Padma Lakshmi floats in lotus pond, Ranveer Singh dances in confetti: Inside Pirelli Calendar 2027
New Delhi: Padma Lakshmi floating in a lily pond, against a striking magenta backdrop and laughing as confetti bursts around him – the latest Pirelli Calendar captures India through images that are as different as the country itself.
Unveiled in New Delhi on October 23, the 53rd edition of the iconic calendar, popularly known as The Cal, has been shot in India for the first time in its history. The 2027 edition brings together the work of Norwegian fashion photographer Solve Sundsbo and the late Indian photographer Raghu Rai, whose daughter Avani Rai carried his vision forward after his death in April 2026. The photographs were shot across Rajasthan and , bringing together carefully composed portraits and scenes from everyday Indian life.
The result is an edition that moves between two distinct ways of looking at India. Sundsbo’s portraits focus on individual women, their expressions and striking visual settings. Meanwhile, the work of Raghu and Avani Rai places archival photographs alongside contemporary street life, allowing the past and present to share the same frame.
Indian celebs in Solve Sundsbo’s vision
For his part of the calendar, Sundsbo photographed nine women with Indian roots or connections to the country at locations including Jaigarh Fort in Jaipur and Ajabgarh in Rajasthan. The lineup features Padma Lakshmi, Lakshmi Menon, Bhavitha Mandava, Freida Pinto, Aditi Rao Hydari, Avantika Vandanapu, sitar player Anoushka Shankar, poet Rupi Kaur and photographer Avani Rai.
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Among the standout frames is one of Padma Lakshmi surrounded by water lilies and lotus plants, dressed in a sheer cream gown. The composition gives the portrait a dreamlike quality, with the water and greenery creating a soft contrast against her outfit.
Lakshmi Menon’s portrait takes a different approach. Against a vivid magenta backdrop, the model looks directly into the camera, with pink and yellow pigment covering her skin. The close-up puts the focus on her expression and the colours surrounding her.
Bhavitha Mandava, who made headlines after becoming the first Indian model to be named a Chanel house ambassador, appears in another portrait illuminated by golden light. With her hair slicked back and oversized earrings, she brings a contemporary fashion sensibility to the frame.
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The calendar also features Aditi Rao Hydari and Avantika Vandanapu, along with Freida Pinto, Anoushka Shankar and Rupi Kaur. Rather than presenting the women as representations of a single idea of India, Sundsbo’s portraits give each of them a distinct visual identity.
Ranveer Singh in Raghu Rai and Avani Rai’s photographs
The calendar’s second visual narrative comes from Raghu Rai and Avani Rai. Raghu, who began photographing India in 1965, had spent months developing the project before his death in April 2026. His original idea was to bring photographs from his archive into conversation with contemporary India. Avani took the project forward, bringing the images into the streets and placing them alongside the people and everyday scenes of the present.
One of the most eye-catching images features Ranveer Sing, photographed by Avani Rai. Dressed in a double-breasted suit and sunglasses, the actor stands on a stool, throws his head back and laughs as confetti bursts around him. The frame captures a playful, unrestrained moment, a contrast to the carefully composed fashion portraits elsewhere in the calendar.
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The wider series extends beyond celebrity portraits. Photographs made in Old Delhi, including areas such as Kinari Bazar and Yamuna Ghat, bring the project into the bustle of everyday life. Raghu’s archival work meets contemporary scenes featuring local residents, performers, artisans and children, creating visual connections between different generations.
This interplay between memory and the present gives the edition its distinctive character. Instead of relying solely on elaborate sets or fashion imagery, the calendar also finds its visual language in the streets, people and changing rhythms of India.
Written By Uditi Sharma!