Fahadh Faasil Mobile Phone Trend: ₹10 Lakh Vertu Keypad Device Stuns Fans Online
Mumbai | July 20, 2025 | By Michael B. Norris
It was a film event in Chennai two years ago. As the crowd buzzed around a rising Tamil star, I found myself more interested in what he held in his hand - a clunky, distinctly retro-looking phone.
I was close enough to see it wasn’t a burner or prop. This thing was heavy, metallic, and oddly elegant.
I snapped a quick photo out of habit. A week later, a source identified it: a Vertu smartphone.
Until that moment, I hadn’t given much thought to Vertu - the “luxury phone for the one percent.” They seemed like an artifact of pre-iPhone days, the kind of thing oil tycoons or F1 moguls might carry in 2009. But seeing one still in use, in 2023, and now again - in 2025 - is telling.
And when I saw Fahadh Faasil’s recent viral clip - where he casually takes a call on what looks like a 2006-era Nokia - I had a strong sense of déjà vu.
Except this wasn't just any old phone. It was a Vertu Ascent Retro Classic. Hand-built, sapphire glass, metal casing, and a price tag reportedly over ₹10 lakh.
That clip sent the internet into a frenzy. But the phone? It tells a bigger story - about tech, luxury, status, and the surprising off-grid choices of one of Malayalam cinema’s most enigmatic stars.
Fahadh Faasil was spotted earlier this month at the puja ceremony for Mollywood Times, a new film helmed by director Abhinav Sunder Nayak.
As cameras flashed and fans leaned in for selfies, a brief clip emerged that would dominate timelines for days - Fahadh answering a call on what appeared to be a basic feature phone.
Only, it wasn’t basic at all.
It was a Vertu.
#Fahadh's Keypad phone Costs 10 Lakhs💰📱#FahadhFaasil #Nazriya #NazriyaNazim pic.twitter.com/7fJytb38Sc— BuzZ Basket (@theBuzZBasket) July 17, 2025
A closer look, confirmed by luxury gadget collectors online, pegged the model as a Vertu Ascent Retro Classic, currently valued at ₹10.2 lakh. It’s not available through mainstream retail channels.
vertu phone price in india ₹10.2 lakh (INR)
Operating System Symbian (legacy mobile OS)
Materials Sapphire crystal display, leather-wrapped titanium body
Status Discontinued / Rare
Brand Origin UK (formerly Nokia luxury division)
In today's market, the concept of a phone that does less but costs more is almost absurd.
Because it signals exclusivity. It’s not about tech - it’s about craftsmanship, rarity, and prestige. Owning a Vertu is like wearing a bespoke watch in a world full of smartwatches.
Ultra-wealthy individuals: royalty, celebrities, global CEOs, and collectors who value physical luxury over digital sophistication.
Tech moved fast. Vertu didn’t. As smartphones evolved rapidly, Vertu’s appeal declined. Their prices stayed high, but their specs didn’t match the market. Also, luxury alone wasn’t enough to sustain demand.
After multiple ownership changes, Vertu is currently held by a group of international private investors, including entities based in China and France.
Yes - it’s positioned similarly to Rolls-Royce or Patek Philippe in its niche. Even though it’s not widely popular now, its build quality and materials are undeniably luxury-grade.
Every phone is handmade, often by a single craftsman. Materials include alligator leather, gold, sapphire screens - the kind of specs that belong in jewelry, not tech.
Long battery life, high build quality, ultra-privacy, and concierge services (in select models). It’s a lifestyle product, not a tech product.
Celebrities, high-net-worth individuals (HNIs), and business moguls - particularly those who value privacy and exclusivity.
It’s not smart - but it is luxurious. It doesn’t track you, bombard you with ads, or tether you to notifications. That makes it rare in today’s hyper-connected world.
Mumbai | July 20, 2025 | By Michael B. Norris
A Phone That Made Me Do a Double Take
It was a film event in Chennai two years ago. As the crowd buzzed around a rising Tamil star, I found myself more interested in what he held in his hand - a clunky, distinctly retro-looking phone.
I was close enough to see it wasn’t a burner or prop. This thing was heavy, metallic, and oddly elegant.
I snapped a quick photo out of habit. A week later, a source identified it: a Vertu smartphone.
