, all by Line Outline; Kurta shirt by Antar-Agni; sandals by Birkenstock
Denim shirt, breeches, both by La Martina X Pratap; Shoes by Swati Modo
“I think the same clothes that look really great on somebody can look very unflattering on another person. It’s all about the substance you carry inside," he says, sagely. Well, that’s a quote, I remember thinking.
And then he’s off. Perhaps to experiment a little more, or maybe go look for that silk robe he was talking about.
Jacket and shirt, all by Countrymade
Jacket, shirt and trousers, all by Countrymade
Photographs by: Nishant Radhakrishnan
Fashion & Creative Direction: Vijendra Bhardwaj
Chief Assistant Stylist: Mehak Khanna
Fashion & Styling Coordination: Richa Mehta
Grooming: Aditya Shah (Hair) and Kruttika Sharma (Make-Up)
Artist Reputation Management: Jio Creative Labs, Anushree Kirtikar
Production: P Productions
