Jio World Plaza Presents HONEST by Atul Kasbekar

A First-of-Its-Kind Immersive Exhibition Bringing Indian Cinema’s Finest Character Artists to Centre Stage

Mumbai, June, 2026: This June, Jio World Plaza and Atul Kasbekar come together to present HONEST: Portraits of Character, a first-of-its-kind immersive month-long photography exhibition that explores the intersection of portraiture, cinema and storytelling through a deeply intimate lens. On view from 5th June to 5th July 2026 at Jio World Plaza, BKC, the exhibition invites audiences into a striking visual study of presence, personality and the faces that have quietly shaped the landscape of Indian cinema.

The collaboration between Jio World Plaza and HONEST emerged from a shared belief that 'authenticity and luxury are intrinsically connected.’  In a space where luxury is increasingly shaped by personal resonance, perspective, and cultural context, Jio World Plaza found a meaningful synergy with HONEST, an exhibition that values rawness, individuality, and unfiltered human expression. Together, they create room for experiences that feel more intimate and grounded, even within the world of contemporary luxury.

“We are delighted to present HONEST: Portraits of Character by Atul Kasbekar at Jio World Plaza. What makes this exhibition unique is its commitment to authenticity. Atul’s portraits invite us to look beyond the familiar, shining a spotlight on some of India’s finest character artists through a powerful, intimate lens. At Jio World Plaza, we believe that luxury today is defined not only by what we acquire, but by the experiences that move, inspire and stay with us. HONEST embodies this idea beautifully, offering visitors an immersive journey through portraiture, cinema and storytelling that is both deeply personal and universally resonant,” shares a Jio World Plaza spokesperson.

Marking Atul Kasbekar’s first-ever portrait exhibition in a celebrated career spanning over 35 years, HONEST brings together 56 deeply intimate portraits of some of Indian cinema’s most revered artists. Featuring Boman Irani, Anupam Kher, Kalki Koechlin, Pankaj Tripathi, Neena Gupta and Naseeruddin Shah among others, HONEST invites viewers to look beyond the screen and into the soul. These are faces etched in public memory, yet here they are seen beyond performance and persona, revealing the quiet humanity behind the celebrity.

 Speaking about the exhibition, Atul Kasbekar shares, “I didn’t want anyone to perform for the camera. I wanted the portraits to feel free of image-making or pretence, just honest, human and real. My hope is that people walk into the exhibition and see these familiar faces differently, not as characters or celebrities, but as individuals. And that the images stay with them even after they leave.”

Shot over nearly three years, the exhibition is a homage to character, not the characters these artists have portrayed on screen, but the character they embody as individuals. Presented in Kasbekar’s signature visual style, the portraits are minimal, unfiltered and emotionally resonant, stripped of performance, styling and dramatic construction. What remains is expression in its purest form: stillness, vulnerability, strength and humanity.

The idea for HONEST lies in a single, enduring question: how can someone feel so familiar to millions, yet remain personally unknown? That reflection became the emotional starting point for the series — a body of work centred around faces audiences have lived with on screen for years, but perhaps never paused to truly observe.

Rather than directing his subjects into character, Kasbekar approached each portrait through conversation, familiarity and trust, often spending long periods of time with each individual before photographing them. The result is a series of images that feel deeply personal and emotionally open portraits that reveal not actors performing for the camera, but people simply being present within it.

Presented across Levels 1 and 2 of Jio World Plaza, HONEST transforms the venue into an immersive cultural experience where photography, cinema and contemporary storytelling intersect, offering visitors a rare opportunity to engage with portraiture in a way that feels both deeply personal and universally familiar.

Exhibition Details:

HONEST: Portraits of Character by Atul Kasbekar

5th June – 5th July 2026

Level 1 & 2, Jio World Plaza, BKC

Off The Grid 2026: Where Culture Becomes Retail

Mumbai, India: Off The Grid 2026 returns as a progressive fashion and pop culture playground curated by All You Can (AYC) in collaboration with Jio World Plaza. Positioned at the intersection of fashion, music, art, and youth expression, Off The Grid transforms retail into an immersive cultural landscape — one where brands are not displayed, but experienced.

More than an event, Off The Grid is an ecosystem. It is built on the belief that today’s audiences seek participation over passive consumption. The platform embeds brands directly into culture through tactile, emotional, and community-led touchpoints, creating a space where commerce and creativity co-exist fluidly.

The 2026 edition brings together a new wave of emerging fashion and lifestyle labels including Erode, Baroodi, Duja, Vezzo, A29, Volfsbane, Anemoia, The Madnose, 333 Jewels, Uncool, and Thaely — each aligned with the event’s ethos of individuality, experimentation, and cultural relevance. These brands represent progressive fashion, accessories, fragrance, and lifestyle categories that speak to a generation seeking identity, craft, and meaning.

Hospitality plays a central role in the Off The Grid experience. Curated food partners including Ammakai, EL&N London, and La Taqueria enhance the event's sensory landscape. Designed to encourage dwell time and dialogue, the culinary programming blends seamlessly with fashion, music, and art — reinforcing the event’s immersive intent.

Experience-led programming remains the heart of Off The Grid 2026. Visitors are invited to engage in hands-on workshops that transform spectators into participants:

• A rug tufting workshop with Clumsy, where attendees design and create custom rugs.

• Live tarot reading sessions with Riya Rokade, offering intuitive consultations within the event space.

• A “Make Your Own Lip Gloss” workshop with Tint Cosmetics.

• A personalized perfume-making experience with The Madnose.

• A curated tiramisu-making session with Mr. Misu.

Each activation is designed not as an add-on, but as an integral part of the cultural narrative — encouraging expression, experimentation, and shared discovery.

Building on AYC’s ecosystem-driven approach to culture-led retail, Off The Grid 2026 reimagines what a luxury retail environment can feel like. Set within the high-footfall space of Jio World Plaza, the event creates a dialogue between emerging subcultures and contemporary luxury.

I would love to explore a possibility for you to include this experience in your upcoming Mumbai event listicles and city guides — it’s a strong cultural moment for the city.