#Bazaar25in2025: People to watch out for in 2025—Culture

As 2025 unfolds, we find ourselves in the midst of a creative renaissance, led by a generation of artists, storytellers, and entrepreneurs reshaping culture in bold and exciting ways. From Sahil Arora redefining contemporary art at Method and Rithika Merchant creating backdrops for Dior to Maroof Culmen’s stories beautifully weaving India’s rich heritage into modern narratives, and chess prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju making history with his groundbreaking wins, there's something electric about this moment.

On screen, Adarsh Gourav is delivering performances that feel strikingly authentic, while we can't wait to see what rising powerhouses Ishaan Khatter and Zahan Kapoor do next. From Jonita Gandhi's connecting with audiences with music that effortlessly crosses borders to DJ Nida pushing the boundaries of electronic music, even as filmmaker Payal Kapadia singlehandedly put Indian cinema in the global spotlight last year. They're stories that challenge, move, and inspire the norm. Meanwhile, entrepreneurs Raj Shamani and Sharan Hegde are redefining innovation and influence in the digital age.

These 25 names are more than just rising stars—they are not just shaping the zeitgeist, they are creating it. Their work sparks conversations, challenges norms, and sets the tone for an incredibly promising rest of the year.

Bazaar India presents the future faces of culture today. To have this list be truly representative of the brightest talent shaping our culture, it has been thoughtfully reviewed by industry leaders: acclaimed filmmaker Hansal Mehta (The Buckingham Murders, Aligarh, Scam 1992), Mirzapur director Gurmmeet Singh, and visionary filmmaker Ashima Chibber (Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway).

Join us as we spotlight the creatives, innovators, and trailblazers shaping what’s next.

#1 Sahil Arora, Founder, Method  

Sahil Arora stands out as a key figure in the Indian art scene with his approach to making art more accessible and engaging. As the founder and curator of Method, a dynamic art gallery with multiple spaces, Arora's commitment to showcasing diverse styles and mediums, along with his efforts to create a welcoming environment for emerging artists, has made Method a platform to watch out for in contemporary art. 

#2 Maroof Culmen, Content Creator

Even Diljit Dosanjh can't get enough of Maroof Umar, known as 'Culmen'—a heritage storyteller from Lucknow, India, who brings the city’s rich history to life through photography and storytelling. Highlighting lesser-known monuments, crafts, and local traditions, and offering fresh perspectives on Lucknow’s heritage authentically, all while combining visual artistry with historical insights, has earned him a loyal following. 

#3 Nida Merchant, DJ

DJ Nida is a rising star in the global electronic music scene, blending genres like disco, house, and techno to create unique, high-energy sets that merge underground and popular sounds. With her flawless, groovy mixes and infectious energy, she stands out on major festival lineups, including Magnetic Fields, Echoes of the Earth, and DGTL, often sharing the stage with international heavyweights like Armin Van Buuren. 

#4 Sidhant Gandhi, Artist

Sidhant Gandhi, popularly known as Toosid, is a Mumbai-based artist known for transforming everyday products into relatable phrases that capture the thoughts and emotions of modern India. His work blends honesty and humour, making his designs highly engaging and universally appealing. With a fresh, offbeat style and a knack for capturing the pulse of contemporary culture, he is revolutionizing how products are perceived. 

#5 Gukesh Dommaraju, Chess Champion

Gukesh Dommaraju is an Indian chess prodigy who, at just 18 years old, shocked the world in December 2024 by becoming the youngest chess world champion, showing incredible talent and dedication. With his rapid progress and determination, he has the potential to become one of the top chess players globally in the coming years. 

#6 Rishab Sharma, Artist

Rishab Sharma is a gifted sitarist and music producer, carrying forward the legacy of the renowned Rikhi Ram family of luthiers. A devoted disciple of the legendary Ravi Shankar, he became the first sitarist to perform solo at the White House, invited by President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, and Vice President Kamala Harris for a special Diwali celebration.

#7 Jayesh Sachdev, Artist 

Jayesh Sachdev is a multi-talented creator who blends art, sculpture, design, and storytelling in innovative ways. As the founder of Quirk Box and Quirk Box Design Studio, he stands out for his experimental approach to art that combines mythology, pop culture, and modern design into immersive, multi-sensory experiences. With numerous awards to his name, including the British Council Young Arts Entrepreneurs Award and Vogue India Fashion Fund and a Zara collaboration under his belt, he continues to push creative boundaries and redefine the future of art and design.

#8 Sunny Kaushal, Actor

Sunny Kaushal has had quite the journey in the world of entertainment, before making it big as an actor. He was one of the breakout stars last year with his neo-noir Netflix film Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba, alongside Taapsee Pannu and Vikrant Massey, getting him rave reviews. Earlier, he had a short stint as an assistant director on the films My Friend Pinto (2011) and Gunday (2014). 

