INDIAN EDITION

New Event!

SHOWCASING
INDIAS GREATEST
MENSWEAR
DECEMBER 2015 `150

LUXURY LIST

The50
Best Things
in the World
Right NOW

GQ DRIVE
AWARDS 2015

The Cars,
Bikes
(&Train)of
theYear

THE ULTIMATE
TATTOO GUIDE

K
(Finally)
KATRINA KAIF
PHOTOGRAPHED BY SIGNE VILSTRUP

Opens up

TALKING
WATCHES
WITH
SACHIN
TENDULKAR
Inside
Arunachals
Valley
of Rock

Countdown display

Yac h t - Ma s t e r II / yacht mas

ter two /: 1. A chronograph created
[XMKQKITTa NWZ aIKP\ ZIKQVO 2. Its unique
countdown feature with mechanical memory
is programmable from 10 minutes to one.
3. Designed for legibility, no matter what
the conditions. 4. Characterised by the Ring
Command bezel, a patented bezel that
interacts with the watchs movement. 5. An
unprecedented combination of complexity
and simplicity. 6. The Rolex Way.

Superl at ive /su per la tive /:

1. Of the highest quality or degree. 2. A
designation written on the dial of Rolex
watches since the 1950s to distinguish their
superior performance. 3. Backed by stringent
certif ication criteria and rigorous testing
procedures. 4. Now even more demanding
with new Rolex standards that outclass
official benchmarks. 5. Applied to every
Rolex watch made. 6 . Symbolised by the
Rolex seal. 7. The expression of excellence
in watchmaking. 8. The Rolex Way.

More Rolex watchmaking at

DLF EMPORIO MALL, VASANT KUNJ, NEW DELHI 110070 T 011 41033059.

TOMFORD.COM

Elegance is an attitude
Simon Baker

The Longines Master Collection

PHOTO: SIGNE VILSTRUP

228

DOUBLE AGENT
A spy needs to look good,
doesnt he? By Kenneth Lam
BATH ROBE BY DOLCE &
GABBANA. WATCH BY TISSOT

DECEMBER 2015

15

CONTENTS

COVER STAR

KATRINA
KAIF

214

HURRICANE KAT

Shes a force of nature

when you get her to
open up, that is.
By Megha Shah
ON THE
COVER

INDIAN EDITION

New Event!

SHOWCASING
INDIAS GREATEST
MENSWEAR
DECEMBER 2015 `150

LUXURY LIST

The50
Best Things
in the World
Right NOW

GQ DRIVE
AWARDS 2015

The Cars,
Bikes
(&Train)of
theYear

THE ULTIMATE
TATTOO GUIDE

(Finally)

SHIRT BY RALPH
LAUREN. TROUSERS
BY PAUL SMITH.
BOW TIE BY BROOKS
BROTHERS. BRACES
BY THE BRO CODE

18

DECEMBER 2015

KATR NA KAIF
PHOTOGRAPHED BY S GNE V LSTRUP

Opens up

TALKING
WATCHES
WITH
SACHIN
TENDULKAR
Inside
Arunachals
Valley
of Rock

TUXEDO JACKET, TROUSERS;

BOTH BY PAUL SMITH. BRA BY
MYLA

TO BREAK THE RULES,

YOU MUST FIRST MASTER
THEM.
THE VALLE DE JOUX. FOR MILLENNIA A HARSH,
UNYIELDING ENVIRONMENT; AND SINCE 1875 THE
HOME OF AUDEMARS PIGUET, IN THE VILLAGE OF LE
BRASSUS. T H E E ARLY WAT CHM A K ER S W ER E
SHAPED HERE, IN AWE OF THE FORCE OF NATURE
YET DRIVEN TO MASTER ITS MYSTERIES THROUGH
THE COMPLEX MECHANICS OF THEIR CRAFT. STILL
TODAY THIS PIONEERING SPIRIT INSPIRES US TO
CONSTANTLY CHALLENGE THE CONVENTIONS OF
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MUMBAI
TIME AVENUE
189 TURNER RD TEL: (9122) 26515858
AUDEMARSPIGUET.COM

CONTENTS
42
46
54
295
296
308

Editors Letter
Contributors
GQIndia.com
Where to Buy
GQ Central
Open Letter

222

DIVIDED BY ZIRO

The Arunachal Pradesh

valley is more than just
a Western indie music festival.
By Adil Hasan
ON THE
COVER

22

DECEMBER 2015

ON THE
COVER

58 #TheMostElectricPartyOf2015
ICYMI, your BTS.

141 Van Heusen + GQ Fashion Nights

On the eve of GQs rst ever

fashion show, we prole Indias leading

menswear designers.

118 The 50 Best Things In The World

It starts with Kelly Gale and well, read
on for what well remember 2015 for.
Edited by Dave Besseling
ON THE
COVER

192 Mile high

The next time you walk through Duty Free, this
is the good stuff to pick up. By Nirmal Jain

design a n d technology.

luminor 1950
10 days gmt automatic
(ref. 533)

BANGALORE - Ethos Summit, UB City - +91 80 40999621 CHANDIGARH - Talwar Watch Co. - +91 1724028500 CHENNAI - The Helvetica, +91 44 28464095
GURGAON - Kapoor Watch Co. - Ambience Mall - +91 124 4665500 HYDERABAD - The Helvetica - +91 40 64555088 KOLKATA - Exclusive Lines - +91 33 22820597
MUMBAI - Panerai Boutique, Taj Mahal Hotel - +91 22 22885052/53; Time Avenue, 189, Turner Road, Bandra West - +91 22 26515757 / 5858
Art Of Time - Watereld Road, Bandra - 022 2642 6241 / 2643 3696
pa n e r a i . c o m

CONTENTS
200 GQ Drive Awards
2015
Brands experimented,
revived and improved
we celebrate the best.
Edited by Varun Godinho
ON THE
COVER

242 The Gentlemens Club

Its the Garden City vs
Mumbai and Delhi in
Bengalurus rst GQ
roundtable and just to be
fair, we had a non-native
there, too. By Dave Besseling
250 Take cover
The fabrics and patterns your granddad loved
go modern. By Vlad Antonov
260 Fashions BFF
Youve never heard of him, but Olivier Rousteing
is changing the face of ultra-luxury fashion.
By Jessica Pressler
270 Works of art
Classic tailoring gets quirky.
By Darren McDonald

Virtual Reality is coming and no, you wont

look like the guy from The Lawnmower Man;
these are the books you shouldve bought (and
read) in 2015; there are so many good gigs on
the circuit this December that you may as well
take the whole month off; and the award for
Most Stylish Sport goes to

BEST THINGS

IN THE

BLAZER,
TROUSERS; BOTH
BY CANALI. SHIRT
BY PAUL & SHARK.
BROOCH BY
THE BRO CODE.
POCKET SQUARE
BY CORNELIANI

26

DECEMBER 2015

PHOTO: ERRIKOS ANDREOU/DEU: CREATIVE MANAGEMENT (AYUSHMANN)

THE

CONTE

281
TATTOO YOU

ON THE
COVER

Behind the history of Olive, aka the

birthplace of Mumbais modern nightlife;
Suhel Seth gives us some crackling advice
this month; how not to be a douche at a club

Your ultimate guide to getting

inked and not regretting it.
T-SHIRT BY VOXPOP.
JOGGERS BY
BERSHKA. SHOES BY
BREAKBOUNCE

Rolex ambassador and racing legend Sir

Jackie Stewart gives us an all-access pass to
the F1 Singapore GP
158 A masters piece
Timing is everything for Sachin
Tendulkar. By Varun Godinho
ON THE
COVER

161 Lives: When things fall apart.

By Che Kurrien
164 Art: The high-stakes world of
international art auctions. By Kishore Singh
166 Humour: Mansplaining, explained.
By Barnaby Pole
170 Film: Bollywood had nothing on Indian
indie lms this year. By Tanul Thakur

PHOTO: PRABHAT SHETTY (TATTOO)

Louis Vuitton goes ombre, and how; how to

wear non-chinos and non-jeans; backpacks
2.0; Alessandro Michele goes back in time

30

DECEMBER 2015

ROYALENFIELD.COM

HAILED BY PURISTS. LOVED BY

ROCKERS. THE MOST FUN YOU'LL
EVER HAVE ON A MOTORCYCLE.

GET THE AUTHENTIC GT EXPERIENCE AT YOUR DOORSTEP - VISIT CONTINENTALGT.IN

Some of the components and accessories featured in the photograph may not be a part of the standard fitment.

/ROYAL ENFIELD

@ ROYALENFIELD

@ ROYALENFIELD

EDITOR

MANAGING EDITOR Maniza

Bharucha

FASHION DIRECTOR Vijendra

ART DIRECTOR Mihir

Bhardwaj

Shah

PHOTO DIRECTOR Gizelle

DEPUTY EDITORS

PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Arjun

Che Kurrien

Cordo

Shikha Sethi, Dave Besseling

DEPUTY ART DIRECTOR Vivek

LIFESTYLE EDITOR Megha
AUTO & WATCH EDITOR Varun
ASSISTANT EDITOR Nidhi
FASHION FEATURES EDITOR
SENIOR COPY EDITOR

Surve

Shah
Godinho

DIGITAL COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR Archana Jhangiani

DIGITAL SALES MANAGERS (NEW DELHI) Akshat Saxena, Kritika Sharma
MANAGER CUSTOM SOLUTIONS (BENGALURU) Anitha Ramabhadran
COMMERCIAL MANAGER DIGITAL Ishani Roychoudhary

Gupta

MARKETING DIRECTOR Oona Dhabhar

MARKETING MANAGER Komal Puri
ASSISTANT MARKETING MANAGER Aditi Sharma

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PROMOTIONS MANAGER Tarana Sheth Sabharwal
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COPY EDITOR AND WRITER PROMOTIONS Karishma Mehrotra
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Srinivasan

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Fernandes

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CREATIVE PRODUCERS Amrita Mahindroo, Ishita Bahadur

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34

DECEMBER 2015

Jonathan Newhouse

JAGUAR XJ

ARRIVE IN STYLE
Beauty, all-round renement and sheer exhilarating power.
XJ is pure Jaguar.

Jaguar XJ is designed to turn heads

and attract glances. With a fusion of
honed dynamic lines and sculpted
elegance, it delivers an experience that
fulls Jaguar's core brand promise of
performance and seduction.
The view from inside the XJ is
exceptional. A panoramic, heatreective glass roof extends to the full
width of the car and sweeps as far back
as the rear seat area. It lters UV rays
and oods the interior with natural
light making it airy and enviably
spacious.
Further, XJ welcomes you with
soothing phosphor blue interior lighting
bathing the cabin with its subtle tones
to reveal aesthetic perfection.
XJs cabin is both contemporary and

luxurious, created to excite the senses.

Comfort and quality reign supreme
with form hugging supple leather
complemented with twin needle
stitching, contemporary surfaces and
a choice of carefully crafted real wood
veneers.
With all this luxury, you dont just
travel in an XJ, you arrive in one.
Disclaimer: Features, colours and accessories shown may not be a part of standard equipment.

In the USA: Cond Nast

Scan the QR code below to

get your digital edition

CHAIRMAN: S.I. Newhouse, Jr.

CEO: Charles H. Townsend
PRESIDENT: Robert A. Sauerberg, Jr.
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In other countries: Cond Nast International

CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE: Jonathan Newhouse
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INDIAN EDITION

New Event!

SHOWCASING
INDIAS GREATEST
MENSWEAR
GQ DRIVE
AWARDS 2015

DECEMBER 2015 `150

The Cars,
Bikes
(& Train) of
the Year

LUXURY LIST

The50
Best Things
in theWorld
Right NOW
THE ULTIMATE
TATTOO GUIDE

TALKING
WATCHES
WITH
SACHIN
TENDULKAR
Inside
Arunachals
Valley
of Rock

INDIAN EDITION

LUXURY LIST

The50
Best Things
in theWorld
Right NOW

The Cond Nast Group of Brands includes:

US: Vogue, Vanity Fair, Glamour, Brides, Self, GQ, The New Yorker, Cond Nast
Traveler, Details, Allure, Architectural Digest, Bon Apptit,
Epicurious, Wired, W, Golf Digest, Teen Vogue, Ars Technica, Cond Nast
Entertainment, The Scene
UK: Vogue, House & Garden, Brides, Tatler, The World of Interiors, GQ, Vanity
Fair, Cond Nast Traveller, Glamour,
Cond Nast Johansens, GQ Style, Love, Wired, Cond Nast College of Fashion
& Design, Ars Technica
France: Vogue, Vogue Hommes International, AD, Glamour, Vogue Collections,
GQ, AD Collector,
Vanity Fair, Vogue Travel in France, GQ Le Manuel du Style

New Event!

