For more than a decade, Kitty Su has remained one of India’s most celebrated nightlife destinations, while also breaking new ground as a pioneering platform for LGBTQIA+ visibility within the Indian hospitality industry, a first for an Indian hotel brand. Over the years, it has evolved into a cultural institution that champions self-expression, individuality and inclusivity.
Now, that legacy enters an exciting new chapter with the launch of KittySu Beauty, a luxury-performance cosmetics brand inspired by the artistry of drag culture, fearless creativity and the belief that beauty knows no boundaries. Its debut collection presents a carefully curated edit of Liquid Lipsticks and Tinted Lip Glosses, marrying high-performance colour with skin-conscious formulations. Yet, beyond the products themselves lies a far greater ambition to challenge conventional beauty narratives and redefine what an Indian luxury beauty brand can stand for in the years to come.
In this exclusive conversation with Outlook Luxe, Keshav Suri, Executive Director of The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group, and Cyril Feuillebois, Founder of Kronokare and Co-founder of KittySu Beauty, discuss the making of the brand, the science behind its formulations, the influence of drag culture on modern beauty, and why inclusivity must extend far beyond marketing campaigns.
Cyril Feuillebois, Co-Founder
Having built Kronokare around clean, conscious skincare and now launching KittySu Beauty with high performing colour cosmetics inspired by drag culture, how did you balance uncompromising formulation with theatrical colour payoff? What innovations in these new Liquid Lipsticks and Glosses are you most proud of?
Kronokare’s skin first philosophy naturally carries into KittySu Beauty. There was never a choice between performance and formulation. Our liquid lipsticks use a Bentone gel base for a weightless glide before setting into a true matte finish within 20 to 30 seconds. Tocopherol and nourishing emollients help maintain lip comfort throughout wear. Our glosses are infused with skin loving ingredients and follow the same clean and conscious philosophy. The result is uncompromising colour, backed by skincare inspired formulation.
KittySu Beauty enters the market at a time when luxury beauty consumers are demanding both authenticity and performance. With products like the highly pigmented Liquid Lipsticks and Silkjuice Tinted Lip Glosses, how do you plan to differentiate the brand in an increasingly crowded premium cosmetics space?
We wanted our debut collection to feel intentional rather than excessive. Five carefully curated signature lip essentials, each with its own identity. Hotline is the iconic red. Tantric is a rich brick brown. Blackmail is our signature black, created for those who refuse to colour within the lines. While designed as a liquid lipstick, its richly pigmented matte formula also blends itself beautifully to creative artistry, from graphic eyes and smoky detailing to brow definition. Silkjuice is a skincare infused full coverage gloss, while Barebackstage is a multidimensional gloss that works as a topper, plumper and highlighter. Together they create a modern wardrobe of colour that celebrates individuality without overwhelming choice.
Every formula is designed to deliver bold, uncompromising colour without sacrificing comfort or care. But KittySu Beauty was never just about product. At its core, the brand is built on culture, creativity, and an unswerving commitment to authenticity values articulated by General Manager Suraj Sheoran as fundamental to everything the brand does.
Creative direction is led by Hashbrownie, Product Developer and Brand Manager, whose practice as a drag artist shapes the brand’s relationship with colour, formulation, and visual language in ways that go well beyond conventional beauty. As drag continues to redefine global aesthetics, KittySu Beauty translates that conversation into something distinctly, and luxuriously, Indian
Throughout your entrepreneurial journey from Kronokare to wellness ventures and now KittySu Beauty you’ve consistently challenged conventional beauty standards. Do you see this launch as the beginning of a larger movement towards purpose led luxury beauty in India, and what categories or innovations can consumers expect next?
We believe luxury today is defined as much by purpose as it is by product. Consumers are looking for brands with authenticity, cultural relevance and exceptional formulations. KittySu Beauty is only the beginning. Our multi use liner sticks are already in development, and we will continue expanding into categories that remain true to our philosophy of thoughtful formulation, elevated design and fearless creativity.
Keshav Suri, Co-Founder
KittySu has long been one of India’s most influential cultural spaces for the LGBTQIA+ community. Transforming that legacy into a luxury beauty brand is an ambitious step. How do you ensure KittySu Beauty remains a cultural movement rather than simply another beauty label?
KittySu has been one of India’s most important LGBTQIA+ safe spaces for over a decade and that legacy cannot be reduced to a tagline. KittySu Beauty was born from the sense of belonging, freedom and individuality that KittySu has always represented. We honour that by creating opportunities for diverse talent across the brand, not just in campaigns. The day it becomes just another beauty label, we have failed.
The debut collection features bold shades such as Blackmail, Hotline and Tantric, alongside glosses and curated duo sets. How do these names and colour stories reflect the spirit of KittySu, and what message do you hope they send to consumers discovering the brand for the first time?
Every shade was created with intention. Rather than launching an endless range, we introduced five signature lip essentials that together create a modern wardrobe of colour. Hotline is timeless confidence. Tantric embodies warmth and sensuality. Blackmail is unapologetically bold. Silkjuice delivers rich colour with effortless comfort, while Barebackstage transforms every look with multidimensional shine. We wanted every product to feel like a different version of you because beauty is never defined by a single mood, identity or occasion.
As someone who has championed diversity and inclusion within hospitality, do you envision KittySu Beauty influencing the wider Indian beauty industry to become more representative not just in marketing, but in product development, retail experiences and conversations around identity?
Representation cannot begin and end with a campaign. It should be reflected in who creates the products, who shapes the conversations and who gets the opportunity to build the future of beauty. Through the Keshav Suri Foundation, we hope to create more pathways for emerging creatives from underrepresented communities to contribute, innovate and carry forward the legacy of KittySu. If KittySu Beauty encourages the industry to see inclusion as a lasting commitment rather than a passing moment, we will have achieved something meaningful.
