Vintage issues of Debonair are highly sought after by collectors. Recent market data shows various lots and single issues available from merchants like eBay :
One of the most significant transformations came in 2005, when editor Derek Bose reformatted Debonair to remove nudity and target a younger demographic. The magazine also featured a number of Indian film actresses on its cover when they were just beginning their careers, including Juhi Chawla and Madhuri Dixit, photographed by the renowned Gautam Rajadhyaksha.
In publishing, the 13th issue of any magazine is a psychological milestone. For Debonair , which was constantly battling censorship laws, moral policing, and the ghost of imported pornography, reaching Issue 13 without being banned was a quiet act of defiance. Unlike the glossy, sanitized men’s magazines of today (GQ, Men’s Health), Debonair in its 13th issue would have been raw, unapologetic, and aggressively analog.
Editorial focus includes grooming, fitness, and relationship guidance alongside bold style statements. New York University Archival Access Debonair Magazine India 13
India - 25 Years Of Debunaire Magazine March-april 1998 Pages 114
are invaluable artifacts. They represent a "class act" that pushed boundaries in fashion, grooming, and social commentary when such topics were otherwise taboo. Whether it was a student hiding a copy under a mattress or a literary enthusiast waiting for the latest essay,
This public link is valid for 7 days and shares a thread, including any personal information you added. This link or copies made by others cannot be deleted. If you share with third parties, their policies apply. Can’t copy the link right now. Try again later. Go to product viewer dialog for this item. Vintage issues of Debonair are highly sought after
Introducing readers to fine dining, international cuisine, and the nuances of premium spirits.
Debonair was an iconic Indian men's lifestyle magazine, famously known in the 1980s and 90s for its bold pictorials, interviews, and a distinct brand of urbane, cheeky sophistication.
After Mehta, Anil Dharker took over the editorship in the mid‑1980s. Dharker was described as “one of the great liberal Indian editors,” open to bold ideas and committed to maintaining high standards of both writing and imagery. Under his tenure, “some of the best writing of the decade would be found in the pages of Debonair; and some of the best pictures”. He continued Mehta’s legacy, ensuring the magazine remained a forum for quality literature and provocative photography. In publishing, the 13th issue of any magazine
For a generation of readers throughout the 1980s and 1990s, buying an issue of Debonair was an exercise in dualism. While the magazine’s visual content was stashed away from parental eyes, its textual pages were proudly consumed by intellectuals, college students, and literature enthusiasts.
The rains are here, and for the average Indian male, this usually means wet socks and ruined suede. But for the Debonair man, the monsoon is a season of opportunity. Nothing says romance like a drive down Marine Drive with the windows down. Here are three rules for surviving the season in style:
Debonair originally launched in the 1980s as India’s answer to Playboy or GQ with a mix of lifestyle, fashion, and bold content. After a long hiatus, it was revived with a new editorial approach. continues this modern avatar — toned down from the original’s explicit imagery, but still focused on men’s interests: fashion, luxury travel, grooming, interviews, and tasteful glamour photography.