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MUFTI bags ‘Retailer of the Year’ award at Global Awards for Retail Excellence
MUMBAI: Adding yet another title to its roster of accolades, MUFTI – Largest Indian Denim Brand bags the ‘Retailer of the Year’ award in the Fashion and Lifestyle category at Global Awards for Retail Excellence. The prestigious award was accepted by Mr. Kamal Khushlani – Founder and Managing Director of MUFTI. Presented by ET Now and organized by Asia Retail Congress. Global Awards for Retail Excellence is widely recognized as one of the most prestigious awards in Asia. The platform recognizes disruptors, high-achievers, and leaders under various categories in the retail space and honors them for their remarkable contribution to the sector.
Under Kamal’s able leadership of over two decades, the brand has witnessed rapid expansion to become one of the leaders in the retail space. Commenting on the commendable win, Kamal shared, “Right from MUFTI’s inception, to it becoming a sought-after brand in the lifestyle space, the journey has certainly been an eventful one. So, I am always filled with a sense of pride when the brand is recognized on reputed platforms such as the Global Awards for Retail Excellence. Winning the ‘Retailer of the Year’ award speaks volumes about how far the brand has come in effectively catering to the consumers. Our audience is at the core of our vision and mission, since we at MUFTI consistently aim to bring offerings that deliver in terms of quality fabrics, trendy styles and comfort ensuring that the customer receives a product they desire; and that’s what truly sets MUFTI apart. ”
The ‘Retailer of the Year’ award adds to a host of other laurels such as Indian Power Brand ( Mufti ) -2011 -2012 by IIPM, Brand of the year ( Mufti ) – -2014-15 by CMAI / APEX , Most Influential Leader of the year / Retail Icon of the year ( Kamal Khushlani ) – 2017 – by CMO Asia , Rising brand ( Mufti ) 2017 by brand advance research Asia ; standing testimony to the brand’s success and growth trajectory over the years.
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Raghu Rai passes away at 83, leaves behind iconic legacy
Padma Shri-winning photographer documented history across 5 decades.
MUMBAI: The lens may have stilled, but the stories it captured will never fade. Raghu Rai, one of India’s most celebrated photojournalists, passed away on April 26, 2026, at the age of 83. He breathed his last at a private hospital in New Delhi after battling cancer and age-related health issues.
His son, Nitin Rai, revealed that Rai had been diagnosed with prostate cancer two years ago, which later spread to the stomach and, more recently, the brain. Despite multiple rounds of treatment, his health had declined in recent months.
Born in 1942 in Jhang, Punjab (now in Pakistan), Rai entered photography in his early twenties, inspired by his elder brother, photographer S. Paul. Beginning his career in the mid-1960s, he went on to build a body of work that spanned more than five decades, contributing to global publications such as Time, Life, GEO, Le Figaro, The New York Times, Vogue, GQ and Marie Claire.
His global recognition took a decisive leap in 1977 when legendary French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson nominated him to join Magnum Photos, placing him among the world’s most respected visual storytellers.
Rai’s lens chronicled both power and poignancy. He photographed towering figures such as Indira Gandhi, Dalai Lama, Bal Thackeray, Satyajit Ray and Mother Teresa, while also documenting defining moments like the Bhopal gas tragedy later captured in his book Exposure: A Corporate Crime.
Over the years, he published more than 18 books, building an archive that blended journalism with artistry. His contributions were recognised early when he was awarded the Padma Shri in 1972 for his coverage of the Bangladesh War and refugee crisis. In 1992, he was named “Photographer of the Year” in the United States for his work in National Geographic, and in 2009, he was honoured with the Officier des Arts et des Lettres by the French government.
Rai is survived by his wife Gurmeet, son Nitin, and daughters Lagan, Avani and Purvai. His last rites will be held at Lodhi Cremation Ground in New Delhi at 4 pm on Sunday.
With his passing, Indian photojournalism loses not just a pioneer, but a patient observer of history, one frame at a time.
