The male pageant contest, ICONIC Mr. India, will start in Chennai on February 7!
ICONIC Mr. India sponsored by Dr. Rashel’s Beauty Elixirs is making a lot of noise, and for all the right reasons. The male pageant contest will start in Chennai at the Satyam Resorts on February 7, and the finale will happen in Iconica, Mumbai, on February 9. It is being produced by Aditya Khurana and Mohammed Nagaman Lateef and is currently in its eighth edition. Aditya revealed the idea behind the contest was to bridge the gap between real talent and an authentic platform.
He said, “The core motive behind starting ICONIC Mr. India was to create a credible platform for talented men across India to showcase their abilities. Our country is full of exceptional talent, but due to a lack of opportunities and exposure, many never get the chance to grow and build a successful career. ICONIC Mr. India was created to bridge that gap.”
“In a world where beauty pageants are evolving rapidly, our vision was always to stand apart by building strong connections with leading international male pageantries. Our aim is to provide talented Indian men with a gateway to the global pageant and fashion industry, allowing them to represent India on international platforms,” he added.
He revealed that from the very first season their focus has been on giving talented men a strong and sustainable start to their careers. “We don’t just select contestants for a pageant; our approach goes far beyond that. We mentor, train, and provide opportunities for them to explore careers in acting and the glamour industry, helping them create a lasting identity,” Aditya said.
He believes that pageants are about much more than just physical appearance and said, “They focus on overall personality, confidence, discipline, communication, and individuality—qualities that help men stand out in their own unique way.”
However, he mentioned that one of the biggest challenges they faced in the initial phase was establishing a new brand in an industry already dominated by well-known and established names. He added, “Building trust, credibility, and recognition took consistent effort and belief in our vision.”
As a producer, he believes he needs to keep up with the world. “The world is moving at an extremely fast pace, and if we don’t evolve with it, we risk being left behind. My constant motivation is to stay one step ahead—bringing fresh ideas, innovation, and new opportunities to the table,” Aditya concluded.
Mohammed Nagaman Lateef shared that while usually, most pageants rely heavily on celebrities purely for promotion, they are not just trying to promote a pageant, but to identify and nurture genuine talent. He said, “Our primary focus is on selecting the right candidates who truly deserve a platform to showcase and grow their abilities. That is why, as a jury, we have consciously included experts from different core areas — one from the talent team, one from makeup, and one from styling — each being the best in their respective fields. This ensures that every participant is evaluated fairly, professionally, and from multiple perspectives.”
“This thoughtful and transparent process makes our pageant special and sets it apart from others. We are committed to choosing deserving winners and supporting them beyond the title. Our past winners have gone on to work in television shows, music albums, and reality shows, proving that this platform genuinely opens doors. Unlike many other pageants where winners are often sidelined after the event, we actively guide, promote, and create opportunities for our winners. For us, winning is just the beginning — we stand by our winners every step of the way,” he added.
The ICONIC Mr. India Season 8 will be judged by Diandra Soares, Pawee Ventura, Amit Khanna, Tanusri Dasgupta, Mohammed Nagaman Lateef, Ojas Rajani, and Karanvir Sharma.
By Keerti Kadam