Debonair Magazine India Models Exclusive | 2025 |

Photographed by legendary Gautam Rajadhyaksha before her film career skyrocketed. Juhi Chawla : Featured on the covers early in her career.

The who shaped the magazine's artistic direction

The story of Debonair and its models is the story of India's sexual awakening. For a generation of Indian men, the centerfolds of Debonair were their first exposure to sexualized imagery. It legitimized a conversation about desire that was otherwise silenced.

One of India’s first true supermodels and Miss India 1992, Sapre crossed paths with the magazine during the peak of the 1990s Indian fashion boom. Her athletic physique and fierce look redefined the standard of the Indian model.

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The aesthetic of the Debonair model was distinct from the prevailing Bollywood archetype of the era. While the mainstream heroine was often chaste, draped in a saree, and confined to the role of the moral compass, the Debonair model represented a cosmopolitan, westernized ideal of beauty. With their penchant for fashion photography, candid poses, and an unapologetic display of the female form, these women introduced India to the concept of the "glamour model." They bridged the gap between the traditional Indian beauty and the swinging sixties/seventies global fashion scene, bringing a sense of sass, style, and modernity to magazine stands that otherwise featured staid literary journals or family-oriented periodicals.

: The renowned classical dancer and activist famously graced the cover in July 1982. Ratna Shahi

launched in April 1974. Entrepreneur Susheel Somani wanted to replicate Hugh Hefner's publishing empire in India.

Beyond Bollywood, Debonair created a platform for a generation of models who defined Indian glamour. For a generation of Indian men, the centerfolds

During the 1980s, the magazine was considered a trendsetter for bold fashion photography. It featured models who were often considered too daring for mainstream Indian media at the time, such as Sheetal and Komilla Wirk .

Years later, at an exhibit where Mira showed early sketches beside finished garments, a young girl stopped in front of a framed napkin sketch and traced the inked lines with a thumb. “Is this how you knew?” she asked.

: Often referred to as a "glamour girl" of the seventies, she appeared on two covers and was featured in special photo spreads. Ratna Shahi

The project did more than fund one school. It refitted a small factory that had once been Mira’s nemesis, turning it into a cooperative where profits were split and decisions taken by vote. Debonair ran a feature that winter not because Mira had reentered the spotlight but because the magazine wanted to tell a story about systems that could be repaired, and the daring of people who choose repair over resignation. Her athletic physique and fierce look redefined the

: Another major Bollywood star who appeared on the magazine's cover before achieving national fame. Mallika Sarabhai

While Debonair never maintained a roster of "exclusive" models like a modern agency, several names are synonymous with its legacy. (Note: Due to the sensitive nature of the industry, many models used pseudonyms or faded from public memory, but a few broke through to fame.)

Before winning the Miss India title in 1984 and becoming one of Bollywood's most beloved leading ladies, Chawla appeared in the pages of Debonair , showcasing the magazine's eye for future mainstream talent.