Until that moment, I hadn’t given much thought to Vertu - the “luxury phone for the one percent.” They seemed like an artifact of pre-iPhone days, the kind of thing oil tycoons or F1 moguls might carry in 2009. But seeing one still in use, in 2023, and now again - in 2025 - is telling.
And when I saw Fahadh Faasil’s recent viral clip - where he casually takes a call on what looks like a 2006-era Nokia - I had a strong sense of déjà vu.
Except this wasn't just any old phone. It was a Vertu Ascent Retro Classic. Hand-built, sapphire glass, metal casing, and a price tag reportedly over ₹10 lakh.
That clip sent the internet into a frenzy. But the phone? It tells a bigger story - about tech, luxury, status, and the surprising off-grid choices of one of Malayalam cinema’s most enigmatic stars.
The Call That Made Headlines
Fahadh Faasil was spotted earlier this month at the puja ceremony for Mollywood Times, a new film helmed by director Abhinav Sunder Nayak.
As cameras flashed and fans leaned in for selfies, a brief clip emerged that would dominate timelines for days - Fahadh answering a call on what appeared to be a basic feature phone.
Only, it wasn’t basic at all.
It was a Vertu.
#Fahadh's Keypad phone Costs 10 Lakhs💰📱#FahadhFaasil #Nazriya #NazriyaNazim pic.twitter.com/7fJytb38Sc— BuzZ Basket (@theBuzZBasket) July 17, 2025
A closer look, confirmed by luxury gadget collectors online, pegged the model as a Vertu Ascent Retro Classic, currently valued at ₹10.2 lakh. It’s not available through mainstream retail channels.
In fact, the model is reportedly out of stock on Vertu’s official site and considered rare or discontinued by most tech dealers.
To understand the answer, it helps to understand Fahadh.
Known for shunning the media spotlight, Fahadh Faasil maintains a notoriously low digital footprint.
Why Would Fahadh Faasil Use a Keypad Phone?
To understand the answer, it helps to understand Fahadh.
Known for shunning the media spotlight, Fahadh Faasil maintains a notoriously low digital footprint.
He’s not active on Instagram, avoids social media altogether, and prefers to stay disconnected unless work demands otherwise.
His co-star and friend Vinay Forrt once mentioned in an interview that Fahadh didn’t use smartphones. No notifications.
His co-star and friend Vinay Forrt once mentioned in an interview that Fahadh didn’t use smartphones. No notifications.
No scrolling. Just a no-nonsense phone with, presumably, long battery life and zero distractions.
In 2025, that makes him an outlier. But it also makes sense.
In 2025, that makes him an outlier. But it also makes sense.
In a world addicted to screens, going back to a keypad phone can feel revolutionary - almost like a rebellion.
When that rebellion is worth ₹10 lakh? It makes a statement.
Founded in 1998 by Nokia’s luxury division, Vertu was created to cater to elite customers who didn’t care about megapixels or app ecosystems - they wanted exclusivity, craftsmanship, and status.
Vertu mobile are:
Handcrafted in small batches, often in England or Finland.
Built from premium materials like titanium, leather, sapphire glass, and ceramic.
Often include concierge services - yes, real human assistants available at the press of a button.
Lacking in cutting-edge specs, but oozing status.
They’re not built for utility. They’re built to signal wealth.
Feature Details
What Exactly Is a Vertu Phone?
Founded in 1998 by Nokia’s luxury division, Vertu was created to cater to elite customers who didn’t care about megapixels or app ecosystems - they wanted exclusivity, craftsmanship, and status.
Vertu mobile are:
Handcrafted in small batches, often in England or Finland.
Built from premium materials like titanium, leather, sapphire glass, and ceramic.
Often include concierge services - yes, real human assistants available at the press of a button.
Lacking in cutting-edge specs, but oozing status.
They’re not built for utility. They’re built to signal wealth.
Key Specs: Vertu Ascent Retro Classic
Feature Details
Model Name Vertu Ascent Retro Classic
vertu phone price in india ₹10.2 lakh (INR)
Operating System Symbian (legacy mobile OS)
Materials Sapphire crystal display, leather-wrapped titanium body
Status Discontinued / Rare
Brand Origin UK (formerly Nokia luxury division)
Not Just a Phone, But a Flex
In today's market, the concept of a phone that does less but costs more is almost absurd.
