25 Best Dressed South Asian Musicians of 2025
From KATSYE breakout Lara Raj to Pop empress Sunidhi Chauhan, here’s a rundown of all the South Asian artists that made heads turn this year
Artwork by Shradha Raul
2025 was a year defined by South Asian cultural domination. From sold-out arenas to global stardom, our artists continued to rewrite the rules of the playground. What used to be representation disguised as exoticized appropriation is now a full-blown takeover, spanning runways, arenas, and even the recording booth. Music soared across boundaries, landing legendary crossovers that continue to appear on our playlists on shuffle. Amidst all the hubbub, sartorial storytelling in MV’s, off-duty fits, and onstage costumes have became an emotive tool, a gateway into the artist’s legacy, story and authenticity.
Be it Rhea Raj performing a Bharatnatyam-infused dance break during her Commotion tour, or Diljit Dosanjh’s MET gala look that made heads turn, South Asian musicians are working closely with designers, stylists, and creative directors to develop a style of their own that combines the best of heritage, artistry, and brand identity into one, power-packed outfit. From Desi hip-hop heavyweights to subcultural trendsetters, here’s a rundown of all the South Asian artists that made heads turn, one look at a time.
Jonita Gandhi
From metallic mini-dresses and chromatic hues to knee-high platform boots and form-fitting silhouettes, it’s always a party when Indo-Canadian songstress Jonita Gandhi is onstage, and her wardrobe follows suit. This year, she especially turned heads in her embellished lehenga corset from “Beparwai” MV, a look that went on to inspire desi It-girls everywhere.
Yashraj
To a casual observer, rapper, producer, and writer Yashraj may look like a quintessential boy-next-door, but step into his musical sphere and things take shape differently. Bringing the best of Indo-western aesthetics to the fore, the multi-hyphenate oscillates between bedazzled jackets, baggy harems, craft-laden bomber jackets, and more. A nod to nostalgia and all things desi-hip hop, everything rests on a threshold, not more, not less; just enough.
Kayan (Ambika Nayak)
A striking cross between Winx Club fantasy and Y2K glamour, the DJ, singer, and performer embodies a bold aesthetic defined by bodysuits, asymmetrical skirts, and embellished cutouts.
Vengayo
At first glance, Chennai-based rapper Vengayo, or Isaac Vengayaperumal, may seem like any other guy. But it’s when the camera begins rolling that he gets into character. From pairing traditional gold jimmikkis with a bloodied durag and angel wings in “Chikkamma” to sporting textured leather ensembles in “Sridevi,” each rollout unlocks a new realm for his audience. Setting new benchmarks with every project, the artist, who started out as a dancer, uses his platform to champion folk narratives and heritage through his music videos.
Lara Raj
While the world is still agape at the thought of Indian “baddies” existing, Lara Raj was at the forefront way before it was cool. A Pinterest staple for Brown girls all over the world, the Katseye member’s personal style is a combination of hip-hop, grunge, and R&B, coupled with her lethal smize and swagger, and often rooted in nods to her Tamil background. Bold and experimental, Raj’s choices reflect a time capsule of 2010’s party girl fashion along with Nineties hip-hop mixes in the shuffle. Her signature elements – Gold jimmikis, Om necklace, ornate sparkly bindis, Indian henna tattoos — have become beloved non-negotiables for fans from around the world.
Arogya
Assamese Dark Synth rock band Arogya’s versatility extends to both their sound and creative ethos, curating a KISS-esque visual-kei-coded onstage look with elaborate headgears, consisting of northeastern tribal patterns, intricate jewelry, face paint, and more. They’ve also previously collaborated with designer Yana Ngoba Chakpu for their custom tour ensembles during their performance in Russia.
Aksomaniac
Trivandrum-based singer and pianist Aksomaniac’s magneticity grows on you with time. Mixing mythos with reality, the artist owns up to his cultural eccentricities, dismantling societal narratives surrounding sex, relationships, and beauty standards, especially from a South Indian perspective. Looking like an Indian version of the 2Hollis otherworldly character archetype, he’s instantly recognizable through his curly mane and Seventies, hippie-esque ensembles.