SHOWCASING
INDIAS GREATEST
MENSWEAR
DECEMBER 2015 `150

Global
PRESIDENT, COND NAST E-COMMERCE: Franck Zayan
COND NAST GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Jamie Bill

Italy: Vogue, LUomo Vogue, Vogue Bambini, Glamour, Vogue Gioiello, Vogue
Sposa, AD, Cond Nast Traveller,
GQ, Vanity Fair, Wired, Vogue Accessory, La Cucina Italiana, CNLive

GQ DRIVE
AWARDS 2015

The Cars,
Bikes
(& Train) of
the Year

Germany: Vogue, GQ, AD, Glamour, GQ Style, Myself, Wired

THE ULTIMATE
TATTOO GUIDE

Spain: Vogue, GQ, Vogue Novias, Vogue Nios, Cond Nast Traveler, Vogue
Colecciones, Vogue Belleza, Glamour, AD, Vanity Fair

(Finally)

Opens up

TALKING
WATCHES
WITH
SACHIN
TENDULKAR

KATRINA KAIF
PHOTOGRAPHED BY S GNE V LSTRUP

Inside
Arunachals
Valley
of Rock

Japan: Vogue, GQ, Vogue Girl, Wired, Vogue Wedding

For Android
GQIndia.com/Android

Taiwan: Vogue, GQ
Russia: Vogue, GQ, AD, Glamour, GQ Style, Tatler, Cond Nast Traveller, Allure
Mexico and Latin America: Vogue Mexico and Latin America,
Glamour Mexico and Latin America, AD Mexico, GQ Mexico and Latin
America, Vanity Fair Mexico
India: Vogue, GQ, Cond Nast Traveller, AD

Published under Joint Venture:

Brazil: Vogue, Casa Vogue, GQ, Glamour, GQ Style

Published under License or Copyright Cooperation:

For iPad and iPhone

GQIndia.com/iTunes

What a mans got to do

Australia: Vogue, Vogue Living, GQ

Bulgaria: Glamour
China: Vogue, Vogue Collections, Self, AD, Cond Nast Traveler, GQ, GQ Style,
Brides, Cond Nast Center of Fashion & Design
Czech Republic and Slovakia: La Cucina Italiana
Hungary: Glamour
Iceland: Glamour
Korea: Vogue, GQ, Vogue Girl, Allure, W, GQ Style, Style.co.kr
Middle East: Cond Nast Traveller, AD, Vogue Caf at The Dubai Mall, GQ Bar
Dubai
Poland: Glamour
Portugal: Vogue, GQ
Romania: Glamour
Russia: Vogue Caf Moscow, Tatler Club Moscow
South Africa: House & Garden, GQ, Glamour, House & Garden Gourmet, GQ
Style
The Netherlands: Glamour, Vogue
Thailand: Vogue, GQ, Vogue Lounge Bangkok
Turkey: Vogue, GQ, Cond Nast Traveller
Ukraine: Vogue, Vogue Caf Kiev

POWER PACKED
he smell of freshly brewed coffee wafts through
GQs new HQ, a space that combines regal
grandeur with new-age finesse in the heart of
Ballard Estate, south Bombays historic business
district. Natural light filters in through a canopy of
amaltas trees, set against stately buildings that hint
at the citys colonial past. From my desk I watch
chirpy staffers write, edit, design and post their
tables punctuated by gleaming Macs and stark
white columns, with warm, wooden undertones dotting the space.
The walls are adorned by giant chimpanzees from the distant future
graphic wallpaper created by Thukral and Tagra. The conference room
with its dark glass table top and high-backed black chairs is remniscent
of a Bond villains lair. Yet outside, the sparrows chirp and leaves sway
an oasis of calm in a city choked to the brim.
After seven frutiful years, we outgrew the space in the iconic
building we occupied alongside our sister publication Vogue in an
office located a few streets down from where we sit now. The move
reflects substantial belief in GQ and comes at a time when we are
strengthening our position as the countrys leading mens media
brand. The past year has been an especially productive, energetic
one, brimming with new initiatives like the Most Influential
Young Indians list that we launched in July, as well as this months
ambitious Fashion Nights event, in partnership with Van Heusen,
which aims to put Indian menswear on the international map. We
also enhanced the size and scale of our existing signature properties
like the Men of the Year Awards, and the Best-Dressed Men in India.
Each of these ideas is rooted in editorial enterprise, and has been
incredibly satisfying to produce. Yet perhaps what we most relished
creating is our year-end roundup, appearing in this issue, of the
50 Best Things in the World. I hope you wont mind that weve
included our new office on the list.

Editor

42

DECEMBER 2015

PHOTO: ARJUN MARK (CHE). DIGITAL ART: THUKRAL & TAGRA

Letter
from the
Editor

PROMOTION

CONTRIBUTORS
ERRIKOS ANDREOU
WHO: Photographer; Instagram @errikosandreou
WHAT: Makes our 2015 Men (and Woman)
Of The Year look damned good after theyve picked up
their #GQAward, page 58
Itd include Facebooks effort to bring internet access
to developing countries, Fujitsus Ultrasonic Vibration
touchscreens, that allow you to feel texture, the recent
discovery of how to remove mercury from water and
Adeles new album, 25

TANUL THAKUR
WHO: Former engineer, lm writer; Twitter@Plebeian42
WHAT: Highlights the years coolest indie lms, page 170
Nawazuddin Siddiqui (literally) shutting up
Salman Khan in Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Also, the Tamil
lm Kakka Muttai.

VIVEK SURVE
WHO: Deputy Art Director, GQ India
WHAT: Designs this years GQ Drive Awards
(page 200) and Tattoo You (page 281)
The GPS Pet Tracker Nuzzle. Its a collar that
gives you the exact location of your pet on
your smartphone so your pet can never
get lost.

DAVE BESSELING
WHO: Deputy Editor, GQ India; Twitter @davebesseling
WHAT: Send your hate (or love) mail to him for GQs 2015 list of the 50 best things in the world, page 118
I would say the two music albums weve included this year, that prove, in the scattered nature of
music consumption these days, that full albums are still being made and can be consumed as such, at
great depth.

46

DECEMBER 2015

where
escape

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service of Four Seasons come together
to create a coveted lifestyle in the
heart of Bengaluru.

MEETS
EXCELLENCE

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FOUR SEASONS HOTEL & RESIDENCES COMMERCIAL RETAIL

Visit our Four Seasons

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T: +91 81520 22222

W: www.embasyone.in
E: queries@embassyone.in

Four Seasons disclaimer:

Four Seasons Private Residences Bengaluru at Embassy One are not
owned, developed or sold by Four Seasons Hotels Limited or its afliates
(Four Seasons). The developer, Embassy Group, uses the Four Seasons
trademarks and tradenames under a license from Four Seasons Hotels
and Resorts Asia Pacic Pte Ltd.
The marks FOUR SEASONS, FOUR SEASONS HOTELS AND RESORTS,
any combination thereof and the Tree Design are registered trademarks
of Four Seasons Hotels Limited in Canada and U.S.A. and of Four Seasons
Hotels (Barbados) Ltd. elsewhere.

Embassy Group disclaimer:

The information and visuals contained herein are artistic impressions
and are meant to be indicative and are subject to change as may be
required by the authorities, architects and cannot form an offer or
contract. While every reasonable care has been taken in providing the
information, the promoter Embassy Property Developments Private
Limited or their agents cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies.
The promoters reserve their rights to make alterations, additions and
amendments as may be necessitated from time to time. Specications
and materials mentioned here are subjectto availability.

ROCHELLE PINTO

CONTRIBUTORS

WHO: Digital Editor, GQ India; Instagram

@rochelle.pinto
WHAT: Expounds on, among other things,
the brilliance of the GQ ofce and Edward
Snowden, page xxx
Our gangsta Supreme Court. Im
perennially surprised by how liberal
and fearless it is, from taking on unruly
politicians to upholding the rights of the
transgender community to empowering
women. Now if only this intellect were
contagious

ADIL HASAN
WHO: Photographer; Instagram @adil_jsr
WHAT: Takes us on an intimate ride through the
breathtaking Ziro Valley on the heels of the Ziro Valley
Festival of Music, page 222
A few months ago, the New Horizons space probe,
launched nine years ago, gave us our rst glimpse of
Pluto and its exotic moon Charon, which weve known
about for over 80 years! And this is just the beginning of
the probes journey.

PRABHAT SHETTY
WHO:Photographer;
Instagram @prabhatshetty
WHAT:Puts the focus on ink in this
months guide to getting tattooed,
page 281
Mad Max: Fury Road. To me, it redenes
lm-making the same story can be told
in a thousand different ways, but George
Miller and his team created a cult classic
with their stark, raw treatment.

KENNETH LAM

VARUN GODINHO
WHO: Auto & Watch Editor, GQ India; Twitter @varungq
WHAT: Searched out the coolest, most experimental, slickest
rides put out this year for GQs 2nd Annual Drive Awards,
page 200
Edward Snowden. Brilliant or diabolical, whatever
your opinion of him, youve gotta hand it to a guy whos
taken on the worlds most powerful establishment and
survived.Hes got over 1.5 million followers on Twitter, but
he follows just one account: @NSAGov.

50

DECEMBER 2015

WHO: Photographer; Instagram @kenlams

WHAT: Shoots GQ guy Rahul Khanna in Vietnam, page 228
My brand new espresso machine, which keeps me getting out of bed every morning.

Vermillion

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WHATS

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THE WORLDS
WILDEST PARTY
PLACES

Shahid Kapoor

Lisa Ray

AWARDS
Philanthropist of the
Year Rahul Bose

Catch all the action from the

#MostElectricParty Of 2015

Deepika Padukone

AC
Leander Paes &
Aditi Rao Hydari
Akshay Kumar dazzles the audience

The Grand Ballroom at the Grand Hyatt Mumbai

SS

Sportsman of the Year

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DECEMBER 2015

59

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DECEMBER 2015

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DECEMBER 2015

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68

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STYLE THATS
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SHOP FOR ALL THINGS BESPOKE IN MILAN

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GO ON A SKI SAFARI IN THE DOLOMITES

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ISLAND HOP ON A YACHT ALONG

THE AMALFI COAST
From the picturesque town of Positano to the
subtle elegance of Sorrento and captivating
beauty of Capri, the Amalfi Coast has gifted
us with several gems that are worth exploring.
Imagine going from one stunning island to the
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to hand. Discover a world on which dreams
are made.
DINE IN A FLORENTINE
MICHELIN-STAR RESTAURANT
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Nastro Azzurro has been crafted for the
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Delicious fare courtesy

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Express,
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EXCLUSIVE HOST: Cyrus Sahukar with a special
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ALL ROADS LEAD TO

MUMBAI
PRESENTING

WEEK

13th-18th February 2016

An insight into the

pioneering initiative
and what Make
In India aims to
accomplish

Across Mumbai,
a melting pot which
represents a unique
combination of
culture, commerce,
technology,
industry and
urbanity

The best and

brightest: Global,
government and
industry leaders,
policy makers,
regulators, business
associations,
entrepreneurs,
research institutions
and international
media

13th-18th February,
2016. To stay
updated with key
events or to know
more, visit www.
makeinindia.com/
mumbai-week

WATC
OUT F R?

WHEN?

WHO?

WHERE?

WHAT?

The much-awaited, landmark event Make In India Week is just

around the corner. Heres everything you need to know about it.

Gain vital information

across key
manufacturing
sectors through
the Make In India
Centre, business
forums, design
conferences,
seminars and more

SHOWCASE + CONNECT + COLLABORATE

TH
E

CI
TY

O
F

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Make In India, a major national initiative, is designed to propel sustainable growth and make
India the preferred global manufacturing destination. The theme of the week-long event is to:
Showcase design, innovation and sustainability potential to highlight Indias top manufacturing
sectors in the coming decade. Connect with global industry leaders and administrators through
their involvement. Collaborate to take corporate and public participation to the next level.
From being a global platform for networking and business opportunities to having access to
stakeholders, global investors, tech rms and think tanksits going to be big.

SE
M
IN
AR
S

Th
no er
i
an se es
an d s , an ple
ha d t oc d e nty
co ve hos ial f xp to
lla be e ut lor loo
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AC
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O
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FO
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The Make In India Centre will feature an exhibition of the most

innovative products and manufacturing processes that have been
developed in India. The space itself will be an avant-garde statement
in design, merging the aesthetics of traditional craft with a futuristic
vision. Opportunities across key sectors that will boost Indian
manufacturing activity will be highlighted.

&

THE MAKE IN INDIA CENTRE

MARK YOUR
CALENDAR

The calendar includes seminars,

performances and workshops that will feature
experts from nance, industry, art and design.
Highlights include the Make In India Centre,
CNN Asia Business Forum, Time India awards,
Re-imagining Mumbai, Empowerment
Through Design and much more. Investor or
citizen, bureaucrat or businessman, this is one
week that should be in everyones diaries!

INAUGURATION OF
WEEK
By the Prime Minister of India,
Shri Narendra Modi

On 13th February, 2016 in Mumbai

Follow the lion:

Facebook - facebook.com/makeinindiaofficial
Twitter - @makeinindia
Instagram - @makeinindia
For registration and queries visit
makeinindia.com/mumbai-week

BIBLIOPHILE
THE BEST
BOOKS OF
2015

WORDS: NIDHI GUPTA. IMAGE: GETTY IMAGES

FIELD OF
VISION
You know the future has
arrived when getting it
on with extra-terrestrials
becomes a thing. Alien
Makeout Simulator is just
one example of how far
virtual reality gear has
come from its Nineties
motion sickness-inducing
avatar. 21st-century
headsets also wont make
you look like a douchebag,
plus theyre all about 3D
immersive experiences
just imagine what porn
will look like now. Dive in,
with these cool kits coming
soon to your friendly
neighbourhood online store

Playstation VR
DEVELOPER: Sony
USP: With ten light sensors
to track movement, a
100-degree eld of view
and ten pre-launched
games, this is just the
makeover your PS4 needs.

