Star and Style was launched in 1951 by media executive J.C. Jain and published under the Eve’s Weekly Group (Somani Group).
The magazine existed for nearly 40 years, running continuously from 1951 until 1989, when it ceased publication along with its sister outlet, Eve's Weekly.
Key Milestones & History
| Period | Milestone |
| 1951 | Launch: Established as a biweekly film and lifestyle publication to compete directly with Filmfare. |
| 1966–1989 | The Golden Era: Edited by legendary journalist Gulshan Ewing. During this era, star columnist Devyani Chaubal penned the famous "Frankly Speaking" gossip column, making the magazine a household name across Bollywood. |
| 1989 | Closure: Ceased operation as part of the total shutdown of the Eve’s Weekly publishing group due to shifts in film journalism and market competition. |
Because Star and Style operated as a fortnightly (biweekly) magazine for the majority of its 38-year run, an estimated 900 to 1,000 individual issues were published over its existence.
Most Controversial Issues & Stories
Rather than a single isolated issue, the magazine's most scandalous runs were tied to star columnist Devyani Chaubal ("Devi"):
The Dharmendra & Hema Malini Exposé: One of the most infamous moments occurred when Devyani Chaubal exposed the secret romance and private marriage arrangements between Dharmendra and Hema Malini. The coverage provoked an intense response in the industry; an outraged Dharmendra notoriously confronted journalists and chased Chaubal through a outdoor venue.
The Rajesh Khanna Health & Retirement Claims: Star and Style printed sensational claims about superstar Rajesh Khanna, including cover stories claiming he was retiring at the absolute height of his career, as well as premature claims regarding his health.
Rekha’s Unfiltered Interviews: In the late 1970s, Rekha gave candid interviews to Star and Style detailing her personal relationship with Vinod Mehra, generating significant gossip across film publications.
Most Popular Era
The magazine's peak popularity occurred during the 1970s through early 1980s, under the editorship of Gulshan Ewing. Driven by the rise of Hindi cinema’s first superstar (Rajesh Khanna) and the subsequent era of Amitabh Bachchan, Star and Style established itself as one of the top two film periodicals in India alongside Filmfare.
Who Was Featured on the Cover the Most?
While official publisher tallies were never archived, historical magazine distribution logs and retrospective collections show two stars tied for the highest frequency of covers:
Rajesh Khanna: As Devyani Chaubal’s primary subject and a dominant box-office draw during the late 60s and 70s, Khanna appeared on more Star and Style covers during that decade than any other actor.
Rekha & Sridevi: Among actresses, Rekha dominated the magazine's covers through the 1970s and 80s, followed closely by Sridevi, who became the magazine's premier cover subject throughout the mid-to-late 1980s leading up to the publication's final issues in 1989.