Wild Wild Women
No other girl group does it like Wild Wild Women, an all-female hip-hop collective representing the South Indian peninsula. Draped up in nine yards of pure Kanjeevaram and Kasavu realness, the members deservedly take up space in the best-dressed list. Everything, from their flashy nail rings to their color-coordinated ensembles, remains tethered by a string of coherence, much like their music.
Raveena Aurora
Encompassing all things ethereal and whimsical, Indian-American singer-songwriter Raveena Aurora’s onstage presence holds strength within softness, giving you a momentary glimpse of true serenity. This is further heightened by her free-flowing dresses, iridescent makeup, and dainty, butterfly-inspired accessories.
Reble
Representing the North East, Reble is as volatile as she is demure, commanding the stage with her hard-hitting verses. Fierce and grunge-coded, she is rarely seen without her trusty black boots by her side. Her wardrobe expresses an almost gothic, witchy intensity, her all-black ensembles coming together to unapologetically scream rebellion.
Ranj
Recognizable by her signature teeth grills and stack of gold jewelry, Ranj’s style echoes a little bit of everything — Madras checks, Chopova Lowena-esque kilted skirts, boxy jerseys, and makeup — that would put clean girls in a coma. Part of the Bengaluru-based duo Ranj X Clifr, the Tamilian rapper, songwriter, and singer honors her heritage while also carving a distinctly global sound. Her experimental nature also extends beyond the recording booth, both outfits and mane-wise. From wild, Sixties-inspired bouffants and jewel-encrusted wigs, to 2000s-inspired spiky space buns, her hairstyles further reflect her uncontained range.
Mary-Ann Alexander
Alexander’s personal style exudes the same kind of freshness and vibrancy that can be found in her songs: Think Football jerseys and skorts paired with eclectic scarves and bandanas. Staying true to her ever-evolving R&B sound, the singer, songwriter, and producer is a walking moodboard for Nineties hip-hop style inspiration.
Gini
Redefining slow, cottage-core aesthetics by adding her own desi spin to it, Gini is one of the few Gen Z indie musicians who has made her audience fall in love with not just her music, but also her taste in pastel sarees. Like her EP, Sukoon, her visual identity evokes tranquility, be it through the flowy blouses or Studio Ghibli-coded floral skirts.
Yung Raja
Tailored, preppy fits mixed with street influences are synonymous with Indo-Singaporean rapper Yung Raja. The “high fashion” rapper’s retro, gentlemanly vibe is clearly visible, shaped by his deep-rooted love for style: well-fitted silhouettes, scarves, jewels, drips, and kicks. His Rolling Loud India look captured the best of both worlds — an all-black distressed denim ensemble by Eric Créer, featuring a cropped jacket and bootcut trousers. Having graced global runway showcases and co-founded the fashion label “Peace Oeuvre,” he takes his fashion game very seriously.
Hanumankind
Forget the year of the snake; it was certainly the year of the “Big Dawg.” Southside heavyweight Hanumankind, decked up with shiny grills, made the whole world rumble to his tracks at Coachella this year, all while donning a humble angavastram, tank top, and Air Force Ones. Leaning into a simpler wardrobe, the “Run It Up” rapper relies on selective essentials and color palettes, saving the theatrics for his performance.
Arpit Bala
Like his discography, Bala’s stylistic presence continues to send tremors across the DHH landscape. Part digital court jester, part musical ace, he diversifies his online perception by playing various “characters,” both on and off screen. Bala’s stage ensembles rotate in a constant shuffle between oversized leather jackets, baggy jeans, boxy tees, and a pair of sunnies. As his new album, Keychain Laalu, dropped earlier this year, Bala’s world-building also expanded sartorially along with his creative partnership with stylists Sagaal Singh and Yatin Srivastava. From straightjacket-esque monochromatic ensembles, mob-boss fur coats to run-down Balenciaga venom boots, Bala uses clothes to create distinctions between his many worlds.