DECEMBER 2015

81

TECH

Gear VR
DEVELOPER: Samsung & Oculus
USP: Lighter, half the price of
the Rift, and can connect to all
Samsung smart devices launched
in 2015. (Sorry, Apple, they got
here rst.)

Vive
DEVELOPER: HTC
USP: Comes with
two wall-mountable
sensors which
protect you from
bumping into solid
surfaces as you
chase zombies
around the room.

Glyph
DEVELOPER: Avegant
USP: Headphones
and goggles rolled
into one that can
be plugged into just
about any device. The
sound quality is a win.
See ya around, Beats.

Oculus Rift

WORDS: NIDHI GUPTA. IMAGE: GETTY IMAGES

DEVELOPER: Facebook &

Oculus VR
USP: Presence, immersiveness
and developer content like
the Street View app or the game
Bullet Train. Mark Zuckerbergs
poured $2 billion into its
development, so you can count
on it to blow your mind.

82

DECEMBER 2015

BOOKS

READ RINSE REPEAT

Make space on your shelves: GQs literary haul from 2015
will make a bookworm out of you yet

GENRE: Economics
PUBLISHER: Vintage Random House India.
If youre half the worldly-wise gentleman you
think you are, youre already familiar with
Mihir Sharmas incisive column in The Business
Standard, and the simplicity with which he
argues for a better world. In Restart, he tells
you how to pull the domestic economy out of its
funk, rotting in its own mess thanks to a national
passion for under-capacity: Just go back to the
drawing board. Plus, he knows how to pull a
punchline. Who doesnt like an argumentative
Indian with a sense of humour?

GENRE:
True crime
PUBLISHER:
Penguin.
The Aarushi-Hemraj
case is closed, the
Talvars in prison
but you still cant
shake that voice in
your head saying
somethings not
right. Journalist
Avirook Sens own
investigation into
this politically
motivated carnival
of the CBI, judiciary
and a trigger-happy
media wont bring
closure, but hes
exacting about the
facts. It all comes
together in this
damning indictment
of a system gone to
the dogs.

86

DECEMBER 2015

GENRE: Crime Fiction

PUBLISHER: Hodder & Stoughton.
King won the Edgar prize, Americas
top award for crime-writing, earlier
this year for Mr Mercedes. Thats only
one reason you must sample the sequel.
In this one, youll find rabid fans, a
murdered author, and Detective Bill
Hodges hot on the trail. Kings simple
prose might make you think its easy to
drum up crime fiction. It isnt.

GENRE: History
PUBLISHER: Harper Collins India.
Lessons in history arent always saturnine, sleepy affairs, like
school taught you. Case in point: Raghu Karnads trip along the
blasted memory lanes of World War II, through the stories of
three relatives (granduncles) whod enlisted in the British army
in the Forties. In the process, he also calls out the selective
amnesia involved in the making of a nation. This is Social
Studies gone cool.

WORDS: NIDHI GUPTA.

GENRE: Love &

relationships
PUBLISHER: Penguin.
Comedian Aziz
Ansari may have
played a hopeless
romantic in Parks
And Recreation, but
in life, hes a realist. In
his first book, written
with sociologist
Eric Klinenberg, he
muses on how love,
and the process of
finding and sustaining
a relationship, has
changed in the digital
age. Hes dating a
stunner of a pastry
chef, whom he met
through mutual friends,
so maybe you should
recuse yourself from
Tinder for a bit and listen
to what he has to say.

GENRE: Science ction

PUBLISHER: Bloomsbury.
Theres a reason Ms Atwood,
the reigning queen of storytelling, prefers to classify
her novels, usually featuring
futuristic dystopian worlds,
as speculative fiction. When
you read her latest, about a
society on the brink of economic
collapse, with sex bots trapped in
Foucaultian prisons and doling
out questionable drugs, youll
know why: This is a hell youve
already checked into, and cant
check out of.

GENRE:
Autobiography
PUBLISHER:
Penguin Random
House.
This leather-clad
man astride the
vintage BMW
bike on the cover
was Oliver Sacks,
among the greatest
neurologists and
writers of our time.
In this, his last book,
he talks candidly
of boarding school
bullying, gives us
a peek into Fifties
biker society, and
provides treatises on
body-building all
experiences that
paved the way for his
empathetic approach
to the sciences.
Read for a dose of
humanism.

FILM

TARANTINO
REDUX
The Hateful Eight is out this
month, and you couldnt have
asked for a better Christmas gift.
Rest assured: It will come up
at dinner, so you need to know
what a Tarantino lm is made of.
Heres the cheatsheet

GENRE: Graphic Novel

PUBLISHER: Vertigo Comics.
British author and all-around
genius Neil Gaiman needs no
introduction. Nor does his
Sandman series, a collection
coveted as much as, if not
more than, Lord Of The Rings
and Game Of Thrones. In
this, the sixth edition, also
the final comic in the prequel
to the Sandman saga, theres
scintillating artwork by JH
Williams III, and a chance
for Dream to redeem himself.
Superheroes be damned.

THE BLOODBATH

Think the car scene in Pulp Fiction, The Bride

vs Gogo in Kill Bill Vol 1, the shootout in Django
Unchained: Basically, if youre a character in a
Tarantino film, theres very little chance youll
come out of it alive. Now imagine the possibilities
when theres eight of these nuts cooped up in an
isolated mansion.

THE CAMERA ANGLES

SAMUEL L JACKSON

When basically everyones going to die,

youre kind of left with no option but to show
what the dead are seeing. Remember Sofia Fatale
(Kill Bill) and Marvin Nash (Reservoir Dogs)
gazing helplessly up at their assassins? And when
so many humans have sinned, there must be a
judgmental god looking down upon his wayward
children: like when Jackie Brown was stuffing
stolen money down an airport toilet.

If you spot this actor drawling street wisdom,

brandishing guns and narrowing his eyes one too
many times, you know Tarantinos involved. And
if Kurt Russell is lurking in the background, you
can bet your lunch money on it.

DECEMBER 2015

87

THE BALVENIE
AND THE
CURIOUS CASE
OF THE DOG

Rich and luxurious, The Balvenie with its handcrafted perfection

and honeyed character is one of Scotlands best-kept secrets.
Allow us to take you back in time and reveal a few of them

he Balvenie is truly
one-of-a-kind. The secret
to its unique and exquisite
avour lies in the fact that
it is handcrafted at every stage of its
production. The way the barley is
sown in its 1,000-acre farm, the
manner in which the grain is steeped
in spring water and then dried with
peat and anthracite, the sweetening
of the stills with juniper and the
process of toasting the casks all
of it is done by hand under the
supervision of a malt master. But
as a connoisseur, you probably
know that.
What you may not know is that
for well over a hundred years The
Balvenie has been served and
savoured in a mysterious way. Allow
us to introduce you to The Balvanie
Dipping Dog a secret that was once
conned within the four walls of
the distillery.
In the early 1900s, Dipping Dogs
were often used by distillery workers

whod help themselves to the

delicious dram that was left to age
in casks. Made from a copper tube
and suspended from the workers
belt, this curious vessel always hung
by the sides of these men. And much
like a dog mans best friend it was
always on a leash. But behind the
excise mans back these vessels
were dipped into the casks and lled
with liquid gold. We dont blame

them. The Balvenie, after all, is

extremely irresistible.
Today, while stringent measures
are used in the distillery to ensure
that there are no dogs on the
premises, there are still several
places that use The Balvenie Dipping
Dog to serve you. For instance, The
Connaught in London or The Four
Seasons in Hampshire promise you
a barking good time.

MUSIC

F THE HOOK

December is a time of many things: Bonuses, resolutions and the sickest

parties. With four destination dance festivals jostling for your attention
(and cash) by lining up these world-renowned beatmakers, youd better
get cracking on those excuses for going MIA

Ratatat
Whats a 14-year-old rocktronica band
from Brooklyn that youve probably
never heard of doing on this list of dance
music giants? Just sample Mike Stroud
and Evan Masts latest album, the supergroovy Magnique. Like modern-day
pied pipers, they played the super-dope
Cream On Chrome off it at Coachella and
got a stadium-sized audience moving like
you would to a Bollywood item number.
And if youre still not convinced, jog your
memory for Kid Cudis The Pursuit Of
Happiness to understand the kind of
danceoor magic these guys can make.

Hardwell
Perhaps Robbert van de Corputs best talent (even better than
the beats he drops) is knowing how to raise the bar. While
others in his tribe are busy ascending charts, hes putting out
charity gigs for his foundation United We Are! and trying to
break the world record his own, mostly for the biggest
guest list. Everyones invited; but if all this nice-guy business
isnt what youd expect out of your favourite badass DJ,
theres opener Vir Das to balance things out.

The United We Are: India gig will take place in Mumbai on

December 13

90

DECEMBER 2015

WORDS: NIDHI GUPTA. IMAGE: GETTY IMAGES

Also playing at Magnetic Fields

(December 18-20) will be HVOB, DJ
Objekt, DJ Koze and Shigeto

HO N O UR

stefanoricci.com

POWE R

PR ID E

MUSIC

Martin Garrix
EDMs wunderkind has had a great 2015. He brought his
A-game to Ultra Miami, has been hanging out with Justin
Bieber (#millennials), and dethroned Hardwell to become
the worlds No 1 DJ (as per DJ Mag, the, uh, authority on the
subject). Too much to achieve at 19, you say? A 14-year-old
DJ called Diego debuted at Amsterdam Dance Event this year,
so best catch Garrix while hes still relevant.

Sunburn Festival (December 27-30) also has

David Guetta as headliner

Disclosure
If you havent latched on yet, you should know that the
Lawrence brothers (Harold and Guy) are the men of the moment.
Between dropping Caracal (a cracker of an album), hanging out
with James Bonds main man Sam Smith and throwing postGrammys house parties and hosting everyone from Taylor Swift
to Mark Ronson, theyve found the time to tour the world and
actually play behind the console, not just pose prophet-like.
Trust the Brits to keep it classy.

VH1 Supersonic (December 27-30) also has Deorro, Zeds Dead and
a stage curated by The Awakening on the line-up

Tisto
If there were such a thing as the godfather of EDM, you could call
him Tisto. The worlds richest, biggest DJs including Garrix and
Hardwell turn into panicky schoolboys when hes around. Everyone
wants to be on his label Black Hole Recordings, and his mentor status
is also cemented by the fact that hes hunting for Americas next top
DJ on a lame reality show. And hes the only one who can pull it all
off because, as he himself says, Tistos superpower is Tisto. Cant
argue with that.

THE RHYME BOT

I love it when
its sunny
Sonny girl you
could be my
Cher,
Im in a love
affair I cant
share it aint
fair,
Haha Im just
playin ladies
you know I
love you.
I know my love
is true and I
know you love
me too....

92

DECEMBER 2015

minem may be a (self-proclaimed) rap

god, but DeepBeat is a rap bot. An
algorithm developed by AI researches
at Aalto University in Finland, it can
generate lyrics by mining a cache of
583,669 lines from 10,980 songs
and combining them into new
forms. It was a challenge for it to
detect rhymes, as English is not phonetic,
says lead researcher Eric Malmi. We gave
it a phonetic transcript of the lyrics.
Malmi created modes to teach DeepBeat
how to pick the most relevant next line,
by analyzing structure and keywords. Its

raps have 21 per cent more rhymes than

the highest-ranked rapper Malmi spotted
Inspectah Deck.
But although the algorithm achieved
great accuracy it can tell a songs next
line from a random one in 82 per cent of
the cases its songs wont win Grammys.
Malmi is focused on helping it write more
coherent songs. It could improve lyrics
and rhymes, but building storylines will
still be for artists, he says. Short of a rap
singularity, rappers wont be put out of
business.
Find out more at mining4meaning.com

WORDS: NIDHI GUPTA, GIAN VOLPICELLI. IMAGE: CORBIS, GETTY IMAGES, SHUTTERSTOCK

The line-up for Enchanted Valley Carnival (December 18-20) also

includes Fatboy Slim, Ferry Corsten, Oliver Heldens, Alex M.O.R.P.H.
and Shpongle

MUSIC

Giorgio Moroder
Giorgio Moroders philosophy might be summed up as Go big or go
home. The Italian innovator and hitmaker seized the zeitgeist for a
whole decade before effectively retiring in the late Eighties. He had
already achieved enough for a lifetime. Moroder found success in his
late 30s with the mechanized disco juggernauts he made with Donna
Summer, including the deathless I Feel Love. Moving on from disco
before the bubble burst, he brought synthesizers to the multiplex
with his scores for Midnight Express (for which he won the rst of his
three Oscars) and Scarface. He produced and co-wrote hits for Sparks,
Japan and David Bowie, while pushing blockbuster soundtracks into
the Eighties. Blondies Call Me, Berlins Take My Breath Away, Irene
Caras Flashdance... What A Feeling: all Moroders work.
He achieved all this while living in a Beverly Hills mansion and
wooing actresses at LA hotspots. As soon as he got bored he
disappeared into the life of a jet-set dilettante, so thank Daft Punk
for reigniting his love of music with their audio biography, Giorgio
By Moroder, from their 2013 album Random Access Memories.
On this years comeback album, Dj Vu, featuring Kylie, Britney
and Sia, the 75-year-olds pop instincts are undimmed, while his
inuence can be heard everywhere from EDM clubs to the Drive
soundtrack. Its funny to read the papers now, he said recently. Its
almost like I invented music. He invented more than most.