#9 Payal Kapadia, Filmmaker 

A rare talent in the Indian film industry, the filmmaker, a graduate of the prestigious Film and Television Institute of India, has had several International accolades to her name. Her journey began in 2017 when her film Afternoon Clouds was the only selection from India at the 70th Cannes Film Festival. Fast-forward to the 2021 Cannes Film Festival where she won the Golden Eye Award for her film A Night of Knowing Nothing in the Best Documentary Film category. 2024 turned out to be all the more special for her, as she brought home the Grand Prix for her film All We Imagine as Light at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. 

#10 Aniruddh Mehta, Art Director

Aniruddh Mehta, the founder of the multi-disciplinary design studio, Studio BigFat, gained popularity as an independent graphic designer, visual artist and art director in Mumbai. In 2023, Studio Bigfat, under Mehta’s leadership, was awarded the Kyoorius Design Awards for 3 entries, notably for the Visual Identity and Graphic Designing for packaging for Subko Cacao and the third for the packaging design for Goenchi Feni, known for its 500-year-old tradition of feni distillation. Also having worked on independent music projects, and with brands like Adidas, Redbull, and Puma, his design lead for the title sequence in the Netflix series Sacred Games is worth a special hat tip.

#11 Adarsh Gourav, Actor

Adarsh Gourav is a rising star who first gained international recognition for his powerful portrayal in The White Tiger, which earned critical acclaim and nominations at prestigious awards like the Academy Awards and BAFTA. His ability to bring depth and authenticity to complex characters, like Neel in Kho Gaye Hum Kahan and Nasir Shaikh in Superboys of Malegaon, highlights his growing mastery of emotional storytelling. 

#12 Ambika Mod, Actor

From her breakout role in One Day to her memorable turn in This is Going to Hurt, Ambika Mod continues to showcase a remarkable ability to bring complex, relatable characters to life. What sets her apart is her unique journey—having started in improv and stand-up, she blends wit, vulnerability, and authenticity seamlessly in ways that feel refreshingly genuine. With an impressive slate of upcoming projects, including a feature film alongside Salma Hayek and Anya Taylor-Joy, she’s a rising star poised to make waves in 2025 and beyond.

#13 Rithika Merchant, Artist 

Rithika Merchant, a Mumbai-based visual artist, bridges the past and future through her work with intricate paintings and collages enriched with symbolism, organic forms, and delicate hues. Having exhibited at The 11th Asia Pacific Triennale of Contemporary Art (2024) in Brisbane and collaborated with Dior for the Spring/Summer 2025 haute couture collection at Paris Fashion Week has solidified her as a creative force to be reckoned with.

#14 Jonita Gandhi, Artist

Having first gained attention through her YouTube channel, where she showed immense promise with covers of popular Hindi tracks, it was the 2016 hit “The Breakup Song” that saw Jonita Gandhi garner immense praise for giving a unique spin to heartbreak and celebrating it. Not only does her music span across a variety of genres—Bollywood, classical and fusion, but it also transcends language, with the singer lending her voice to popular songs in Kannada, Punjabi, and English, to name a few. 

#15 Alanna Panday, Content Creator

Alana Panday is a popular figure in the content creator world, known for her fashion-forward style, beauty expertise, and vibrant personality. With a strong presence on social media, she has carved out a niche for herself by blending fashion, beauty, and lifestyle content that resonates with her growing audience.

#16 Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, Artist

Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran’s art is characterized by its bold, colourful sculptures and installations that merge mythology, identity, and contemporary culture, featuring exaggerated forms, playful aesthetics, and a mix of materials like ceramic, metal, and textiles. 

#17 Alaiia Gujral, Curator and Creative Director

Alaiia Gujral is a visionary creative director, designer, and curator redefining the intersection of contemporary design, material innovation, and immersive storytelling. As co-founder of Future Galerie, she creates cutting-edge exhibitions and brand collaborations that merge art, design, and technology. Her curatorial projects span global platforms, from Art Basel Miami to London Design Week, where she has worked with renowned artists alongside brands such as Hermès, Nike, Red Bull, and Converse. 

#18 Hanumankind, Artist

Hanumankind, born Sooraj Cherukat, is an Indian rapper making significant strides in the music industry. Hailing from Malappuram, Kerala, he has gained international recognition with his hit track “Big Dawgs”. The track debuted at number 57 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and climbed to the 9th position on Spotify’s Global Top 50, eventually leading the way to a feature on the cover of Spotify's Global Hip Hop Playlist and a contract with Capitol Records. His tracks are known for blending introspective lyrics with intense beats, creating a sound that feels both familiar and innovative.

