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Given its nature, Debonair was no stranger to controversy. It frequently found itself in the crosshairs of moral authorities and political groups. A landmark moment came in 1995 when the pro-Hindu Shiv Sena-led coalition government in Maharashtra threatened to seize copies of the magazine. The government's Culture Minister, Promod Navalkar, launched a campaign to "clean up" the state, targeting not just Debonair but also advertisements for liquor and sanitary napkins as "vulgar".

Iconic Supermodels and Bollywood Stars Who Started at Debonair

Winner of Miss India 1985, Sonu Walia was celebrated for her unconventional, striking looks and commanding screen presence. Her stunning pictorials in Debonair helped establish her as a major sex symbol of the late 1980s, leading directly to her award-winning role in the Bollywood thriller Khoon Bhari Maang . Sangeeta Bijlani Debonair Magazine India Models

Mira’s label grew without losing the rough edges that made it honest. She designed a line inspired by the women who now taught shifts and business literacy at the co-op—the seamstresses who had once been invisible. The models in Debonair’s spreads began to look different: not only runway-trained faces but the same hands that cut cloth and the same laugh that negotiated prices. The magazine’s glossy pages held a new kind of glamour, one that smelled of ink and sweat and tea-stained measuring tapes.

: One of Bollywood's greatest superstars, she was photographed for the magazine by legendary photographer Gautam Rajadhyaksha early in her career. Juhi Chawla Given its nature, Debonair was no stranger to controversy

Founded in 1973 by Susheel Somani, Debonair was often described as India’s answer to Playboy , bridging the gap between men's lifestyle and explicit imagery. Throughout its tumultuous history, the magazine featured numerous aspiring actresses and models, many of whom went on to become significant names in the Indian entertainment industry. While known for its topless centerfolds in its prime, the magazine served as a stepping stone for models and a reflection of changing social mores in India. The Golden Era of Debonair Models (1970s–1990s)

The magazine’s editors had to navigate a fine line, arguing that their pictorials were "art" or representations of the female form in good taste, rather than "obscenity." The constant police raids and court cases surrounding the magazine highlighted the tension between the Indian state's desire to control public morality and the rising tide of liberalization in the 1990s. The Debonair model became the inadvertent frontline soldier in the war for freedom of expression in India. Sangeeta Bijlani Mira’s label grew without losing the

Many of India’s most celebrated actors, beauty queens, and supermodels began their journeys or solidified their fame through the pages of Debonair . The magazine possessed a unique knack for spotting raw talent and transforming everyday women into national sensations. Juhi Chawla

This "middle-class rebellion" created a unique product—a magazine that men would buy for the photos but claim to read for the articles. The Collector's Market