WORDS: DORIAN LYNSKEY. IMAGE: GETTY IMAGES, CORBIS

The line-up for Johnnie Walker: The Journey 2015 (December 12) also
includes Tycho and Explosions in the Sky

Moroder back
in the day at
his Beverly
Hills mansion

94

DECEMBER 2015

TO BREAK IN SINGAPORE
Vir Das takes you around Singapore, breaking one resolution at a time...

#1

STICK TO THE
SPEED LIMIT
(Screw that. Floor the
accelerator!)
When you have an F1
circuit and a eet of
supercars at your disposal,
why would you drive like
your grandpa? Vir gets
his need-for-speed x
with the Ultimate Drive
experience 60 minutes
in a Lamborghini Gallardo,
hightailing the circuit like
a boss.

#2

SAVE FOR A RAINY

DAY (Seriously, in
Singapore?)
Shopping is Singapores
unofcial national sport.
How could you not shop? It's
got the best luxury malls, top
luxury designer brands, coolest
high-street labels and more.
From Orchard Road to Haji Lane,
VivoCity (Singapores largest mall)
to the Shoppes at Marina Bay
Sands hotel, Vir goes ahead and
happily breaks the bank.

PHOTOGRAPHER: ARJUN MARK; STYLIST: TANYA VOHRA; HAIR & MAKE-UP: SHIMSHA SHETTY;
VIRS TRIP WAS SUPPORTED BY THE SINGAPORE TOURISM BOARD AND THE CHIANGI AIRPORT GROUP

NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS

SHAVE IT OFF YOURSELF

(Nah, get it DONE by the experts)
Do it yourself is so last year. And lets face it, men like
getting pampered too. Thats why Vir Das wasted no time in
booking his appointment at Sultans of Shave. Facial scrub,
pre-shave oil, hot towel pat down, the shave, cold towel pat
down, post-shave balm, moisturizer time to feel like a king.

#4
GO ON A NO-MEAT DIET
(Who you kidding, sink
your teeth in it)
The rst thing on Virs list of
things to do in the New Year
is to have a kick-ass meal
at BoCHINche. Perfect for
someone with a voracious
appetite, the Lomo Beef
Fillet, Braised Lamb Shoulder,
Chimichurri Steak Burger and
Iberico Pork chops are the
dishes to demolish. Get busy.

#5
DONT GET DRUNK
(Get Purple Drank instead)
Vir Das makes it look easy at
Singapores Tippling Club, with its
super-cool, ultra-progressive and
experimental cocktails. Down the
Purple Drank, which may look
like cough syrup in a medicine
bottle, but will take you from
sober to happy in seconds.

SPORTS

E
V
R
E
S
G
I
B
E
TH

with football
nything associated
ped-out SUVs,
or footballers pim
nsive watches,
pe
ex
on
s
garish bezel
uritius is about
honeymoons to Ma
ng water on
ldi
sca
ng
as desirable as pouri
things in
me
-so
20
s,
Ye
.
rts
your private pa
ngover on
hu
de
-si
five-a
Andheri might play
ironically,
so
do
y
the
t
bu
ng
a Saturday morni
Sehgal.
ba
Ba
e
lik
y
y the
much in the same wa
quota is
ol
co
s
ort
sp
a
t
tha
GQs theory is
l to the chicness of its
directly proportiona
ial
ll shirts are the sartor
tba
allotted kit, and foo
er
ev
s
ha
e
on
e ie, no
equivalent of a onesi
.
not evenHarry Styles
e,
on
in
od
go
d
ke
loo
ti
na
mi
illu
the fashion
Perhaps this is why
ur
eeditor Anna Winto
gu
Vo
US
ing
lud
inc
.
loves tennis so much
d
ure of tennis is helpe
all
ble
na
hio
fas
The
th
bo
es,
smatic flourish
by allowing for chari
style and the outfits.
g
yin
pla
to
s
in regard
s
er sport that has thi
oth
Theres virtually no
u
yo
ch
mu
t
no
s
e? There
duality. Formula On
inting
pa
m
fro
de
asi
et
lm
can do to a racing he
adding some eyes
it bright yellow and
d
fact that golf manage
right,Lewis? And the
car
a
ble
rlake resem
to make Justin Timbe
its
eaks volumes about
sp
an
esm
sal
e
nc
insura
kishness.
indescribable twon
basketball, however,
or
ll
tba
foo
e
Unlik
their cool credentials
rn
ea
in which players
,
s produced, on court
off the field, tennis ha
es ever
let
ath
le
ma
lish
sty
some of the most
e,
derers preppy finess
applauded (Roger Fe
,
sm
mi
for
on
n-c
no
Nick Kyrgios needy

98

DECEMBER 2015

re
tband and death sta
even Djokovics swea
time
all
of
st
ate
gre
the
combo). Perhaps
o during the early
is Andre Agassi, wh
know his rebel status
e
on
Nineties let every
nts
ashed denim hot pa
by twinning stone-w
a
g
din
ad
ile
wh
s,
ort
with pink cycling sh
hair
to straggly peroxide
long pirate earring
ith
Ke
the
s
wa
He
g).
wi
(since revealed as a
91 he
and, in fact, until 19
Richardsof the court
strict
its
to
e
du
on
led
mb
refused to play atWi
de.
all white dress co
ch potential for
However, with so mu
be players who
s
ay
alw
ll
wins, there wi
t
le stakes (paging Pa
double fault in the sty
s French
wa
it
ar,
ye
is
Th
).
Cashs headband
wrinka, who despite
Open winner Stan Wa
got hammered on
vic
ko
beating Novak Djo
#dadshorts.
social media for his
ce, Wawrinka
At the press conferen
ng them in front
hu
d
an
s
ort
sh
unrolled the
in the museum
be
ll
wi
of the press. They
ed. You will
gh
lau
he

os,
of Roland-Garr
u want. I quite
yo
if
day
see my shorts every
only one...
the
am
I
tly
ren
like them. Appa
give a pair
to
sed
promi
Wawrinka has since
when his
fan
a
to
s
ort
sh
ly
of his famously fug
of going
as

00
0,0
ches 50
Twitter following rea
ms no
see
it
t
bu
,
00
5,0
52
to press he was on
. If
to claim their reward
ones come forward
s have
fan
nis
ten
t
tha
ed
ed
more proof were ne
sense, its this.
the sharpest fashion
2015 begins
mier Tennis League
The International Pre
December 2

WORDS: JONATHAN HEAF. IMAGE: GETTY IMAGES, REX FEATURES

ort
the most stylish sp
GQ declares tennis
,
ing
nd
sta
ith
tw
no
dad shorts
Stanislas Wawrinkas

BOSCHMANN

PAUL PALAU

BE THERE!
DO THAT!

A French Serenade

The Great Outdoors

PHOTO SOURCE ARTVENTURES

France has something for every kind

of traveller bespoke experiences
that cater to solo vacationers,
supersized families, adventure buffs,
wine connoisseurs, travellers looking
for unparalleled luxury and romantic
escapades. When in France, you cant
go wrong. From the chateaux of the
Loire to wine trails in Champagne,
from picturesque Chamonix MontBlanc and the glamorous Riviera to
the offbeat locales of Carcassonne and
the Midi Pyrnes every destination
has something unique to offer.

ATOUT FRANCE LONARD DE SERRES

BESPOKE
FRENCH
EXPERIENCES

Fun with the Family

ATOUT FRANCE ROBERT PALOMBA

To craft your Be There! Do That!

bespoke holiday to France, call
Mercury Travels at
Mumbai: 022 6615 3477-82
New Delhi: 011 4518 6121/11/08/00
Bangalore: 080 4241 3005/06/00
Chennai: 044 2852 2995/2840 or
email outbound@mercurytravels.in or
log on to www.mercurytravels.co.in

Spirited Encounters

Exquisite Indulgences

The Great Outdoors:

Take hot air balloon rides over the
verdant vineyards of the Loire Valley,
Champagne and Burgundy or go golng
in Chamonix Mont-Blanc or Evian. Hike
through Lourdes in the Midi-Pyrnes
or head to Pau in Aquitaine for tandem
paragliding. White water rafting awaits
you in the Gorges du Verdon area in
Provence. Finally, visit one of Frances
stunning beaches like Biarritz, Cannes
or St Tropez for some surf and sail.

A French Serenade:
Plan an amorous getaway in the City
of Lights Paris or woo your special
someone with walks on the beach in
decadent Deauville or La Baule or on a
leisurely cruise down the Canal du Midi
in Carcassonne. Picturesque Annecy in
the Rhne-Alpes invites you for an
intimate retreat while quaint villages
of the South provide glimpses of the
easy-going Mediterranean way of life!

YOUR
FRENCH
HOLIDAY,
YOUR
WAY.
Romantic Escapades (10 N/11 D):
Champagne, Paris with trips to Giverny
and Versailles, Annecy, Chamonix MontBlanc with helicopter ride.
France for the Family (11 N/12 D):
Carcassonne, Toulouse, Paris with
Disneyland, La Baule with trip to Nantes
and cruise across Saint Nazaire or a visit
of Gurande.

Exquisite Indulgences:
Live like royals in any of Pariss Palace
Hotels with retail therapy indulgences in
upscale Parisian neighbourhoods. Enjoy
elegant escapades in chic Megve or
Chamonix nestled in the French Alpes or
enjoy the charmed life of the rich and
famous at the glamorous seaside resorts
of Nice, Cannes, St Tropez and Biarritz.
Raise a toast to your French sojourn in
the wine-growing regions of Burgundy,
the Loire Valley or Champagne.

Fun with the Family:

Start your fam-cation with the
Chocolate Museum in Paris or pose with
your favourite celebrities at the Grvin
Wax Museum. Go to Angers for
a medieval encounter at Le Puy du Fou
one of Frances most famous theme
parks or enjoy a bit of Sci- in Nantes.
Enjoy an outing at the Aeroscopia
aviation museum or spatial encounters
at the Cit de l Espace in Toulouse in
the Midi Pyrnes.

Indulgence A La Francaise (7 N/8 D):

Drive through the French Riviera in a
Ferrari or Lamborghini Gallardo, Nice
with full day trips to Monaco, Monte
Carlo and Eze, Cannes with boat tour
and trip to Cote dAzur, Saint Tropez and
Port Grimaud.
Adventure in France (9 N/10 D): Covering
Chamonix Mont-Blanc with helicopter
ride & Skywalk, excursion to Mer de
Glace, Aiguille du Midi by cable car. Visit
Lyon, drive through the French Riviera,
Nice, St. Tropez & Port Grimaud with
trips to Monaco, Monte Carlo and Eze.
Intoxicating France (9 N/10 D): Follow the
wine trail in Bordeaux, drive along the
Chateaux Route of the Medoc region,
visit St. Emilion & Cognac. Paris with
Crazy Horse Cabaret, trip to Champagne,
Loire Valley, Burgundy. Strasbourg with
Obernai Morning Tour & a gourmet meal
with wine at the Kammerzell Restaurant.

France with Mercury Travels:

Soar above lush vineyards on a hot air
balloon, swoop down on a magnicent
chateaux on an exhilarating helicopter
ride. Explore the city of love, Paris, on
a magical moonlight cruise. Wander its
charming boulevards, feel time stand
still at the Louvre. Shop to your hearts
content at the Galeries Lafayette.
France with Mercury Travels.
Nobody takes you closer.

Spirited Encounters:
Visit Bordeaux-Aquitaine for some of
the best reds and the Loire valley and
Alsace for its white wine. Savour the
fruity Chablis of Burgundy or the
summery ros of Provence and the
Ctes du Rhne of the Rhne-Alpes.
Dont miss the bohemian Montmartre
district for an encounter with an
authentic Parisian vineyard or raise a
toast in Champagne Ardenne.

To book your Be There! Do That! bespoke

holiday to France, call 1800 266 2345 or
email outbound@mercurytravels.in

EDITED B Y MEG H A SH A H

THE

POWER

AGONY UNCLE: SUHEL SETH | HOW TO BEHAVE IN A LUXURY NIGHT CLUB

TA B L E S

THE OLIVE TWIST

How a white-washed Mediterranean bar launched in a sleepy suburb 15 years
ago kickstarted Mumbais nightlife scene as we know it today

IMAGE: FOTOCORP (CELEBS)

Written by Megha Shah

y 11.30am on a Friday morning, AD Singh has already begun club hopping of another kind. The first
few hours of his day were spent, unrushed, at the Bombay Gym, bumping into socialites and couples
with old money sipping power juices by the pool. He then arrived at Mumbais oldest and swishest club,
Breach Candy Swimming Bath Trust, where hes chosen to have breakfast while waiting for me, at his
favourite table on the first floor, overlooking the large India-shaped pool where a lone, white lady is
taking leisurely laps.
The 53-year-old Cathedral and John Connon School alumnus lives the life his brand promises. And
its an omnipresent brand. After 25 restaurants, several beaming Page 3 images portraying his bonhomie
with celebrities, some shrewd PR moves and many rapturous press releases, Singh is the citys oldest, most recognizable
hospitality face. The jewel of his empire Olive Bar & Kitchen turned 15 this year, and with it so did the citys modern nightlife
scene as we know it.

