Who are the winners of GQ Men Of The Year 2023?

Alia Bhatt

From being named Gucci’s first Indian global ambassador to foraying into the global arena with her first international Netflix project, and then delivering a stellar performance in the hit film Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, 2023 has belonged to Alia Bhatt.

Progressive Powerhouse

Ayushmann Khurrana

Ever since he started in the business, Ayushmann Khurrana has been using cinema as a tool to kick-start and drive positive conversations around taboo subjects in a bid to reduce societal prejudice. In this year’s Dream Girl 2, the light-hearted narrative is layered with a serious message about cross-dressing and acceptance. That the film was a commercial success is yet another feather in the cap of this talented actor who, earlier this year, was also appointed a national ambassador for India by Unicef to support and enhance his advocacy work in the arena of children’s rights.

Excellence in Acting

Aditya Roy Kapur

 It’s been a strong year for Aditya Roy Kapur, one filled with praise for his double role in Gumraah, an intriguing whodunnit murder mystery. But it was in the hit streaming show The Night Manager that Kapur truly soared, cutting a distinctive figure as a vulnerable spy, delivering a powerful performance packed with action, drama, and an ill-fated romance.

Director of the Year

Karan Johar

With Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, Karan Johar delivered a critical and commercial success—a movie that stands to usher in a new era of mainstream Hindi cinema. In a single sweep, the director addressed issues of parochial patriarchy, body shaming, and male entitlement, while keeping an endearing, hilarious love story at the heart of it. All this while remaining arguably the most energetic, prolific individual in the Indian entertainment business.

Creative Maverick

Konkona Sen Sharma

She is one of India’s most talented filmmakers, as displayed by “The Mirror”, widely considered the standout segment in Lust Stories 2. But Konkona Sen Sharma is equally gifted in front of the camera as well. The actor’s standout performance in the second season of Mumbai Diaries underscores not only her talent but also her commitment to using her craft as a tool for social reform.

Culinary Pioneer

Prateek Sadhu

Endowed with restless energy and searing ambition, 36-year-old Prateek Sadhu likes to take the road less travelled. The former executive chef of the path-breaking, critically acclaimed Masque in Mumbai, he has now risked it all by opening his own restaurant, Naar, nestled amid the Himalayan peaks near Kasauli. Like some of the world’s greatest restaurants—Mirazur and El Bulli come to mind—Sadhu has conceived his 18-seater as a global hotspot that will stand alone as a culinary destination.

Fashion Personality

Rahul Mishra

Few have done more to put Indian fashion on the global map. By elevating local artisanship and placing it at the centre of his Paris haute couture collections, Rahul Mishra has won over some of the fashion world’s most discerning, influential individuals. Yet along with his renowned embroidery, what is equally impressive is Mishra’s progressive attitude towards the craftspeople he works with.

Cultural Force

Reema Kagti

Multi-hyphenate creative Reema Kagti helped create and deliver some of this year’s most high-impact cultural moments in the streaming arena: critically acclaimed Dahaad was the first Indian web series to premiere at Berlinale, and the follow-up season of Made in Heaven created a buzz across the globe. Kagti’s professional partnership with Zoya Akhtar continues to be one of the most fruitful in the entertainment industry, with her work increasingly becoming a reflection of her personality: assertive and progressive.

Musician of the Year

Ricky Kej

The towering Bengaluru-based musician and composer won his third Grammy Award in 2023 and was named a goodwill ambassador by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Earlier this year in London, Ricky Kej conducted the 100-member Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in a stirring rendition of the Indian national anthem on the occasion of our Independence Day. Kej’s growing body of work is consistently building Indian soft power across the globe.

Sports Legend

Rohan Bopanna

He is the torchbearer of an illustrious Indian tennis tradition that traces its line back to Ramanathan Krishnan. Remarkably, Rohan Bopanna is still going strong at the age of 43, with 2023 being his best year yet: He started as a runner-up in mixed doubles at the Australian Open, reached the men’s doubles semis at Wimbledon, and finished the Grand Slam circuit as men’s doubles runner-up at the US Open. Bopanna proves the adage: Age is just a number.

Actor of the Year

Shahid Kapoor 

Throughout his career, Shahid Kapoor has embraced nuanced, morally grey characters—an impulse that is rare among stars, and one that has paid off handsomely. This year, he’s taken things up several notches: In the superhit series Farzi, Kapoor delivered the performance of his career—displaying both immaculate control and volcanic volatility—a breakout role that fittingly marks his 20 years in cinema.

Leading Man

Sunny Deol

Sunny Deol’s riposte is emphatic: delivering the most unexpected monster hit of the year with the movie ‘Gadar 2’.