Range of Power

The Range Rover has gone from off-road champion to red carpet essential. Here's why it became the celebrity car of choice across generations of Indian stars

- SRUTHI GANAPATHY RAMAN

From Shah Rukh Khan and Yash to Ananya Panday and Janhvi Kapoor, India's biggest stars — across generations — have one automotive obsession in common: the Range Rover. Sure, they might collect vintage cars or admire muscular classics, but the commanding British SUV (sports utility vehicle) inevitably finds its way into their garages. But the Range Rover's automotive prestige isn't a recent development.

Vintage car collector and restorer Rishad Kundanmal traces its cult status back to the late '70s and '80s, when the vehicle first proved itself as both capable and coveted. The turning point? The legendary Camel Trophy, an annual off-roading adventure competition that was conducted between 1980 and 2000 in various countries such as Brazil, Australia, Madagascar, and Indonesia. “The first event had three vehicles: the regular jeeps,” Kundanmal recalls. “The following year, Land Rovers entered and ever since then, it became a cult phenomenon.”

Going Off-road