FOOD

Family guy Kabir

with Pooja Bedi

102

DECEMBER 2015

The party-loving Nawab with a friend in an earlier era

THE
BOLLYWOOD
CROWD
FINALLY
HAD A PLACE
CLOSER
TO HOME,
MODELS
COULD COME
TO NETWORK
AND
AFFLUENT
YOUNG
PEOPLE
COULD
EXPLOIT
THEIR
NEWFOUND
FREEDOMS

years of relentless smiling, even scored herself a

movie with Rahul Bose. Speak to a member and
he will have many stories to tell: like how many
VIPs have (almost) fallen into the fish pond near
the entrance (three movie stars, a world leader
and a Miss India), or how Salman once grabbed
a not-yet-famous Ranbir Kapoor and threatened
to throw him in over a misunderstanding.

efore spots like

Olive began to make
Bandra
cool, it was just
another Mumbai
suburb.And even
though things had
begun changing in
the Nineties in India with a newly liberalized
budding economy, where the right to party
had become a badge of upward mobility,
there were no real nightspots outside of South
Mumbai. As the millennium ticked to an end
and Y2K became everybodys obsession,
Singh opened a thus-far-unknown hybrid:
a restaurant where the bar was given more
prominence, in a neighbourhood mostly
untouched by the cool kids. And it worked.
The Bollywood crowd finally had a place
closer to home, where it was cool to be seen
and where models and starlets could come
to network, and affluent young people could
exploit their newfound freedoms until the

IMAGE: OLIVE (SAIF), FOTOCORP (KABIR)

sk any paparazzo and

his most frequented
restaurant of the last
decade will undoubtedly
be Olive in Khar. He may
not be conversant with its
white, candlelit interiors
or the Mediterranean
pebbles underfoot, or theset of bathrooms at the
back of the venue that allow everyone to check each
other out en route, but the distressed blue wooden
doors will be all too familiar. He will have, after all,
lit many a cigarette outside, waiting for the celebrity
he was tipped off about to pull up in their car,
hopefully with a date or, better yet, drunk.
It has always been a Disneyland for celebrity
gawkers, the sort of place where Should I get a
Caesar salad? is easily misheard as Is that Saif?
The venue has even witnessed possibly the most
famous Bollywood fight between a drunk Shah
Rukh and Salman Khan at a distraught Katrina
Kaifs birthday party a fight that spectators claim
threatened to get physical if Gauri Khan hadnt
pulled her husband away and out the doors (into
a camera-ready paparazzi cloud), leading Aamir
Khan to calm the abusive Salman down and force a
(temporary) truce between the two the next day.
At the Breach Candy Club, cutting a fluffy
omelette with his knife and toppling it onto a
piece of toast, Singh says, Its been a challenge to
select the correct staff. At a place like Olive, its as
much about knowing the right wine or placing the
napkin correctly as it is about being able manage
celebrities. We once had a Front Of House manager
who turned away Manish Malhotra, whod come
with Urmila Matondkar on one arm and Karisma
Kapoor on the other. That was a disaster.
The staff have been trained to remain
nonplussed with displays of celebrity, yet are able
to soothe a ruffled ego with a flick of a napkin and
the flourish of a menu. The hostess, Genelia, after

FOOD

Once upon a
Bollywood scandal..

found that in the US, there were places that had

different owners in the day and different owners
at night. So I started the nocturnal Just Desserts
in 1990 (in partnership with Rahul Akerkar). I
realized we needed something with jazz music in
Mumbai and started Jazz By The Bay.

104

DECEMBER 2015

Always a ladies man: Suhel Seth with Feroze Gujral and Mitali Kakkar

IMAGE: OLIVE (SUHEL), FOTOCORP (RANBIR)

wee hours. It extended the geographical scope of

the citys party scene and heralded a new age of
Page 3 imagery and the see and be seen culture.
The restaurant biz has the highest failure rate,
and in the industry we believe the three-year mark to
be the danger zone. And sure enough by 2003, sales
at Olive were dipping, Singh pauses dramatically.
So we organized the biggest Italian festival the
city had ever seen by tying up with the Italian
Chamber of Commerce. There were chefs flying in
from Europe and the food and wine being served
surpassed the standards of what was available out
there. And soon Mumbai had a crowd that knew
and ordered foods like Parma ham, crab, scallops
and foie gras.
Singh and his team kept the innovations coming,
reflecting the changing attitudes of the city. When
Kala Ghoda found itself at the centre of the citys
art boom, Olive organized art events; when wine
became trendy, it organized wine appreciation
classes. The concept of special nights caught
on like wildfire. There were French nights and
Moroccan nights. There were jazz nights and the
famous Thursday nights when the city partied hard
till late, pushing through sweltering crowds to
reach the bar, dancing to the beats of a DJ.
But then, Singhs forte has always been ideating
concepts that appeal to an upmarket crowd. In
the late Eighties after throwing a smashing boat
party for his sister, the former electrical engineer
started Party Lines, which went on to become one
of Mumbais most successful event organizing
companies. He tapped into international ideas: I

ut a decade after it
opened, Olives standards
were going down. Bar
receipts were keeping it
afloat while the number
of diners kept dwindling.
The prices were high, the
food was sub-par and the
menu was in dire need of a makeover.
Singh began to bring young talented chefs
into his fold, notably a graduate of the New
York branch of the Culinary Institute of America
who spent three-and-a-half years in the early
Noughties apprenticing under Michelin-starred
chefs in restaurants such as Jean Georges and
Le Bernardin. Manu Chandra brought down
the prices, put systems into the kitchen and
began experimenting with the menu to give the
restaurant a boost.
Today, with a host of food-focused spots
opening in quick succession around Mumbai,
Olive is still more bar than kitchen. And the party
institution continues to attract loyalists. On Bar
Nights held every Thursday, the glitterati still
gathers inside, swaying to an infectious playlist.
The mood is still celebratory, the crowd mostly
young, attractive and eager to connect. The
white-washed walls hint at a better time. A time
of questionable fashion but genuine fervour. A
time when all the Khans of Bollywood still partied
together. A time when you knew that being here
made you cool as hell.

`200

.
.
.
.
.

RELATIONSHIPS
STYLE
ENTERTAINMENT
TRAVEL
GROOMING

GROOM
OF THE YEAR,
SHAHID KAPOOR
BREAKS IT
DOWN

SHAHID KAPOOR
PHOTOGRAPHED BY
ERRIKOS ANDREOU

THE SMART
MAN'S GUIDE TO
THE BIG INDIAN
WEDDING
H OW T O B R I N G I N
YO U R B I G DAY W I T H S T Y L E
Giving you the complete wedding
lowdown, from relationship rules and style
to dos, to grooming advice, travel checklists
and entertainment tips. GQ shows you how
to rock the wedding season like a pro.

ON
STANDS
NOW

Gqindia.com

@gqindia

facebook.com/gqindia

CULTURE

November 4,

2015

A rv ind,
Sadly, the Ch
addhas and Ta
ndons have
in fi ltrated ev
er y pa rt of In
dia. Even Bhu
ha s been inva
ta n
ded by the K
apurs and th
A rora s. But yo
e
u m ig ht w ish
to tr y places
do not serve
that
alcohol and ha
ve a perman
ba n on Ta ndoo
en
t
ri Ch icken an
d Bla ck Dog.
wou ld leave yo
Th
at
u w ith fa r-flun
g places such
Bekal or Su ra
as
t. For recent
events, Dad ri
sa fe bet. If al
is a
l that fa ils, th
en wander al
to Kanya ku m
on g
ar i and bu ild
your abode on
upcom in g R am
the
Setu, wh ich w
il l con nect In
to Sr i La n ka
dia
. But then no
ne of your fr ie
ag ree to visit
nds w il l
and you won
t be able to sh
your 6-bedroo
ow of f
m moder n ist
bu n ga low an
hostin g capa
d your
bi lities, wh ic
h is the whole
havi n g a seco
point of
nd home in th
e fi rst place.

says...
Have an unlettered girlfriend? Afraid your
son will remain bereft of an appropriately
snobbish education? Is your life in meltdown?
Suhel Seth rides to your emotional rescue

November 12, 2015

Va sudev,

SHARE your
questions
for Suhel at:
GQadvice@
condenast.in

d an apostrophe in the
The fact that you use
for
timony to your flair
word havent is a tes
ial
soc
in
e
ess
fin
r
and you
the English language
r
you
d
ose
exp
e
ld hav
skills. Only if you cou
es of Wren & Martin
girlfriend to the vagari
ets. I suggest you let
instead of satin bed she
,
r grammar offends you
her know that her poo
r
you
of
one
er
oth
of an
which will take care
traception. Once she
responsibilities con
t
e you to find your nex
urg
uld
leaves you, I wo
.
nch
lau
k
boo
next
girl at Shashi Tharoors
gman. We cant let
win
y
pla
to
him
ask
Maybe
of an apostrophe,
e
aus
bec
catastrophe strike
yet again.

108

DECEMBER 2015

ILLUSTRATION: ARUN JAITAPKAR

November 20, 2015

Jinesh,
It is far easier to lie. And quicker
too. Not to mention less expensive.
You might want to call yourself a
heritage conservationist, given that
you help place borders on saris. You
could also call yourself a Keeper of
Borders and everyone will thank
you for the little conflagrations we
win along the border of Pakistan. I
could actually do a huge brand repositioning for you if you promise
me a lifetime supply of borders for
free along with the numbers of a few
of your prettiest clients. Till then,
heres a silent prayer for your brat.

CULTURE

HOW TO

get into

BEST
CLUBS

THE

WORDS: MARK ANTHONY GREEN. PHOTO: TAGHI NADERZAD (EUGENE & MARK). GROOMING: BENJAMIN THIGPEN/ABTP. PROPS: CLAIRE TEDALDI/HALLEY RESOURCES. IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK (COUPLE)

(and maybe even leave

with the prettiest date)

Club-going is a glossy oontz-oontz

mineeld, especially when travelling
abroad: What to wear? Who to bring? Does
bottle service make me look douchey? (Not
entirely.) The duo behind every Hollywood
stars favourite New York late-night party
spill secrets on how to run the room

START WITH
THE TIP

ith any club worth its velvet

rope, getting in means
getting past a guy at the
door. And if you do, many splendours
await, as long as you play your cards
right: On a good night, guys like Leo
and Jay-Z are living large while staring
out at a sea of stunning women. If
only Eugene Remm (in the blue suit)
and Mark Birnbaum, the two thirtysomething late-night magnates who
opened Catch which spreads to LA,
Mexico City and Dubai this year
could usher you through, you wouldnt
have to worry. So heres the next best
thing: their game plan for winning
over the bartender, owning the room
and maybe even getting her number
(assuming Leo doesnt ask for it first).

MARK: Always
open a tab. Tell
the guy youre
going to be
buying drinks
from him all night
long. And its not
a bad idea to tip
at the beginning
of the night. That
way, when things
get crowded,
hell be looking
to take care of
you because you
already took care
of him.

SAY NO TO
SPARKLERS
EUGENE: If
youre doing
bottle service,
less is more.
Pay for the real
estate so youre

comfortable, but
dont overdo it.
MARK: Youll
probably get more
respect by not being
that guy who buys
stuff for no apparent
reason.

NOTHING MONEY
CANT FIX
MARK: Any problem
you have, like
getting in or getting
a table, can usually
be solved with
`1,000 5,000,
depending on where
youre going. Just
dont be rude about
the handoff.

YOU CAN BRING A

WINGLADY...
MARK: Always come
with a pretty girl. Its
the easiest way to
get in.

THE SMOOTHER
MOVE

EUGENE: Ive noticed

its also the easiest
way to get the
attention of all the
women inside. And
of everyone who
works there, too.

... BUT LEAVE

THE WINGTIPS
BEHIND
EUGENE: The best
style accessory you
can wear on a night
out is a great haircut.
Shirts, jackets
whatever can be
overlooked. But a
great haircut is the
smartest investment
a man can make.
MARK: And high-end
sneakers!

EUGENE: Offer to
buy her a drink. If
she accepts, you
have 20 minutes,
max, to get her to
see something.
MARK: And if shes
with a guy and
youre not sure
what their deal
is, mouth over:
Boyfriend? If she
says no, you know
shes interested.
If she says yes,
whether its true or
not, you saved some
embarrassment.

DECEMBER 2015

115

Well, what do you want to know?

Shes Victorias Secret Swede, but
its her mothers Indian genes
thatve toned her face to that
beautiful shade of brown. Stretch
that tight over everything else
shes got going on and youre
approaching hottest-woman-onEarth territory, which makes our
job easy because theres really
no other choice to lead into our
50 Best list this year. Next year,
how will we top hlets not think
about next year just yet.

