Performer Of The Year - Vidya Balan

On-screen, she gets under the skin of every character she portrays no matter how complex or nuanced. Off -screen, she has become an icon by simply being herself. The actor, who has approached life and work on her own terms, thinks out loud with Sneha Mankani

For keeps

Everything that deserves your attention and shelf space this month

The show must go on

In July, Dior was one of the first houses to stage a physical fashion show in Lecce, southern Italy, for the resort 2021 collection. In true Maria Grazia Chiuri style, localised crafts and traditions were transformed and transmitted to all corners of the globe.

KK SHAILAJA

During her tenure, Kerala’s forward-thinking minister of health and social justice has adeptly handled fi rst the infectious Nipah virus, and now the pandemic. Today, her name features among the small set of women in power who are lauded globally for their response to the crisis.

INDIA WOMEN'S NATIONAL FIELD HOCKEY TEAM

Whether raising funds for migrant workers in distress, working on their fitness levels at home, learning English online whilst in lockdown, or getting back to training hard on the field, these young champions are not letting the challenges of COVID-19 come in the way of their goals.

KIRAN MAZUMDAR SHAW

She’s India’s good-girl billionaire, who overcame rejection and gender bias and went on to lead one of the most successful biotechnology companies in the country.

GITA GOPINATH

The intellectual powerhouse and first female chief economist at the International Monetary Fund has taken on the greatest challenge of her career—to guide global economic policy as we enter the worst recession since the Great Depression, writes Shahnaz Siganporia

DUA LIPA

At the peak of the pandemic, when people’s spirits desperately needed a lift, the Grammy-winning dance music artiste bounced into action to put out a party-starting album in a world bereft of dance floors.

CAMILA CABELLO

Somewhere between bringing her art and activism together, she’s writing her own rules and songs. The musician with a voice that matters tells Nupur Sarvaiya how she’s found a sanctum of solace in the centre of a storm

A star is born

With multiple projects readying for release, Ana de Armas is setting Hollywood ablaze. As the face of the Natural Diamond Council’s campaign, the actor adds another feather to her already full cap.

Sangeeta Ahir - Queen Of All Trades

The first female Indian film distributor, a philanthropist, a fashionista and a fitness enthusiast, Sangeeta Ahir is an inspiration to many. In a freewheeling chat with Vogue, Ahir discusses her many ventures and how she juggles multiple roles with ease

The good life

From struggling to run a mile to becoming one of India’s leading wellness curators, healthcare scion and entrepreneur Upasana Kamineni Konidela discusses her food and fitness evolution and how she’s advocating for India’s medical services.

MAN ON A MISSION

The pandemic has cast long shadows and left many of us harbouring feelings of hopelessness, uncertainty, and anxiety. But Mumbai resident Mauris Noronha has emerged as a ray of hope in these dark, challenging times. Taking up the responsibility of serving society’s most vulnerable sections, Noronha has dipped into his own savings to aid those in need across the city and state. Vogue catches up with the social hero to learn more about his selfless deeds

Living legacy

Patron of the crafts Brigitte Singh celebrates 40 years of creating some of the finest hand-block prints in the world. As inspired by tradition as she is by memory, India’s leading textile designer shares her renewed vision of finding perfection in simplicity.

Found in translation

Heart-wrenching family sagas, gripping political thrillers and the great climate-change novel—Malayalam literature in translation is on the rise, fast becoming a bestselling and award-winning favourite, finds book blogger and writer Resh Susan

Children of the soil

Sowing the seeds for a green future, these modern-day agripreneurs are trading age-old techniques for a new range of radical farming practices

Forces of nature

Can indigenous knowledge mitigate climate change? From the Khasis of Meghalaya to the fisherfolk of Bengal, architect Julia Watson shows how nature based construction techniques and materials can lead to a sustainable future.

Big digital energy

From nightly binge-fests to weekend movie marathons, we have streamed our way through the groundhog-ish reality of our stay-at-home lives. The leaders of the creative zeitgeist taking over India’s entertainment industry tell Shahnaz Siganporia why OTT is only going to get bigger

A wandering soul

Whether it’s her time spent studying the craft clusters of northern India or making pit stops at the local farms where she grew up, designer Saloni Lodha’s travels through India provide answers to the why and how of who she is and what her label does.

MY INDIA IS GLOBAL

MEET THE MOST UNLIKELY COVER GIRL: A SELF- CONFESSED CAMERA-SHY RECLUSE WHO JUST HAPPENS TO BE ONE OF FASHION’S MOST SOUGHT-AFTER FACES. AMRIT, THE MODEL AND ARTIST FROM PUNJAB, SPEAKS WITH DIVYA BALA ON FINDING PEACE IN BEAUTY AND HER PLACE IN THE PARISIAN SPOTLIGHT

Let it go

Sitting in silence with your thoughts and doing nothing can seem daunting, even impossible. Meditation expert Andy Puddicombe talks to Sanjana Salunkhe about how to tame the restless mind

Leaning into love

As the world daydreams about frolicking in the great outdoors, supermodel Kaia Gerber talks about the beauty of staying in, learning, and growing with the gift of time.

HOPE VOGUE

From Ukraine and Japan to the US and India, all 26 editions of Vogue come together to create a picture of what hope looks like today—a global project that led us to find our common humanity. Here is a curated selection

First ladies of beauty

Meet India’s original salon owners, the women who put skincare, hairdressing and the concept of a comprehensive beauty parlour on the map.

Italians do it better

The popular expression used to reinforce the Italian way of living could also be described as the starting point for Walter Chiapponi’s debut as the creative director of Tod’s. Priyanka Khanna finds out more from the designer

Make a wish

After months at home, the itch for wanderlust has never been stronger. From new discoveries to nostalgic trips, Vogue India taps the post-pandemic travel cravings of seven creatives

Not just my mother's bag

Earlier this year, Alessandro Michele launched the Jackie 1961, a new version of the classic, spotlighting an important conversation in fashion. Nonita Kalra delves into the handbag as a totem of a personal and cultural narrative in the year of the pandemic

COMING HOME TO NORAH

In an age of autotuned popbots, Norah Jones remains the new-world artist with an old-world charm. Understated and unspoilt by fame, even after nine Grammy awards, the musician opens up to Megha Mahindru about her private life and her hope for a better post-pandemic world

A PARADIGM SHIFT

Over the following pages, we celebrate the beauty of ‘made in India’. Passed down through generations, from one hand to another, the traditions and techniques of our skilled artisans create a fashion language that is unparalleled. In the process, however, craftspeople and their incredible handiwork are often overlooked. If there’s ever been a time to make positive change, it is the present. Priyanka Khanna speaks to 15 fashion experts to forge a plan going forward as they discuss the impact of this pandemic-driven pause on the industry

After birth

Balancing motherhood, the Molotov cocktail of hormones and the pangs of postpartum through a pandemic, award-winning author Shubhangi Swarup writes on how she found hope in a hopeless place