You could buy an entire Apple ecosystem - iPhone 15 Pro, MacBook Air, Apple Watch Ultra - and still come out cheaper than a single Vertu.
But that’s the point.
For people like Fahadh, who don’t chase trends, a Vertu isn’t about specs.
But that’s the point.
For people like Fahadh, who don’t chase trends, a Vertu isn’t about specs.
It’s about subtle dominance. It whispers, “I don’t need the latest - I have something rarer.”
Fahadh isn't alone. There’s a small but growing tribe of celebrities, CEOs, and privacy-conscious elites who are ditching smart devices altogether.
Retro Meets Rich: A Growing Trend?
Fahadh isn't alone. There’s a small but growing tribe of celebrities, CEOs, and privacy-conscious elites who are ditching smart devices altogether.
Whether it’s for digital detox, privacy, or aesthetics, the “dumbphone” trend is real.
What makes Fahadh’s case notable is the blend: an old-school form factor wrapped in elite materials.
What makes Fahadh’s case notable is the blend: an old-school form factor wrapped in elite materials.
It’s like wearing a 1940s Rolex - outdated in function, timeless in form.
Despite the luxury label, Vertu’s history hasn’t been smooth.
The brand saw its peak in the 2000s, particularly among oil tycoons, celebrities, and royals.
Vertu's Complicated Legacy
Despite the luxury label, Vertu’s history hasn’t been smooth.
The brand saw its peak in the 2000s, particularly among oil tycoons, celebrities, and royals.
But post-2010, with iPhone and Android dominance, Vertu struggled to justify its steep prices.
The brand changed hands multiple times, faced bankruptcy, and shuttered manufacturing in the UK in 2017.
It was later revived by investors and continues to produce phones in limited quantities - now as a niche luxury offering rather than a mainstream tech competitor.
The image of a man with a ₹10 lakh keypad phone cuts through our modern assumptions.
It was later revived by investors and continues to produce phones in limited quantities - now as a niche luxury offering rather than a mainstream tech competitor.
Why This Story Matters
The image of a man with a ₹10 lakh keypad phone cuts through our modern assumptions.
It makes us ask: what does it mean to be connected? What does it mean to disconnect - and still flex?
Fahadh’s Vertu doesn’t just say, “I don’t want your notifications.” It says, “I don’t need them.”
And in 2025, that’s a flex far beyond megapixels or refresh rates.
Fahadh’s Vertu doesn’t just say, “I don’t want your notifications.” It says, “I don’t need them.”
And in 2025, that’s a flex far beyond megapixels or refresh rates.
Expert FAQ: Everything You Want to Know About Vertu
1. Why do rich people use Vertu?
Because it signals exclusivity. It’s not about tech - it’s about craftsmanship, rarity, and prestige. Owning a Vertu is like wearing a bespoke watch in a world full of smartwatches.
2. Who buys Vertu phones?
Ultra-wealthy individuals: royalty, celebrities, global CEOs, and collectors who value physical luxury over digital sophistication.
3. Why did Vertu fail?
Tech moved fast. Vertu didn’t. As smartphones evolved rapidly, Vertu’s appeal declined. Their prices stayed high, but their specs didn’t match the market. Also, luxury alone wasn’t enough to sustain demand.
4. Who is the owner of Vertu?
After multiple ownership changes, Vertu is currently held by a group of international private investors, including entities based in China and France.
5. Is Vertu a luxury brand?
Yes - it’s positioned similarly to Rolls-Royce or Patek Philippe in its niche. Even though it’s not widely popular now, its build quality and materials are undeniably luxury-grade.
6. Why is Vertu so special?
Every phone is handmade, often by a single craftsman. Materials include alligator leather, gold, sapphire screens - the kind of specs that belong in jewelry, not tech.
7. What are the benefits of Vertu Mobile?
Long battery life, high build quality, ultra-privacy, and concierge services (in select models). It’s a lifestyle product, not a tech product.
8. Who are the users of Vertu mobile in India?
Celebrities, high-net-worth individuals (HNIs), and business moguls - particularly those who value privacy and exclusivity.
9. What is different in Vertu phone?
It’s not smart - but it is luxurious. It doesn’t track you, bombard you with ads, or tether you to notifications. That makes it rare in today’s hyper-connected world.
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