Pirelli’s 2027 calendar marks a cultural pivot with all-Indian cast and locations

The 2027 Pirelli calendar, long regarded as one of the most influential publications in fashion photography, has shifted its focus entirely to India. The latest edition features an all-Indian cast and was shot exclusively within the country, marking a departure from the publication’s historical reliance on European and American locations. The project was completed by Norwegian photographer Sølve Sundsbø and Indian photographer Avani Rai, who assumed co-photographer duties following the death of her father, Raghu Rai, in April 2026.

Rai, a pioneer of photojournalism in India, had originally envisioned the project as a collaboration with Sundsbø. Following his passing, Avani Rai chose to ground the imagery in the streets of Delhi’s old city, capturing flower markets, gullies, and crumbling architecture to reflect what she described as the nation’s contradictions and multiple coexisting universes. This approach moves away from the studio-centric tradition of the calendar, seeking to capture an essence of India’s vastness rather than attempting to represent every facet of the country.

The cast includes model Bhavitha Mandava, musician Anoushka Shankar, and chef and model Padma Lakshmi. Mandava, a 26-year-old from Hyderabad who recently opened Chanel’s Métiers d’Art show, noted that she initially hesitated due to the calendar’s history of eroticism. However, she expressed appreciation for the effort to make her feel she belonged, while cautioning against reducing her identity to a mere representation of an entire race.

Shankar, who appears with her sitar, highlighted the significance of the inclusion given past misconceptions about South Asian culture in Western media. She observed that while India has long been associated with beauty and grace, global understanding has often been ignorant. For Lakshmi, aged 55, shooting in her country of birth felt more feminine and challenged narrow stereotypes of Indian beauty that have dominated global perceptions for decades.

The release of the calendar arrives amid a broader reckoning in the fashion industry regarding South Asian representation and the acknowledgment of Indian craft. This shift follows significant industry moments, including Dior’s full runway show in Mumbai in March 2023 and the controversy surrounding Prada’s June 2025 collection, which featured sandals resembling traditional Kolhapuri chappals. The Pirelli initiative aligns with this evolving landscape, positioning Indian talent and aesthetics at the centre of a global luxury narrative.