#19 Raj Shamani, Content Creator

 

Raj Shamani is one of the top podcasters in India and an entrepreneur while also being a speaker and a bestselling author. He hosts the popular podcast Figuring Out with Raj Shamani, which is one of the leading podcasts in India, with over 1 Billion yearly views, where he hosts top celebrities, entrepreneurs, world experts and global artists to learn from them about their perspectives and life’s work in depth.

As a successful entrepreneur, Raj is dedicated to educating people to enhance their wealth, health, and relationships, always striving to reflect the realities of life to his audience which indirectly amplifies the country's growth as well.

Raj also runs a company where he helps experts, entrepreneurs, professionals and CEOs build their personal brand. Raj’s purpose is to help people upgrade their lives and achieve their Indian Dream of being identified among many from the industry and making India big at a global level. In addition to his podcasting success, he founded ‘YFL Home’, a kitchen fashion and lifestyle brand, alongside Chef Sanjyot Keer, the owner of Your Food Lab.

When he isn’t busy with his work/professional endeavours/commitments, Raj enjoys travelling, engaging in adventure sports and immersing himself in the cultures of local tribes.

#20 Shrayana Bhattacharya, Author

Shrayana Bhattacharya is an economist, writer and author of Desperately Seeking Shah Rukh: India's Lonely Young Women and the Search for Intimacy and Independence. She works with the World Bank’s Social Protection and Labour unit for South Asia. Prior to joining the World Bank, she worked with ISST, ILO, SEWA and the Centre for Policy Research on a range of issues in the areas of urban bureaucracy, social policies and employment. The past few years have seen her add multiple feathers to her cap as she won the Atta Galatta BLF Book Prize for Best Non Fiction in 2022 along with winning the Times of India JK Paper Author Prize for Best Non-Fiction Author and the SKOCH Economic Forum Prize for Literature in the same year.

#21 Ishaan Khatter, Actor

Ishaan Khatter is a rising actor known for his versatile performances and presence in Bollywood and internationally, having featured alongside Nicole Kidman in A Perfect Couple. With critically acclaimed performances in films like Beyond the Clouds and Phone Bhoot closer to home, he has showcased his potential as a versatile actor capable of delivering compelling stories. As he continues to explore different genres and collaborate with top filmmakers, Ishaan Khatter is a name to watch out for in the entertainment industry, especially as he grows into more prominent roles heading into 2025.

#22 Sharan Hegde, Content Creator 

Through his YouTube channel, Finance With Sharan, entrepreneur, content creator, and finance influencer, Sharan Hegde is on a mission to spread financial literacy in every Indian household through comedic shorts and entertaining long-form videos. Hegde’s videos, followed by 6 million people across various platforms, are informative and accessible to people who may not have a deep background in finance but are interested in learning about managing their money. 

#23 Shahnaz Habib, Author

Having authored two works of translation and the acclaimed work of non-fiction titled Airplane Mode, which won her the 2024 New American Voices Award, what sets Shahnaz Habib apart as an author to watch in 2025 is her ability to seamlessly blend personal reflection with sharp cultural critique. Her writing stands out for its intellectual depth, emotional resonance, and a distinctive, acerbic narrative style that intertwines the historical and the contemporary.

#24 Parakram Kakkar, Founder, The Maazi Merchant

 

Parakram Kakkar, the founder of art start-up The Maazi Merchant, is bringing India’s rich artistic heritage back into focus by reintroducing traditional Indian art, currently housed in museums across the world, to modern homes. Launched in 2023, with clients—which range from Reliance to the luxury hotel Gobindgarh by Godwin, Jaisalmer, to even celebrity designers like Nafisa Rachel William, the venture aims to reclaim access to Indian art showcased in museums across North America and Europe and make high quality prints available to Indians once they've been meticulously restored and reproduced.

#25 Zahan Kapoor, Actor

Zahan Kapoor is the latest entrant in carrying forward the illustrious legacy of the Kapoor family in cinematic excellence. Shashi Kapoor's grandson, Zahan, made a lasting impression with his portrayal of jailor Sunil Gupta in Vikramaditya Motwane-helmed Black Warrant, a performance that garnered widespread praise for its depth and authenticity. With a profound respect for storytelling and a desire to contribute meaningfully to cinema, Zahan draws inspiration from his grandfather’s ability to seamlessly navigate commercial and parallel cinema, as well as his multilingual repertoire.
 

Lead image: Instagram and Collage by Mandeep Singh

Images: Instagram and Alaiia Gujral, Raj Shamani, Shahnaz Habib

Also read: #Bazaar25in2025: People to watch out for in 2025—Fashion