A luxury watch is never just about the time. It is a story on the wrist. And in India, where celebrity culture runs deep, the watches our icons choose say a lot about who they are. From a Prime Minister who champions homegrown craftsmanship to a Bollywood superstar with a timepiece worth more than a South Mumbai apartment, here is a look at six famous faces and the watches turning heads.
1. Narendra Modi and the Jaipur Watch Company Roman Baagh
You might expect the Prime Minister of India to reach for a Swiss luxury watch. Instead, Modi surprised everyone by sporting the Roman Baagh by the Jaipur Watch Company, a homegrown brand founded by Gaurav Mehta. What makes this watch genuinely special is the dial, which features an original 1947 one-rupee coin with the iconic walking tiger, making it a small piece of Indian history worn on the wrist. Priced at around Rs 55,000 to Rs 60,000, it is far from cheap, but it is also about a mile away from the Swiss price tags most politicians prefer. Modi was spotted wearing it across several public appearances between September and November 2025, and it quickly became a symbol of his Make in India vision. For a man who leads the world's most populous democracy, the choice of a desi watch felt like a quiet but powerful statement.
2. Shah Rukh Khan and the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Blue Sapphire
When Shah Rukh Khan walked the red carpet at the Joy Awards in Riyadh in January 2026, watch enthusiasts immediately zoomed in on his wrist. The watch was the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona Blue Sapphire, one of the rarest timepieces in existence. This is an off-catalogue model, meaning it does not appear in any regular Rolex listings and is offered only to a select group of VVIP clients worldwide. The watch is crafted in solid 18-carat white gold, with 36 baguette-cut blue sapphires replacing the traditional bezel, and 54 brilliant-cut diamonds set on the case. The silver obsidian dial shifts from deep grey to black depending on the light. Estimated at around Rs 13 to 15 crore, this is the kind of watch most collectors will never even see in person. SRK had also been spotted wearing it during New Year's Eve celebrations in Dubai, confirming it is very much his own.
3. Virat Kohli and the Rolex Daytona Rainbow in Everose Gold
Virat Kohli's love for watches is no secret to anyone who follows him on social media. His collection spans Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Audemars Piguet, among others. But the one that consistently draws the most attention is his Rolex Daytona Rainbow in Everose Gold, valued at around Rs 4.6 crore. The bezel is set with 36 baguette-cut diamonds in multiple colours, and the warm Everose gold case gives the whole thing a richness that photographs cannot fully capture. It is bold, it is rare, and it is precisely the kind of watch you would expect from a man who plays cricket like a storm. Kohli has been spotted wearing it at various high-profile events, and it remains one of the most talked-about watches in any Indian celebrity collection.
4. Deepika Padukone and the Panthère de Cartier
Deepika Padukone has been a global ambassador for Cartier since 2022, the first Indian face to represent the iconic French house. Her watch of choice reflects exactly the kind of elegance the brand stands for. She has been repeatedly spotted wearing the Panthère de Cartier in 18-karat yellow gold, a watch with a fixed bezel, a silver dial, Roman numeral hour markers, and blue hands. It is priced at around Rs 21 lakh. The Panthère is one of Cartier's most recognisable designs, sitting right at the intersection of jewellery and timekeeping. On Deepika, it looks like it was made for her. Sometimes the watch really does pick the person.
5. Anushka Sharma and the Cartier Panthère
Cartier has fans in the Kohli household. While Virat reaches for Rolex and Patek Philippe, Anushka Sharma has her own Cartier moment. At the IPL 2026 final in Ahmedabad, where RCB defeated Gujarat Titans and the whole country was watching, Anushka was spotted in the stands wearing a Cartier Panthère reportedly valued at around Rs 28 lakh. She paired it with a simple white top and denims, and the watch did exactly what a good accessory should. It spoke louder than everything else. The Panthère, with its distinctive bracelet-style construction, square dial, and polished finish, has long been a favourite among celebrities who want luxury without shouting about it.
6. R. Madhavan and the Titan Nebula Jalsa Flying Tourbillon
When R. Madhavan received the Padma Shri at the 2026 investiture ceremony, people noticed two things. The honour, and the watch. On his wrist was the Titan Nebula Jalsa Flying Tourbillon, a timepiece that is as rare as the occasion it was worn for. Only 10 pieces exist worldwide. The watch features a hand-painted marble dial inspired by Jaipur's Hawa Mahal, with miniature artwork by Padma Shri awardee Shakir Ali. Under the dial sits an in-house flying tourbillon movement with 144 components and 14 jewels. Priced at around Rs 40 lakh, it is one of the most ambitious things Titan has ever produced. What made Madhavan's choice particularly striking is that this is a homegrown Indian luxury watch worn to one of India's highest civilian honours. It was not a flex. It was a statement.