118

DECEMBER 2015

KELLY GALE: PHOTO: TODD BARRY; STYLING: KELLY HUME; HAIR: MARCO SANTINI; MAKE-UP: SOUHI

KELLY GALE

THE

IN THE

Its been a good year for things in general, but these ones here, these are the best
EDITED BY DAVE BESSELING

DEEPFLIGHT DRAGON

San Franciscos top marine engineering firm DeepFlight, which has

been specializing in personal submarines for nearly 50 years think
Richard Branson, James Bond has created its masterpiece. The Dragon is a $1.5
million quadcopter that looks a little like a Formula 1 car, and is designed to dive to
400 feet. Should the power of its all-electric engine fail, itll simply float back to the
surface thanks to a positive buoyancy feature something Bond may interpret a little
differently than Branson.

DECEMBER 2015

119

FLOOD OF FIRE
BY AMITAV
GHOSH

DUBSMASH

Its kind of like singing

in front of the mirror for
digital tweenies, except its totally socially
acceptable for adults to upload lip-synced
videos for the world to validate their star
power. With some makeshift production
and a decent sense of timing you might even
produce some quality comic relief. With over
10 million downloads for this app, its safe
to say bathroom singers everywhere have
found their alternative to wasting money
on embarrassing demo tapes. Wait. Maybe
embarrassing is the link here.

The last offering in the Ibis trilogy, an

ambitious historical-political-fictional
project, Flood Of Fire is extensively
researched, clinically plotted and
beautifully narrated. Ghosh builds a
fascinating world of sahibs, rajahs and
opium traders running amok along the
Indo-China border in the 19th century.
Dont take our word for it: It made the
Man Booker shortlist, which means
your over-exposed, listicle-obsessed
mind can still sound cool by saying
youve read it.

ADIDAS
YEEZY
BOOST 350

Alright Kanye, well overlook your

farcical bid for President in 2020
because you did good this year by
dropping the sexy Yeezy Boost 350s
in black. That you had raffles going
across the world to snag a pair; that
there was queuing outside Adidas
stores with Snapchat-wielding
teenagers for a limited edition
collection that sold out in seconds;
all testify to your connection to the
worldwide masses. But on matters
of controlling foreign policy and
macro-economics, lets hope it never
comes to a vote.

AIRBUS
A350 XWB
THE NEW
DREAMLINER

DIOR AND I

Commissioned by the iconic House of Dior, this

new documentary could have been a hollow,
hagiographical film. But by taking viewers deep into the gilded innards
of the maison, revealing all the angst, creativity and conflict around
former creative director Raf Simons first collection, the French label
allowed director Frederic Tcheng not only unprecedented access into
its mysterious inner workings, but also to do what its famed team of
seamstresses does day in and day out: create art.
120

DECEMBER 2015

IMAGE: GETTY IMAGES (AIRBUS)

However unreal a nonstop between

Mumbai and Rio De Janeiro may seem,
Airbus latest is going to do it. Rolled
out of its shrine in Toulouse, the new
A350 boasts an extra-wide body,
which means broader seats and more
legroom, while eco-friendly Rolls-Royce
engines save up to 25 per cent fuel
burn on that 7,600-nautical-mile trip.
There are 783 of these on order that
will see Finnair, Qatar Airways, Cathay
Pacific and others gain large on rival
Boeings contrails.

Where SUVs are concerned, the Bentayga

is the worlds most expensive $230,000
base, add $170,000 for an optional Breitling
Mulliner Tourbillon clock (see pg 208) the
most powerful (600hp) and the fastest (top
speed of 301kph). You need anything else?

STEPHEN
COLBERT
BRINGING
POLITICS TO
LATE NIGHT
President Bill Clinton,
First Lady Michelle
Obama, Candidate
Donald Trump. Not
your run-of-the mill
guests on late night
television talk shows,
which for too long have
been dominated by
actors, exotic animals
and entertainers who
are often not terribly
entertaining. What
celebrity political
commentator Stephen
Colbert has done with
his refreshing line-up
of heavyweight guests
is bring substance to
late night chatter
playing to his strengths
and stamping his
identity onto a show
synonymous with
David Letterman. He
also gets politicians to
relax: When Colbert
teased Senator John
McCain about whether
he was going to run for
President again in 2016,
pat came the reply:
Theres no education
in the second kick of
a mule.

10

AMY SCHUMER
This is the one who, just after she
wins an Emmy, tells reporters that
shes carrying lube. She puts gun
violence on par with the Kardashians
who lead with their bazookas,
on SNL. She writes films with Judd
Apatow and Jennifer Lawrence. She
sucked C-3POs finger while dressed
as Princess Leia on her August GQ
US cover. Shes having her Louis CK
moment, and is proving that not
only can women be funny, they can
be the funniest.

11

THE WORLDS FIRST FULLY SOLAR-POWERED

AIRPORT: COCHIN INTERNATIONAL

Theres something pretty cool about the worlds first airport running on rays of sunshine not
being in Sweden, or Germany, but in the developing world, and in India and not in Delhi, not in Mumbai, but sleepy little
Kochi. As of August 18 this year, Cochin International Airport runs off 46,150 solar panels spread over 45 acres of land. Maybe
we shouldnt be surprised that Indias most literate state is also first on renewable energy.
122

DECEMBER 2015

IMAGE: GETTY IMAGES (COLBERT), REX FEATURES (COCHIN). AMY SCHUMER: PHOTO: MARK SELIGER; HAIR: KIM GUELDNER; MAKE-UP: ANDRA TILLER; MANICURE: RACHEL SHIM; SET DESIGN: ROB STRAUSS STUDIO; PRODUCTION: RUTH LEVY

BENTLEY BENTAYGA

12

THE US SUPREME
COURT
On June 26, 2015, in a historic judgment,
the US Supreme Court guaranteed
citizens the right to same-sex marriage
even in the 13 American states that
continued to ban it. The nine Justices
were bitterly divided, and victory was
earned by the thinnest of margins: 5-4.
No longer may this liberty be denied,
wrote Justice Anthony M Kennedy,
setting off widespread celebrations
across the globe, and into the White
House, where President Obama said the
decision made the American union a
little more perfect.

13

INDIE
WATCHMAKERS

No marketing blitz,
no ritzy ad campaigns. These are a rare
breed of independent Swiss watchmakers
whove challenged the big guys with
hydromechanics, sci-fi clocks and patented
twists on centuries-old complications. Next
month, nine of them, including MB&F, HYT,
Urwerk and Kari Voutilainen, are hitting
the big league by exhibiting at the ultraprestigious Salon International de la Haute
Horlogerie in Geneva. Watch out.

14

COMPTON BY DR DRE

After 16 years of publicly documented false starts, Andre Romelle Young, more
popularly known as Dr Dre, released a new album: Compton. A searing, symphonic
hip-hop masterpiece, the album includes a dizzying list of A-list collaborators,
including Snoop Dogg, Xzibit, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar and his co-founding N With
an A: Ice Cube. In 2014, he also sold his headphone company, Beats by Dre, to Apple,
a deal that reportedly made him raps first billionaire. And now with the creative KO
that is Compton, Dre just might be the one person who has it all.

Can you hear me now?

16
124

LOUNGES IN THE SKY

How miserable are you, flying cattle class next to a fat furry
man-sloth pouring out of his seat, on a 16-hour flight, knowing the
have-mores are up front, right by a fully stocked bar? While Emirates
was the first to start this party, Korean Air now boasts two Absolut
celestial lounges on its A380s. But its Etihad that beats all with a
circular boutique lounge. Its this envy gap that has aviations whales
competing to host the most rocking parties ever thrown at 30,000 feet.

DECEMBER 2015

15

Edward Snowden has balls of carbyne.

Public knowledge since 2013 when the worlds
top regime had its pants pulled down in public by
one of its own. As it turns out, the man also has a
crackling sense of humour. When the whistleblower
joined Twitter in September this year, it was a
simple: Can you hear me now? a reference to the
Verizon phone-tapping scandal that had him exiled
to Russia. He who laughs last
IMAGE: GETTY IMAGES (SUPREME COURT, DR DRE)

Edward Snowden

EDWARD SNOWDEN
JOINING TWITTER

BOND WOMEN
Its (possibly) Daniel Craigs last
mission as 007, and the world
he will leave, both onscreen
and off, is markedly different
from the men-first decades of
Sean Connery or Roger Moore.
Were into sexual equality now.
So, at least in the context of a
philandering James Bond, its
something to begin calling the
Bond Girls Bond Women. The
first of these slots is filled by
Monica Bellucci, whos twothirds as old as the franchise
itself. And about the only
woman in the world who could
shoulder the burden with poise.
Che bella.

19

KEEMALA
PHUKET

Overlooking the Andaman

Sea, this 38-villa wellness resort is the newest, coolest
place to disappear. Accommodation comes in the form
of private giant pods that resemble kitted-out weaver
bird nests. Inside, there are baths made out of rocks,
monsoon showers and private lap pools with mindboggling views. Wellness here, as it turns out, can be a
rather fungible idea, stretched to include yoga, sweating
in infrared saunas and eating kale salads by day and
enjoying inebriating substances to pulsating music at
the resorts two bars late into the night. And even if
there werent any cocktails made with raw cacao and
vanilla vodka, the Avatar-esque vibe will have you in a
state of constant euphoria.

SENSE8

18

Eight strangers/superheroes, born on 8/8, from

eight cities across the world, are all connected
mentally and metaphysically. Helmed by the
Wachowskis, this shows got our attention
because its backed by Netflix, the binge experts
successfully churning out non-traditional, gritty
content. That, and one of those eight storylines is
set in Mumbai, with Tina Desae, GQ man Purab
Kohli and the legendary Anupam Kher. Represent.

126

DECEMBER 2015

IMAGE: AFP (SENSE8). MONICA BELLUCCI: PHOTO: VINCENT PETERS; STYLIST: MIKI ZANINI; HAIR: JOHN NOLLET; MAKE-UP: CHRISTOPHE DANCHAND/B AGENCY

17

20
What makes LeBron James so special
is just how much better he is than
anyone else. Yes, hes got imposing
size and muscle, but also the deft
hands and speed of a little man. This
year he walked away from his glitzy
Miami championship-winning team
and took up a daunting challenge: to
shepherd his backwater hometown
Cleveland Cavaliers out of the morass
of chronic failure. The result? James
single-handedly carried a group of
discards, outcasts and piss artists to
the brink of NBA glory falling two
games short of the ultimate prize.
This guy is simply scary, said NBA
legend Charles Barkley. We agree.

THE ROASTS AND THE ROASTED

For a country with an ever-diminishing sense of humour, it took three Bollywood super
acts and a group of internet upstarts to remind us to take ourselves less seriously.
Hurling the kind of insults that would make a drunken sailor blush at an A-list audience,
the comedy form of the roast arrived in India by merrily trampling over every taboo
subject the writers of All India Bakchod could think of: sex, homosexuality, the drug
habits of Bollywood stars, paedophilia, politics Of course the culture police came after
them. Of course FIRs were filed. But as the conservative busybodies were forced to
finally admit, ideas cant be supressed by a court order.

PIMPED OUT
VANITY VANS

23

If Floyd Mayweathers
gold Bentley golf cart
impregnated Mukesh
Ambanis Antilla, the
vehicle driving out of the
most expensive garage in
the world would be one
bad-ass celebrity vanity
van. This baby right here
belongs to Shah Rukh
Khan, and we have it on
good authority hes got a
motorized chair in there
to zoom from end to end
like Dr Evil albeit with
perhaps slightly, slightly
less grand plans for
world domination.

22

A GLOVE THAT
TRANSLATES
SIGN LANGUAGE
INTO TEXT
It may look like the
Nintendo Power Glove
recently voted one of
the worst videogame
add-ons ever but this
most recent prototype,
developed by Hadeel
Ayoub, a student at the
University of London,
will convert sign
language into text and
speech. This means
that not only will the
hearing-impaired be able
to communicate to all
us slacking non-signers,
but the deaf will be able
to communicate directly
with the blind. And when
Ayoubs next prototype is
revealed, the one with a
Wi-Fi chip, itll mean this
power glove will have,
in theory and metaphor,
every smartphone in the
world at its fingertips.

24

NARCOS
It is now established fact: were cool with bingewatching. And Netflixs latest full-season feast concerns
the man who introduced cocaine to what would become
the drugs most eager market: The United States. Who
could have foreseen Pablo Escobars dominance of a
global empire of marching powder contributing to the
21st-centurys most socially acceptable indulgence?

IMAGE: REX FEATURES (LEBRON, NARCOS)

LEBRON JAMES

S A B YA S A C H I

sabyasachi.com

L o c a t i o n c o u r t e s y : TA J FA L A K N U M A

BRAVE BLOSSOMS
At the recent rugby World Cup in England, the Japanese team pulled off one
of the greatest upsets in sport, beating South Africas towering Springboks.
This was akin to India beating Germany in football or Japan beating India in
cricket. The Brave Blossoms, as the team are fondly referred to, became
instant toasts of Nippon, and their next two games a loss to Scotland and a
win against Samoa were watched by 25 million people back home nearly
one in every four Japanese tuned in. All this sets the stage perfectly for the
2019 Rugby World Cup, to be held in Asia for the first time. In Japan,
of course.