Chaar Diwari
DHH household name Chaar Diwaari is eclectic and disruptive, both in terms of style and sound. While he’s often seen in hipster-esque, signature harem pants and short kurtas, he’ll amplify it onstage with custom-printed co-ord sets and oversized jackets from brands like Dilli Disco District and Lead-A.
Himesh Reshammiya
Leading one of the country’s most celebrated musical comebacks, Himesh Reshammiya’s “Cap Mania” tour embodied both extravagance and nostalgia. Reshammiya’s onstage looks radiated “Badass Ravikumar” energy — floor-length leather trenchcoats, oversized leather trousers emblazoned with zippers, and, of course, his bedazzled baseball caps, embossed with the classic “HR.” An icon for the ages.
Rishab Rikhiram Sharma
Hands filled with henna, sitarist and composer Rishab Ririkram Sharma commands the stage with calculated ferocity. Shuffling between cream-colored anghrakhas, embroidered sherwanis, and dreamy anarkali kurtas, Sharma looks like a painting commissioned to be hung amidst a royal palace. Rewriting the rules of traditional masculinity, the instrumentalist does not shy away from donning the most intricate pieces of jewelry, namely ornate necklaces and equally alluring rings. Off the stage, he sticks to elevated basics, including classic tees, well-fitted denim, and sneakers.
Anoushka Shankar
Always composed and heritage-forward, Anoushka Shankar’s looks consist of rich, jewel-toned Banarasi and brocade drapes; a thoughtful mishmash of tradition and modernity guided by structure. Craftsmanship takes center stage, even sartorially, when the sitarist carries pieces by renowned Indian designers like Sabyasachi, Rahul Mishra, Gaurav Gupta, and Amit Aggarwal with effortless grace and poise.
Rhea Raj
The Raj sisters honor their roots in their own distinct ways, and Rhea Raj does it by channeling a fairy, amping up each look with subversion and sensuality. Bedazzled but effortless, her looks inculcate desi futuristic elements, all while embodying a divine feminine energy and repping modern, maximalist iterations of lehenga cholis, pencil-thin brows, and waist-length hair. Y2K makeup is her best friend: Icy eyeshadow palettes, dual-toned lips; the tiny details accentuate rather than conceal her South Asian heritage.
Sunidhi Chauhan
Indian Pop heiress Sunidhi Chauhan’s “I Am Home” tour got the audience hollering at her impeccable dance moves and modern renditions of “Crazy Kiya Re.” But her wardrobe choices equally grabbed eyeballs. Wearing custom rompers, bedazzled dresses and corseted outfits, she rivalled the sartorial prowess of Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and Shakira, establishing her might as a sartorial supernova.
Karan Aujla
Spreading P-Pop culture around the world, Aujla melded luxury streetwear essentials with Punjabi components, namely Kurtas, armored vests, bedazzled gloves, and mandatory chunky bling that demands attention at every turn.
Talwiinder
The Punjabi singer, songwriter, and producer, best known for his elusive nature, has dedicatedly carved out his alter ego, face paint and all. Taliwinder is an extension of that exuding a structured yet edgy exterior powered by denim, acid wash tanks, layered vests, leather trousers, and his trusted bandana.
Diljit Dosanjh
Diljit Dosanjh wears his culture like a second skin, whether on red carpets or while performing in sold-out stadiums, seamlessly mixing armor-like utility with the fluidity of the Punjabi kurta-tamba. For the Met Gala, he stepped into true royalty in a custom Prabal Gurung look inspired by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala. Bathed in an ivory sheen on the Met carpet, the ensemble had an unparalleled regality, complete with a jewel-encrusted turban, kirpan, and an embossed cape adorned with the Gurmukhi script. Celestial shapes, a ceremonial sword, floral motifs, and rich gold embroideries ensured no stone was left unturned in amplifying the grandeur.
