Playboy in India: glamour, not nudity

The magazine may not be available yet, but Playboy plans to open in India. That’s right, the magazine famous for nudity – and underrated for it’s articles – is going to open retail outlets, clubs, hotels and fashion cafés, according to the Economic Times.

This is in a country whose film industry has only recently begun showing committed couples kissing. The same country where anything – from a couple’s celebrating Valentine’s Day to an impromptu kiss between a famous Buddhist and a Celebrity Big Brother contestant – can spark outrage and protest.

Sanjay Gupta, chief executive of PB Lifestyle, the Mumbai-based firm that won the license for the Playboy brand, seemed to sense the disconnect.

“We are clear about one thing: There will absolutely be no nudity. The bunnies will be suited to Indian sensibilities and moral values,” Gupta told the Economic Times. “It will be the lifestyle and glamour quotient that will attract members and walk-ins.”

Gupta said the company plans to open eight clubs in the next three years, with the aim of having 120 clubs, bars and cafes in the country within 10 years. PB Lifestyle will invest $37m in the next five years.

The first club – a 22,000 square feet beachside venue in the coastal state of Goa – will open in mid-December.

Related reading:
Playboy: back to the future, FT
Song and dance over Bollywood film lyrics, FT