25

TOM HARDY

HEARTH OF THE TEUTONS

27

Five years after the Syrian civil war began, and with several other conflicts in the region raging
on, were seeing the biggest movement of refugees since the Second World War. While global
support has been consistent and outpouring, on European soil where these displaced millions
flee, it has been Germany, not always known as the most warm and fuzzy bunch in the European
Union, that has been the most welcoming. Which, considering the particularly bad behaviour of a
particular political party that rose in the Thirties, makes the intake all the more symbolic.

KABBADI LEAGUE

Getting Indians excited

about any sport other than
cricket rings like Gigi Hadid attempting a
quantum physics equation. And when the
sport in question is over 2,000 years old, and
hasnt enjoyed any celebrity patronage until
a year ago, betting on kabbadi to broadcast
in five languages across eight channels in
109 countries with live streaming viewership
pegged at 13 million would seem a little
fantastical. And yet, thats whats happened.

130

DECEMBER 2015

28

PHOTO: RICK RADELL (SRI LANKA BEACH). IMAGE: GETTY IMAGES (TOM, BOSSOMS, SURFERS, ISRO), REX FEATURES (REFUGEES)

He came, guns ablaze, as

the sanest psychopath in
Mad Max. Then he oozed
Sixties suave, flexed in
expertly tailored suits,
playing both Kray brothers
in Brian Helgelands spy
drama Legend. This month,
hell compete wth Leonardo
DiCaprio for best death-stare
in The Revenant, Alejandro
Gonzlez Irritus revenge
saga. The Hardy boy from
London had a whole career
as a talented actor before this
year, but its been this last run
thats made us think, maybe,
why not Hardy at a baccarat
table as the next Bond?
Gentlemen, place your bets.

29

30

TORONTOS NEW
AIRPORT TRAIN
The spanking new UP Express delivers
passengers between Canadas two busiest
passenger hubs Pearson International Airport
and Union Station in 25 minutes. One of the
largest projects of its kind in North America, its
also got great aesthetics: at its Union Station
hub, no detail has been overlooked, including
commissioning Toronto clothier Matt Robinson
known for his military- and vintage-inspired
designs to create the staff uniforms, in a bid to
evoke the golden age of Canadian train travel.

SRI LANKAS BREAKS

Known mostly for its tea and
tradition, the emerald isle has quietly
become a landmark destination on
the Asian surfing scene alongside the
better-known breaks of Bali and the
Maldives. While Arugam Bay rivals
the best surfing spots in the world,
Kalpitya attracts an in-the-know,
mostly Western crowd occupying
unsullied beaches and design hotels.
But you have what none of them do
a mere two-hour flight to paradise.

THE SMARTEST BUILDING

IN THE WORLD
You may not know much about Deloitte, but Deloittes building in
Amsterdam, The Edge, knows a lot about you. This is the worlds
smartest building, because if you work here, it knows who your
10:30 is and itll find an appropriate space in the building for you to
meet. Its also the greenest building on the planet, with solar panels
producing more energy than the building consumes. If youve ever
been to cloudy Holland, youll understand what a feat that really is.

DUBAIS
ALTERNATIVE
SIDE

32

DEBUT
INDIAN FILM
DIRECTORS

Despite Bollywoods best attempts to bludgeon

our brains with sequels and second-rung star
kids, 2015 will be remembered for a rogue band
of debutant film-makers, most under 40, Neeraj
Ghaywan (Masaan), Chaitanya Tamhane (Court),
and Kanu Behl (Titli), who travelled to festivals
no less than Cannes and Venice, then came home
and persuaded you to spend good money on a
lo-fi film with no stars and unknown directors.
These guys are the new Indian New Wave.

In a city growing so
fast its measured in
hummingbird flaps,
it was inevitable: the
hipsters have invaded
Dubai. Now along
with glitzy malls
theres a fast-rising
gallery district,
fashion designers,
music gigs. Its
enough to offend that
bearded, eye-rolling,
individualist in your
Bandra peer group.

34

33

ISRO
Yes, it is, in fact, rocket science.
For the last couple of years
the good people at the Indian
Space Research Organisation
have turned up the buzz in this
temple of astrophysics: launching
multiple communication and
navigational satellites into space,
testing a manned-rocket that
can carry the weight of four
elephants, and successfully
orbiting Mars on its very first
mission.

TECHNOLOGY
DESIGN
meets

They are called Disruptors' for a reason and this season,

the OnePlus 2 is here to change the status quo

rom getting work done and

capturing candid and personal
moments to being in touch with
friends on social media, our
phones have become an integral part of
our lives. Understanding the importance
of this device is OnePlus a global
technology company that recently
launched its latest agship device, the
OnePlus 2. Inspired by the notion of
not settling for mediocrity, but only
the best in technology and design, it
goes beyond to deliver an unsurpassed
experience to users.

SLEEK AND SOPHISTICATED

Taking cues from the watchmaking
industry, the OnePlus 2 is crafted in a
lightweight aluminium magnesium alloy
frame, nished with stainless steel
accents and a sleek pane of Corning
Gorilla Glass. Whats more, the OnePlus
2 comes with four hip StyleSwap covers
for easy customization of your phone.

collecting pixels that captures amazing

images in low light and its six-lens
elements that prevents image
distortion and improves clarity. Packed
with features like OIS and Laser autofocus, the OnePlus 2 camera is all you
need to shoot some fantastic stillphotos and mesmerizing 4K videos.

TECH SPECS
PICTURE PERFECT
With a 13-megapixel camera, what
sets the OnePlus 2 apart from its
contemporaries is its 1.3m light-

Built on the Qualcomm Snapdragon

810 processor with 4GB LPDDR4 RAM,
the OnePlus 2 lets you play intensive
3D games and navigate your way
though demanding apps. Paired with
a 3,300-mAh lithium-polymer battery,
it ensures that you stay charged
throughout the day.

SECURITY AT YOUR
FINGERTIPS
Ensuring that your phone is safe from
prying eyes, the OnePlus 2 has an
integrated advanced ngerprint sensor
that unlocks your phone in less than
half a second. Whats more, it allows
you to save up to ve ngerprints so
that you arent conned to using only
one nger.

TYING IT ALL TOGETHER

What makes a premium design-led
smartphone even cooler? The software
experience. The OnePlus 2 is supported
by OxygenOS that allows you to
customize your app permissions, icons,
accent colours, and more. The OnePlus
2 is available exclusively on amazon.in.

For more information, visit oneplus.net/in

38

PIYUSH
TEWARI
THE
SAVELIFE
FOUNDATION

THE EVOLUTION
OF INDIAN FOOD

The organization Tewari

founded in the wake of his
17-year-old cousins death in
a road accident, the SaveLIFE
foundation, has trained 6,000
volunteers citizens and
police officers to provide
emergency care. Hes also
championed a Good Samaritan
Law that makes it easier for
helpful bystanders to avoid
the ensuing legal imbroglio of
assisting in an accident case.
On the ground that means
175,000 lives saved to date.

Not so long ago, Indian

food was tandoori and a
few dishes vaguely recalled
from pre-Partition Punjab.
In the Eighties, a clutch
of hotel management
graduates set out to the
UK and Frenchified their
techniques. But of late, an
independent breed of young
restaurateurs and chefs are
border-less yet distinctive.
From Bombay Canteen to
Monkey Bar to Farzi Caf
its about effing time.

36

ITC

For years,
its been
regarded as the other Indian hotel
chain. Mumbai chose the Taj, Delhi
the Oberoi, and the ITC remained that
awkward establishment. But in the
last decade it has come to represent
ambition and luxury like no other
hotel chain has. The ITC launched its
all-suite hotel in Gurgaon, flanked
by a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf
course. The ITC Gardenia in Bengaluru,
houses the countrys biggest suite
(5,000sqft). And all this while being
one of the most sustainable and green
luxury chains in the world.

134

DECEMBER 2015

LILLY SINGH
YouTube is where its at, and
26-year-old Lilly Singh, aka
Superwoman, knows how to get
them hits. Her self-help screeds
and skits have won her a Screamy
award and launched a successful
travelling stand-up show. At last
count she had over seven million
followers, two of which are Shah
Rukh Khan and Madhuri Dixit.

Leaving eager fans waiting 15 years

for the follow-up to one of the
most praised albums of the Nineties
doesnt necessarily make for sound
promotion. But if youre DAngelo,
and the album is Black Messiah, you
take in the wash of positivity like
this is how you planned it all along.
Because the album is, straight up,
brilliant. If you havent heard it yet,
you must. Or maybe you should
wait a bit. Who knows when well
hear from this Drunken Master of
neo-soul again.

40
THE NEW GQ
INDIA OFFICE
At GQs new HQ, even
the wallpaper has
more swag than you.

39
IMAGE: GETTY IMAGES (D'ANGELO)

DANGELO BY
BLACK MESSIAH

41

44

POPE
FRANCIS
DOING THINGS

APPLE
MUSIC
Youve heard
the rant about the impossibility
of making money in the music
biz. Apples answer: If people
wont pay to own songs, they
might pay for having constant
access to them. Cue the largest
library in the history of music,
exclusive album launches, and
seven million subscribers within
three months. Boom.

For a guy running

a gig that hasnt
changed in almost
2000 years, this Papa
is proving the most
progressive since
St Peter. Post his
Vatican takeover,
Pope Francis has
been saying and
doing things like
acknowledging
climate change, that
gay people are real,
and that when it
comes to state visits,
hed rather take a
Fiat. World leaders
would do well to take
a page from this Holy
Rollers playbook.

NOVAK
DJOKOVIC
On July 4, 2011, Novak Djokovic
became the first World No 1 who
wasnt Roger Federer or Rafael
Nadal since 2004. With his Grand
Slam tally hitting 10 at the US
Open this year, only Federer,
Nadal, Pete Sampras and Bjrn
Borg have more. The Serb is not
just at the top of his game, hes
so far ahead that even Federer
needs him to be at less than 100
per cent to beat him.

THE
DOUCHEBAGS
OF
INSTAGRAM

43
136

DECEMBER 2015

45

QUENTIN
TARANTINOS
TASTE IN MUSIC

As eclectic as Quentin Tarantinos

directing style has been recreating sequences from his
favourite films so have been his
choices in music. Who else would
choose Dick Dale & the Del-Tones
to emote the Pulp Fiction titles,
or side Nancy Sinatra with the
Japanese band, The 5.6.7.8s, in
Kill Bill? No one else comes close
to this cut-and-paste approach to
popular cinema, and in his latest
Hateful 8, this movie store nerdturned-genius director has original
score material from Morricone, the
man responsible for the sound of
the Spaghetti Western. Quentin,
youve done it all now. Really. Time
to retire and write that novel.

IMAGE: GETTY IMAGES (POPE), REX FEATURES (DJOKOVIC, TARANTINO)

Douchebag Dan Bilzarian,

and the other champagnefuelled over-compensators of
Instagram, like to keep their
viewerships voyeurism strictly
luxury: fast cars with shiny
new parts, or barely legal
women with shinier new parts,
theres something for every
depraved and yet aspirational
auto-eroticist on the web.

THE HOUSE OF

HEEL & BUCKLE

@heelandbuckle
EARN 10 JPMILES ON EVERY INR 100

@heelandbuckle

SPENT AT HEEL & BUCKLE STORE

/heelandbuckle
Shop Online: www.heelandbuckle.com

NEW BUSINESS
CLASS BY
SINGAPORE
AIRLINES
Youd think it would take balls big
enough to fill a Business Class seat to
suggest making Business Class seats
smaller. But Singapore Airlines has
done just that, justifying its shrinkage
by prioritizing space for your gadgets,
which, admit it, were always just
falling off your lap anyway, whatever
your pants are packing.

ROBERT
LEWANDOWSKI

47
48

49

PRINCESSES
OF PERSIA

APPLE WATCH X
HERMS
Apple addicts may have been
slavering over the interface
of the new iPhone 6S at the
keynote in Silicon Valley, but
it was Herms that pulled off
the biggest design-tech coup.
The Parisian house put its luxe
stamp on the Apple Watch with
three strap variations in leather
so soft you could eat them.

If you knew Armenia was an actual

place before you started wondering
which gene pool could have
possibly produced Kim Kardashians
caboose, then kudos. If perhaps it
was Kims ample mounds that led
you to learn about this mountainous
piece of the south Caucasus, the
more astute among you might have
also discovered that Armenia was
once part of Persia, most of which
is now occupied by Iran. Which
means: when you start counting off
some of the hottest women in the
public eye as Armenian or Iranian,
youre talking about the same
ancient people of Persia. And now
you know.

After scoring three goals

in five games, the Bayern
Munich striker came off the
bench to score five goals
in nine minutes against
Wolfsburg. This Polish
star has almost as quickly
scored his way into the
upper echelons of worldclass strikers like Messi and
Ronaldo.

PROJECT ZIRO
If youre in a verdant valley in the midst of
endless paddy fields with some of Indias best
music, youre at the Ziro Festival of Music:
Apatani tribal huts and band geeks from
Thiruvananthapuram to Srinagar washing down
fried frogs, silkworm cocoons and crickets with
some of the finest local hooch to be found on
the Subcontinent.

