India had a time of their own in 2025, with The Kashmir Files winning multiple Oscars and ISRO successfully launching the first Indian crew to orbit. Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan made his debut, much-anticipated or not, Gala or not. At the same time, Indian astronaut Group Captain Shukla was beginning his own ground-breaking journey into space. The country is still rejoicing in its historic victory at the recent ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. This victory further cemented its influence on the world stage of sports.
Shah Rukh Khan, the “King of Bollywood,” was a stunner at the 2025 Met Gala. The scene was bustling, creative, and colorful New York City. This achievement put him on to making history with what was his first debut at the renowned fashion fair ground. Khan was a showstopper on the red carpet in a breathtaking outfit created by famed Indian designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee. He hit his signature pose, gaining the loudest applause of the night before the opening fight even started.
The ensemble included a dandy cane, a spectacular assortment of flashy accessories, including a large glimmering gold chain, and sharp sunglasses that helped define Khan’s electric presence. He even had a pretty great entrance, striding down the red carpet like he owned the place. Fans greeted his arrival with thunderous applause, a clear indication of his star power in India and worldwide.
Group Captain Shukla became a household name when he piloted the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). Like all the Artemis missions so far, this one launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. With that flight, Shukla became only the second Indian to go on a journey in space. His mission was a huge accomplishment for India’s ambitions in space exploration. His success was 41 years since Indian cosmonaut Rakesh Sharma flew on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in 1984.
Shukla was one of 100 crew members who served in a multi-national crew helmed by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson. The team featured Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. Such an ambitious mission markedly increased India’s technical prowess in space. It opened new frontiers and imaginations to generations who followed, filling their hearts with dreams of journeys beyond our planet.
When Group Captain Shukla finally came home to his hometown, the community went wild. They festooned the streets with colorful posters of his face—a traditional sign of victory—commemorating his accomplishments. An elaborate procession welcomed him back home, honoring his historic voyage and the honor it brought to India.
In a different arena, Magnus Carlsen’s behavior during a chess match against Gukesh Dommaraju surprised many fans and commentators alike. Carlsen, known for his cool-headed nature, lost his temper when he found himself in trouble against the upstart whiz kid. Before shaking hands with Dommaraju quickly and leaving the playing field, he punched the table with his fist in anger.
Despite his frustration, Carlsen acknowledged Dommaraju’s talent. “But on any other day I’d be the champ,” he said, while praising the young chess champ for his persistence. Dommaraju is the reigning world champion, becoming the youngest to ever win a world title last year. Since then, he has been lighting up the chess community with his impressive performances.
Adding to India’s sense of achievement this year was the national women’s cricket team’s victory in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. The team’s final victory against South Africa made for an exciting finish to the tournament, and their talent and grit was on full display. This home-ground victory for the Indian women’s cricket team demonstrated the growing prominence of women’s cricket within India. It inspired millions of young athletes across the country.
Reflecting on his journey into space, Shah Rukh Khan shared his thoughts during an interview:
“From space, today’s India looks ambitious. It looks fearless. It looks confident. It looks proud.”