ENGINE EARS

Hip-hop is the soundtrack of the 21st century, and rap artists are modern-day moguls who court global audiences on the back of their specific truths. But behind them stands a league of creative artists and engineers that are crucial to building their legacy. This is the story of one such man – Bainz, chief engineer to Young Thug and Young Stoner Life Records – and how he’s made it to the top of the global hip-hop game

A DRAM WITH A TWIST

With the launch of a new tropical-inspired whisky and a limited edition laced with history, it’s already been an exciting year for The Glenlivet. GQ caught up with Alex Robertson, Head of Heritage and Education, Chivas Brothers, about what’s in store for the iconic Speyside malt, and a little of how it all began

On A Mission For Education

Delhi-based Yash Raj Gupta, a young, tech-savvy entrepreneur with a vision to make education accessible and affordable to all, is geared up to launch an EdTech platform to transform the education landscape in the country

Clothes Don't Make The Man

But a little thought while picking your gym gear can go a long way

A POETIC NOTE

As H24 by Hermès Parfums makes its debut, GQ sits down with perfumer-creator Christine Nagel for a look into the French luxury house’s new signature scent

PRODIGAL SON

Stately and sensible – is the new Audi A4 a fully realised version of itself?

INSiDE THE WORLD OF SHAWN MENDES

After three No 1 albums and four major tours, the Vine star pop prince rapidly climbed the music royalty ranks. But time out from performance has given him pause to reflect on the peculiar loss that follows success and, last year, much of it came back to him – time with family, old friends, the simple acts of living. What’s more, it brought a pensive new record that reframes his young career and – lest we forget – lockdown’s most “liked” locks

Queen OF HER hustle

First with A Suitable Boy, and now with Netflix’s Bombay Begums, actor Shahana Goswami is coming into her own

THE SUIT IS NOT DEAD. IT'S JUST EVOLVING

What shape will formalwear take, once it emerges, blinking, from the year of “working-from-homeware”? Stefano Canali, CEO and scion of the Italian menswear dynasty, has seen the future... And it’s looking sharp

A NEW Mould

Nepotism and the Indian entertainment industry have been synonymous for a long time. But that’s slowly changing with a new breed of casting agencies discovering fresh talent. Ankur Pathak investigates

The Well Won't Run Dry

But Hollywood is making far fewer movies and shows, thanks to the coronavirus

The Great Indian Summer

Azure waters, snow-capped mountains, or electric metropolis: Visualise a holiday vibe and we’ll tell you where to find it

THE USURUPER

The new S60 is peak Volvo

MODEL SPECIMEN

Richard Mille’s latest chronograph also happens to be its best one ever. No surprises there

URBAN LEGEND

Author Amrit Raj’s tell-all account of Royal Enfield’s journey from moribund relic to international star is rich in revelations and insights

CAPTAIN FANTASTIC

Vivek Menezes reveals the enigma that is Indian footballing superstar Sunil Chhetri

THE BIG SWITCH

Champagne brunchery by day, vibrant niterie by night – Zorawar Kalra’s latest, Bo-Tai Switch, is exactly what the capital city’s nightlife needs in a post-pandemic world

Vijay Varma And The Perks And Perils Of The Bombay Hustle

In early 2018, when Vijay Varma walked into the Santacruz office of Excel Entertainment, he didn’t know what to expect. He had a meeting with Zoya Akhtar who’d liked his Gully Boy audition for the part of Moeen, a worn-out petty criminal from Dharavi, and protagonist Murad’s close friend. A few minutes after he walked in, Akhtar pulled out a camera and asked him to perform the same scene he’d enacted during the audition – the one in which Moeen is behind bars and Murad comes to visit him. While holding back tears, he tells Murad he’ll take the fall for the carjacking and that Murad shouldn’t get involved with the cops. If Murad doesn’t get this chance to follow his dreams, he could easily turn into another Moeen.

DEAD POET'S SOCIETY

How a wild, feminist show about a 20-something Emily Dickinson became Apple TV+’s true breakout hit

BOLD MOVES

Skaid Designs transcends conventional boundaries to create eccentric yet authentic results

THE POWER OF POLITICS

“If you can’t be the king, be the kingmaker!” This line echoes in our heads as we sit down for a candid conversation with the nawab and kingmaker himself, Saif Ali Khan, as he takes GQ through the world of his upcoming Amazon Original series, Tandav

THE FINAL FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19

Bill Gates wants to immunise the world against the most deadly pandemic in a century. But given the rising tide of corona conspiracy theories – with some of the most outlandish directed at the Microsoft billionaire himself – the battle for people’s minds is becoming just as important as developing a vaccine. Here’s how the anti-vax lobby is quietly gaining a foothold in the Middle East – and the risks it poses

REWIND, UNWIND

Rahul Bose’s visit to the Maldives and its ethereal waters is a reminder of what’s beautiful in the world during these grim times

THE BIG WIN

Why every inch counts

ELEMENTS OF SURPRISE

Hublot’s Big Bang ditches rubber straps in favour of an integrated bracelet – a sign of changing times

LET'S DANCE

Acquaint yourself with the musical stylings of queer brown pop musician Aish Divine, who is infusing his beats with a big dose of diversity and being the change he wants to see

A TWIST IN THE TALE

As new episodes of his critically acclaimed series Servant get set to drop, film-maker M Night Shyamalan talks to Arun Janardhan about his second innings in Hollywood and telling dystopian stories in dystopian times

IN THE SPIRIT OF CELEBRATION

Adding a celebratory touch to Christmas and New Year festivities, Jack Daniel’s’ latest consumer activation saw several lucky winners from across major cities in India walk home with the exclusive ‘Jack Tree Of Cheer’