You know what they say about nonchalance. It’s unmitigated sexiness. It’s laidback attention to detail. It’s self-contained absorption of the world around you. Sidhant Gupta floats in the ether of those dualities. He will throw on “jeans, boots, T-shirt and cap”, slide his “thumb ring and little bracelet” and YSL sunglasses on and walk out when you’re probably imagining him doing fancier things and donning fancier clothes.
Cuban collared striped shirt, trousers, both by PéroPhoto by Taras Taraporvala
Especially after the serpentine hoopla of charged sexuality that’s coiled around his young oeuvre. Jubilee, Freedom at Midnight, Black Warrant—it’s really not a lot of names but it’s been enough to get him more cred that many unfortunately don’t muster in whole careers.
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But don’t believe that hoopla—it’s just a vacuous distraction that consumes both you, the viewer, and him, the artist. You never know what Gupta’s up to next—he might appear from within the mist like a phantom of another sort. “Until the mystery is alive, the artist is alive. Otherwise, you end up playing yourself over and over,” he quips sibilantly.
Cuban collared striped shirt, trousers, both by PéroPhoto by Taras Taraporvala
“Over and over… over and over, Jailer sahab,” I almost hear him say in his Charles Sobhraj voice.
The truth is, away from the gazey essaying of a notorious criminal monikered the Bikini Killer, beneath the make-believe, this is also just a guy in a candy shop. A sunshine man among brooding avengers. A foxy customer among raging lugs. A Jammu boy with the cojones to whip out a seductive French accent on screen. The penniless migrant of Jubilee, the rakish spectre of Black Warrant. A performer looking to leave his own prints on the past.
Shirt, shorts, both by Kanika Goyal Label; trunks by Calvin Klein; opticals by Opium EyewearPhoto by Taras Taraporvala
“I like the fact that I’m seen in this light where I am tasked with characters that don’t need to be produced,” he proffers. “After Jubilee, I’m being seen as Jawaharlal Nehru and Charles Sobhraj. These are enigmatic characters, you know.”
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Indeed, enigma is missing these days. Everything is constantly in your face all the time. You like something? Well, here’s more of it. Yet, somehow, you cannot see enough of Sidhant Gupta. Your eyes linger on him long after he’s left a scene. Despite his latest show needing him to be on roundtables, interviews and all that razzle dazzle, he leaves you tantalised for more. Just like how the guy deactivated Instagram right after a career renaissance.
Co-ord set by Aarti Vijay Gupta; sandals by Birkenstock; sunglasses by Saint LaurentPhoto by Taras Taraporvala
Co-ord set by Aarti Vijay Gupta; sandals by Birkenstock; sunglasses by Saint LaurentPhoto by Taras Taraporvala
“The thing is—there’s too much magic in this work. And that magic is in the present moment. For a long time, I was lost. It’s like how in the past one accepts a lot of stuff out of desperation and they’re usually able to either manage or to blend in, or to fall and keep getting up. And you know, it sounds like such a struggle. I’ve seen it with a lot of actors around—that the moment one starts to, sort of, fade—it gets too painful. Starting from scratch is the only way you can surrender to a new beginning, a new character.”
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But doesn’t it delay the next expected progression to big screen herohood? “I’ve had a lot of scripts coming in, but I waited. Out of all the films that were offered to me, I chose the series because it spoke to me better. With films, I constantly feel there’s still something in between. Memes being chased and that whole commercial vibe—but at the same time, it’s reaching the masses. Jubilee came out as beautiful, spectacular to the eye, and yet it hasn’t really reached the masses. That sort of awareness comes only with the commercial,” he muses.
Co-ord set by Lovebirds; loafers by Christian LouboutinPhoto by Taras Taraporvala
It’s this negative capability—the artist’s ability and the desire to exist in uncertainties and liminal spaces—in this case, as regards the saleability of his work, that has helped him keep the regular at bay. And a lot of it has also to do with investing in the right things. “I’d like to do one thing at a time instead of shuffling between three projects. I like to spend a lot of time alone,” he notes.
Boxers by Calvin Klein; socks by Adidas Originals; neckpiece by ZillionairePhotos by Taras Taraporvala
Boxers by Calvin Klein; socks by Adidas Originals; neckpiece by ZillionairePhoto by Taras Taraporvala
Enough about nonchalance. Masculinity today is about seeing yourself the way you want the world seeing you. It’s about that much reviled thing called vanity. Brought up by a fashion designer mother looking into the mirror and admiring the self must have begun quite early? “I started looking at myself that way when I realised that I was being seen by the world. You have to promote your work, look nice and presentable, right? But even before that, I had this inclination towards clothes.”
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Austerity is a virtue he’s guilty of, and initially, when success hadn’t quite come, the awareness didn’t exist. “But then suddenly, you have promotions, and the great stylists come in—Mohit Rai brought in such cool stuff. And when you collaborate with someone good. Every time that happened, I could feel a sense of freedom through fashion. Designers, great clothes and fabrics—they’re all far-fetched until it’s all given to you. And now, I’m in a space where my taste has improved.”
Shirt by Khanijo; jacket by CountrymadePhoto by Taras Taraporvala
Remember how I said he loves making a good investment? “I do know the value of good clothes but instead of spending a lakh on one pair of shoes, I’d buy three, you know? Like, rather than buying one jacket that’s worth two-and-a-half lakh, I’d rather buy four. I’m there at the moment.”
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Classic nonchalance, I’d say.
Shirt by Péro; jacket and trousers by Eka; shoes by Onitsuka TigerPhoto by Taras Taraporvala
Fashion and Creative Direction: Vijendra Bhardwaj
Grooming: Deepa Verma
Fashion Team: Palak Valecha and Richa Mehta
Location Partner: Soho House, Mumbai
Artist Reputation Management: Tree-Shul Media Solutions, Mandvi Sharma and Bobby Mandhani
To read more stories from Esquire India's March 2025 issue, pick up a copy of the magazine from your nearest newspaper stand or bookstore. Or click here to subscribe to the magazine.
