THE POWER OF NOW: ISHAAN KHATTER + MADHULIKA SHARMA

For ELLE India's 28th-anniversary cover, we set our sights on the future. Ainee Nizami Ahmedi chats with India's rising global star, Ishaan Khatter & trailblazing international model Madhulika Sharma

-  Ainee Nizami Ahmedi

Leader OF THE PACK

This year has undeniably been Ishaan Khatter's as he returned to the global stage. Eight years after his debut in Majid Majidi's 'Beyond the Clouds' (2017), Khatter appeared alongside the legendary Nicole Kidman in Netflix's buzzy whodunit 'The Perfect Couple (2024).

His career trajectory defies Bollywood conventions, steering clear of formulaic action flicks. Instead, Khatter's roles are eclectic, each character standing apart, allowing him to explore his range as an actor. "The choices I make are not very calculated. I'm following my instincts and trusting they'll take me where I'm meant to be," he says.