Summary
- The 2027 Pirelli Calendar is dedicated to Raghu Rai.
- It was photographed entirely in India.
- The cast consists exclusively of women of Indian heritage.
- Avani Rai completed the project after her father's death.
- The edition highlights India's cultural diversity and photographic legacy.
The 2027 Pirelli Calendar features an all-Indian female cast and serves as a tribute to legendary Indian photographer Raghu Rai.
The new edition marks the first time the calendar has been photographed entirely in India. Dedicated to Raghu Rai, who passed away in April 2026 at the age of 83, the project celebrates more than five decades of his work documenting India.
Beyond fashion photography, the calendar embraces India’s cultural heritage while highlighting internationally recognized women of Indian origin.
A Tribute to India
The project was originally planned as a collaboration between Norwegian photographer Sølve Sundsbø and Raghu Rai. After Rai’s death, his daughter Avani Rai took over and transformed the concept.
Instead of working in a studio, she photographed throughout Old Delhi, revisiting locations her father had documented during his career, including Kinari Bazar and Yamuna Ghat.
A Dialogue Between Past and Present
Avani Rai returned to the locations where her father’s iconic photographs were taken. Rather than recreating the scenes, she incorporated the original images into the contemporary landscape, creating a visual dialogue across generations.
She explained that her intention was to stand behind her father’s vision, allowing his work to remain the central focus.
An All-Indian Cast
The calendar features Bhavitha Mandava, Padma Lakshmi, Anoushka Shankar, Freida Pinto and Rupi Kaur.
Mandava said she initially hesitated because of the calendar’s historical association with nudity, but ultimately welcomed Pirelli’s decision to celebrate India’s beauty and diversity.
The Evolution of the Pirelli Calendar
First published in 1964, the Pirelli Calendar gradually evolved from traditional fashion imagery to more provocative themes before shifting in recent years toward storytelling, representation and cultural expression.
What We Think
The 2027 edition demonstrates how an iconic publication can evolve while honoring photographic history and embracing cultural diversity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the 2027 edition historic?
It is the first Pirelli Calendar photographed entirely in India with an exclusively Indian female cast.
Who was Raghu Rai?
He was one of India’s most influential photojournalists, documenting the country for more than five decades.
Who completed the project?
His daughter, photographer Avani Rai.
Who appears in the calendar?
Bhavitha Mandava, Padma Lakshmi, Anoushka Shankar, Freida Pinto and Rupi Kaur.
When was the Pirelli Calendar first published?
It debuted in 1964.
