From Mira Rajput Kapoor to Diipa Khosla, these changemakers are rewriting the rules of beauty

There’s a new establishment in the beauty industry. Innovators who are changing the rules with their way of living and high-performance brands, redefining the way we perceive hair and makeup, and challenging the outdated norms of beauty. With bold creativity and fresh perspectives, they are shaping the future of representation and self-expression. Here is HELLO!’s hat tip to the changemakers transforming beauty into an art form.

REWRITING THE RULES OF BEAUTY

1. Mira Rajput Kapoor 

Mira Rajput Kapoor. The name alone holds gravitas. As she walks in (dot on time, we may add), graceful yet stately, locks shining and complexion radiant, there’s a shared consensus across the set—when it comes to beauty, she knows what she’s doing. “I credit my mom [for my interest in beauty]. I’ve seen her look after herself all our lives. She’s very disciplined, but her philosophy has always been ‘less is more,’” shares Mira, who co-founded her brand Akind in 2024 on the same principle of effortless simplicity.

HELLO!: You won the ‘Wellness Influencer of the Year’ honour at the HELLO! Hall of Fame Awards in 2023. Were you always this invested in wellness and beauty? And did you think you would become such a prominent name in the fields one day?

Mira Rajput Kapoor: Wellness is a way of life. It’s always been an integral part of who I am. My grandfather was a homeopath, and I grew up with my mother asking me how I was feeling, whether my cough was itchy or scratchy… Such things shaped the way I look at wellbeing. Over time, a simple interest in the subject turned into a passion to understand who we are from the inside out.

HELLO!: How was Akind born out of your everyday practices? In India’s crowded beauty space, how did you think you could cut through the chaos?

Mira Rajput Kapoor: First and foremost is our philosophy of listening to your skin. In a crowded market where every brand, every doctor, every other person on the internet is telling you what to do, we’re telling you to listen to yourself. Is your skin feeling dry and angry? Is it irritable? We wanted to create high quality skincare that didn’t burn a hole in your pocket. So a lot of our investment went into research and development, not creating the prettiest, fanciest packaging. That’s why our repurchase orders are extremely high.

HELLO!: We know you’re an avid fitness enthusiast. Tell us about the mindful practices you follow every day.

Mira Rajput Kapoor: I like to meditate daily. It centres me right at the beginning and end of the day. Focussed, mindful concentration can, sometimes, allow your body to recharge in a way even sleep can’t… I also like to work out three or four times a week. I like Pilates and functional training with light weights.

HELLO!: What’s the one piece of life-changing advice you’ve received?

Mira Rajput Kapoor: There are two. The first one’s from a dear family member. Just maintain a balance, they said. It’s a simple sentence, but it’s relevant in every sphere, every decision, every situation… The second is something I learned over time: it’s important to know what you know, but it’s even more important to know what you don’t know. Only then can you work towards it. 

2. Diipa Buller Khosla, Entrepreneur and founder of Inde Wild

Across the globe, influencers and users alike have been flashing this compact circular bottle containing a “magic elixir” they credit for boosting their hair health. Diipa Büller-Khosla, the influencer-entrepreneur behind this viral “Ayurvedistry™” brand, is often told, “Indē Wild made ‘champi’ cool again.” Just four years old, the skincare and haircare label is now worth US$30 million—having recently secured US$5 million in funding—and boasts a cult following across the UK, USA, Canada and India.

“I grew up going to school with two champi braids. Instead of shrinking that part of myself as I got older, I owned it. When a young Brown girl sees that, it makes her feel like she can do it too,” says Diipa.

Since its 2021 launch with just two products, Indē Wild has grown a phenomenal 400% in India and expanded into a portfolio of seven, nearly each of which enjoys viral status—be it their Champi Hair Oil or Dewy Lip Treatments. Their USP: a unique blend of Ayurvedic wisdom and modern dermatology. “Science-backed, heritage-powered beauty,” as she puts it.

Beyond formulations, Diipa’s impact is evident in the immersive offline events she organises—like the recent “coffee rave” she hosted in Mumbai to promote their new Caffeine Addict DLT. “We don’t just sell products; we reclaim cultural rituals... Finally, we don’t treat our community as just consumers; they’re co-creators. We listen to them and build with them… It’s why we don’t just stand out; we feel different.”

3. Bhakti Modi, Co-founder and CEO of Tira 

Bhakti has been a vital cog in the Reliance retail space since her early career days with Ajio, before her stint at Reliance Brands. Within just two years since its April 2023 launch, Tira, under Bhakti’s keen eye, has eaten into the market share of much older and established industry players like Nykaa, Tata Cliq Palette and Myntra.

“At Tira, we’re on a mission to reimagine beauty through a seamless omnichannel experience—setting bold new benchmarks for the world, inspired by the spirit and needs of the Indian consumer,” she tells HELLO!.

Her degree in fashion and apparel design from Parsons School of Design, New York, supports her strategic decision-making and rapid ascent in the conglomerate, right up to the C-Suite. In fact, her innate skill of merging consumer insight with creative direction played a key role in forging alliances with international beauty brands like Sephora and Kiko Milano.

Sealing brand partnerships is among Bhakti’s fortes—this year, Tira expanded its portfolio to include cult-favourite global names like Augustinus Bader, Youth To The People, Muzigae Mansion and SheGlam, as well as exclusive K-beauty labels such as Mixsoon, Milktouch, and Sungboon. She also launched celebrity beauty labels like 9Skin by Nayanthara in offline retail and co-created Mira Rajput Kapoor’s Akind.

Her appointment as CEO comes at a time when the brand has its sights set on rapid expansion for large-scale growth in the beauty, personal care and lifestyle sectors. Speaking of; Tira has ventured into a range of “beauty-adjacent lifestyle essentials” with the introduction of a new range of tumblers and a sipper bottle. The brand hopes to build a complete lifestyle ecosystem. Next, they have their eyes on travel, utility accessories and apparel.

4. Florian Hurel, Hairstylist to Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Deepika Padukone, Kiara Advani and Sonam Kapoor Ahuja 

THE CELEB FAVE

“One of my most memorable looks was with Deepika Padukone a few years ago, when she wore Sabyasachi. I had the opportunity to do both her hair and makeup, and the look went viral. Seeing it resonate with so many people was incredibly rewarding.”

THE ART

“Natural yet refined, less is more, done yet undone, tidy yet untidy— these factors make up my USP… From a young age, I was drawn to the transformative power of hairstyling. Watching how a simple cut or colour change could boost someone’s confidence fascinated me. As I worked with celebrities and clients globally, I realised that hairstyling isn’t just about trends—it’s about artistry and personalisation. That’s how the concept of ‘hair couture’ was born. It’s about crafting a bespoke experience designed to complement an individual’s personality and lifestyle.”

THE BTS

“People often see the final look but don’t realise the science and technique behind hairstyling. It isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about understanding hair structure, chemistry and even psychology. Managing different hair types, ensuring long-term hair health and delivering consistent results under tight schedules require expertise, patience and innovation.”

LOOKING AHEAD

“After making an impact in India, we’re taking the expertise of Florian Hurel Hair Couture & Spa to Dubai. I also plan to introduce more personalised haircare solutions and exclusive training programmes to shape the next generation of hairstylists. My focus is on innovation, sustainability and creating a deeper connection between hair artistry and wellness.”

Photographs by Sasha Jairam for Mira Rajput Kapoor

This piece originally appeared in the April-May’25 print edition of HELLO! India