The 53rd Pirelli Calendar Unveiled in New Delhi

The launch of the 53rd Pirelli Calendar, featuring the work of three different photographers for the first time in its history, took place with a special gala held in New Delhi on Friday evening. Consisting of 36 photographs prepared through shoots lasting from May to September, the calendar comprises joint projects by Sølve Sundsbø alongside the late Raghu Rai and his daughter, Avani Rai.

Reflecting India's multi-layered culture, its people, and its modern face, the 53rd Pirelli Calendar consists of a total of 36 photographs. In the project, 18 of the photographs are dedicated to women's portraits by Sølve Sundsbø, while the other 18 host a collaborative work by Raghu and Avani Rai. The calendar features Aditi Rao Hydari, Avantika Vandanapu, Freida Pinto, Anoushka Shankar, Rupi Kaur, Lakshmi Menon, Bhavitha Mandava, Padma Lakshmi, and Avani Rai.

Following the sudden death of veteran photographer Raghu Rai, who was part of the initial phase of the project, his daughter Avani Rai took over the baton. Instead of a studio, Avani Rai returned to the streets where her father had photographed for years, reuniting old photographs with their locations. Norwegian photographer Sølve Sundsbø, on the other hand, focused on portraits of Indian women, highlighting fabric textures, colors, and lighting elements. Actress Freida Pinto stated at the press conference that the calendar challenges artistic molds.