PHOTO: ADIL HASAN (ZIRO). IMAGE: GETTY IMAGES (LEWANDOWSKI). KIM KARDASHIAN: PHOTO: GILLES BENSIMON; STYLIST: CHRISTINE CENTENERA; FASHION EDITOR: CHRISTINE CENTENERA; HAIR: ALAN WHITE; MAKE-UP: KELLIE STRATTON

46

Look around: No one wants to look like an uncle any more, and guys
across the country have embraced the power of style, wielding it
like a weapon. Here are seven stellar designers showcasing new
collections at this historic event, as we plant the Indian flag on the
international menswear map
PHOTOGRAPHED BY MANISH MANSINH
WRITTEN BY SHIVANGI LOLAYEKAR, DAVE BESSELING & ROCHELLE PINTO

DECEMBER 2015

000

RAJESH
PRATAP SINGH
He may be one of Indias best designers, but Rajesh Pratap Singh insists
hes more scientist than sartorialist

m not a fashion person, says Rajesh Pratap Singh with an

ambivalent smile. Hopefully this conversation is not just
about fashion.
It is an ambivalent thing for him to say, this fearless experimentor
with an OCD attention span for fabrics and an ADD attitude towards
the industrys frothy bits. His mastery at adapting the classic
silhouette to changing times is what makes Rajesh Pratap Singh great.
Being both consistent and fresh, with a microscopic attention to detail,
the perennial tinkering of a tailor, this is whats made his menswear
successful for two decades.
This guy will run 20 experiments in a month, and if you can do one
perfect thing in a month, everything is okay. Some, he says, take six
weeks, some, six years.
And when he says experiment, hes talking about everything from
creating his own fabrics, some of which include metal weaves real

142

DECEMBER 2015

do not wear at the airport sort of stuff to growing his own cotton.
Most recently, his mood has been indigo, which he says took an
inordinate amount of fiddling to perfect, even by his standards.
This took me five years. And we actually went to a really, really old
technology. Basically, we got to know how to fire our vats correctly.
Like a whisky distillery for clothes?
Yeah, he laughs, indigo is a bit like that. Getting the hang
of our dye took us a while. Nobody taught us. We had to make a lot
of mistakes.
Now edging into his mid-40s, shuttling between Paris and his
atelier in Faridabad bet you never thought youd hear the words
atelier and Faridabad in the same sentence Singh knows what
works for him, whatll work for his customers, intelligent people,
people who want to know how their clothing is made, and speaks
of principles like construction and engineering. Suddenly his
process, his setting up shop in a secluded, run-down industrial estate
an hour south of Delhi, starts to make more sense. This guy isnt a
designer in a studio so much as a technician in a factory lab, or, with
all those needles, an on-site surgeon. He was supposed to end up a
doctor anyway. Or a farmer. Those were the sort of choices available
where he grew up, a town called Sri Ganganagar in a northern corner
of Rajasthan, bordering Haryana, Punjab and Pakistan.
I dont really think about it, he says, but Im sure it does affect
my work.
For the hometown element of his next collection in Paris next
month, Im going to do experiments with wool. I keep saying, Im
from Rajasthan, the best fabric for the desert is wool, because it
insulates you completely under thick blankets.
Wool in the desert heat. Its one of those paradoxes of life.
It is, he says. And, for example, if Ive done suits in ikat, people
in India will get it. In Paris, a lot of people think ikat is just a print.
And then you want to kill them [laughs]. But, at the same time if its
something about a silhouette or construction, people dont give a
damn here. There, they get it bang on. Last season we did this whole
stitching theme. Basically, the way you sew bodies, you know, like a
post-mortem.
He must have got that from when he first trained in Italy with
textile manufacturer Marzotto, being surrounded with all that da Vinci
stuff, his cadaver experiments, all those medieval sutures.
No, no, he laughs, I got it here, from Safdarjung hospital.

DECEMBER 2015

143

SHANTANU
& NIKHIL

What do the brothers have in common besides

a surname and a decadent fashion aesthetic?
Absolutely nothing. And thats why they work

f the teenage versions of Shantanu and Nikhil Mehra were

characters in a movie, theyd be Thor and Loki. Shantanu was
the good guy, the consummate student whod come home from
school with a gold star and reach for the freshest clothes from
the cupboard for the next morning. Nikhil, the brat, would swap
his trousers for jeans or find an outfit closest to his uniform
colours and brag about his style to his peers most likely with his
collar popped.
It was a sense of loneliness as international students in the
US Shantanu was pursuing an MBA in Ohio, and Nikhil fashion
design in Los Angeles that got them talking and sparked an idea.
They realized the latters aptitude for drapes and fits, leveraged by
the formers business acumen, was a winning combination, and
they decided to start a label together.
Indias fashion landscape at the turn of the new millennium was
an open field. Senior prt designers had graduated to wedding
couture, leaving the arena open to a new generation. Thats when
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DECEMBER 2015

Shantanu & Nikhil showed their debut collection at Lakm

Fashion Week. If theres one thing I learned from America, its
that you can sell anything. Theyre marketing gurus, Nikhil says.
We wanted to talk to contemporary India and believed we had
the goods for it, adds Shantanu. Out came minimalist sherwanis
with leather details, edgy drapes, body-hugging cuts and sportier
shoulders for the fit Indian man an increasingly swelling tribe.
Styling Amitabh Bachchan for Kaun Banega Crorepati was
their first coup. Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan
Singh soon followed. In 2010, S&N joined the ranks of Yohji
Yamamoto and Stella McCartney to design a collection for Adidas
in the process becoming the first Indians to do so. The Mumbai
Indians official team kit has been S&N since 2011. And this
year, on a whim, they thought it would be a good idea to make
shoes. Were having fun taking an old monkstrap and cutting it
into a new shape, Nikhil exclaims. Most recently, the brothers
launched a standalone mens store in Kolkata, with plans to open
more in Mumbai, Delhi and Ahmedabad. And in 2016, theyre
gearing up to take on the digital ecosystem with a ready-to-wear
mens line.
The frenzied chatter at Shantanu & Nikhils three-storeyed
atelier in Noida drowns out Pink Floyds Coming Back To Life,
playing on a junior designers computer. The brothers cabins lie
adjacent to each other. Shantanus clutter-free desk and executive
chairs sit at a carefully mapped distance from a blue lounger.
Nikhils is in a state of controlled chaos: a mannequin at one end
with a white draped kurta hes readying for Fashion Nights, cone
threads askew on the floor, and a wooden bench slanted out of
place that no ones bothering to correct.

DHRUV
KAPOOR

Because real men wear powder pink bombers

eep inside one of Gurgaons many sprawling

residential blocks lies 27-year-old Dhruv Kapoors twostoreyed atelier. It could pass as any upscale bungalow,
until youre smacked in the face with a bold sign at the
reception that reads TEAM KAPOOR.
Kapoors office is a minimalist haven drenched in
natural light, colour-popping curios and coffee table books ranging
from Dansk to Prada. In front of two pristine white walls are racks
of hulk-shaped bombers, oversized coats and scuba sweatshirts
bearing acrylic slogans like snob and anarchy. Gurgaons
starting to look like Milan. It makes sense. The Istituto Marangoni
alum is still clinging to the coattails of his time in the fashion capital
that he claims brainwashed him: It gave me a new vision that
wasnt restricted in terms of dressing. Its a culture thats extremely
open to trying new styles. And thats getting guys like me a lot
of attention.
Hes right. For his debut show at Lakm Fashion Week last
August on one of the smaller stages, he was initially mistaken for
being Dhruv Kapur, the womenswear designer. But after putting
out a range of sports luxe bombers and joggers the kind Ranveer
Singh and Virat Kohli would lap up there was a new Dhruv to
reckon with. At his second show this year, a mini stampede ensued
at the same stage.

Kapoor is from a generation thats part of the technology

boom. He attends trade shows across the world and studies
fabrics. You cant imagine the kind of stuff thats being shown
abroad: fragrant textures, crazy finishes and water-repellent
clothes that have an oil finish, almost like somethings dripping
off them. He sources his neoprenes and viscose from China and
blends them with Indian cottons for a combination that looks
Matrix-futuristic but feels totally snug.
Kapoors mother is sitting across the room at her desk,
and handles communications and marketing for him (and
deals with the workers, arranges for chai/coffee basically
oversees Team Kapoor). I design for the kind of guys who are
chilled out and not uptight about style because I know the kind
of comments that can come if youre a man whos perceived to
be too fashionable, Kapoor says. He would rather have new-age
entrepreneurs, cultural editors and contemporary tastemakers as
part of his clientele.
On paper, it would be easy to pigeonhole him as the kind of
clichd young designer who comes from a privileged family, with
access to an international spectrum of fashion. He attends toughticket parties; drops info like popular style blogger Bryan Boys
asking rate for a brand endorsement; and follows Kim Jones and
Kris Van Assches careers closely. But in the real world, Kapoor is
something of a trailblazer: Few men would wear a printed jumper
or powder pink bomber here. Im not scared to experiment with
colour or proportion and am pushing hard to change the mindset,
he says.
That is, perhaps, how the new become the establishment.
Theyre the designers who dont care about playing it safe but
are concerned with pushing creative boundaries. Guys like
Dhruv Kapoor wholl dress you up in techy fabrics and tailored
sweatpants because theyre confident that youre confident about
being able to pull it off.

RAGHAVENDRA
RATHORE
The blue-blooded doyen is one of Indias fashion heavyweights.
But dont believe everything they say about him

aghavendra Rathore is not what he seems. Despite

being a true-blue Rajasthan royal who always looks
like hes ready for a polo shindig, the fashion designer
knows what its like to be broke.
While studying Greek mythology and robotics at
Hampshire College in Massachusetts (the first from
Jodhpurs royal family to study in the West), he was worried about
running out of cash. Privy purses had been abolished, and he only
had enough money for a semester. So Rathore transferred to the
smaller, more affordable Marlboro College in Vermont and washed
dishes at the student union with his girlfriend for nine dollars an
hour. My life in India was limited. I wanted to study, it didnt really
matter what.
Rathore eventually
graduated from the Parsons
School of Design. While
juggling four jobs and
university, hed observe fashion
on the streets of Manhattan
and sketch out looks as a
freelancer for small-time
design companies. This proved
especially beneficial when
Donna Karan came in as a
guest lecturer, and hired him
three weeks later. The job was
great in terms of positioning
and understanding the quick
pace of the American fashion
industry. I learned that the idea
was less important than getting
the product finished.
A stint atOscar de la Renta
came next, with Rathore
working directly under the
legend. His first task was selecting 12 out of 5,000 animal furs. The
problem with working at a luxury fashion house where a metre of
fabric cost $1,000, and at a time when fur was considered almost
illegal to wear, was that you risked facing belligerent activists. People
would throw things at me, Rathore admits. But working at de la
Renta came with serious perks like styling Christie Turlington and

146

DECEMBER 2015

Jackie Onassis which also afforded him crucial lessons in client and
PR management.
Today Rathore counts the likes of Saif Ali Khan, Rahul Gandhi
and Naveen Jindal among his patrons. Since he started his
eponymous label in India, hes distinguished himself as a cultural
doyen, a marketing maven, a controlled dynamo and the king of
modern-age classic menswear championing bandhgalas and
breeches and cutting them with razor-sharp precision. Bandhgalas
were in danger of being relegated to museums but I thought they
were normal for men to wear, he says, shrugging his shoulders.
One of Rathores fondest memories remains a show he did for
the Maharaja of Jodhpur, over 20 years ago. Hed returned home
on a break from de la Renta, had no label, no tailors, and producing
a fashion show in Rajasthan
was unprecedented at the time:
You had to place a booking
with a telephone operator
in the evening to be able to
make an outstation phone call
the next day. Rathore had
good friend Tarun Tahiliani on
board helping him cut threads,
Suneet Verma firming up
shoulder pads, and Rohit Bal
taking care of logistics on the
ground. It took 11 designers
and `3 lakh to mount the show
that would become the nucleus
of the Rathore label. I got a
great response, and decided
I could make a business out
of it.
And pedigree sticks.
Growing up, Rathore was
used to seeing burly kinsmen
with big whiskers wearing crisp achkans. Men who understood
the importance of presentation. His father had a tailor over every
week to fit a new outfit. His mother would design camel hairwoven jootis for the men. Rathore inherited the same passion,
with an uncompromising attention to detail and style. Its the
reason hes the best advertisement for his work.

DECEMBER 2015

147

UJJAWAL
DUBEY
Meet Indias buzziest
new designer

alent aside, you

need a trump card to
even have a shot at
entering the clubby
world of Indian
fashion.
When Ujjawal Dubey
debuted his label Antar-Agni
at Lakm Fashion Week
last March, he presented a
conceptual, anti-establishment
aesthetic on the runway: an
abundance of voluminous
asymmetry, easy-breezy
layering, and an overwhelming
propensity for black. The kind
of loungey, alternative clothing
youd pack for Paris with a
stopover in Goa and best
paired with a joint.
All lumberjack beard, hot
white smile and fedora cocked
to one side, the 28-year-old
gives off the kind of hipster
vibe thats more obscure art
gallery than front row at fashion
week. Its intentional. Dubey
reiterates several times during
this interview that fashions not
really his thing.

148

DECEMBER 2015

Were part of a fast-paced

generation and itll catch up
with us. People are returning
to a slower life, he says. Hes
preparing for a mellower
time: designing for guys like
him, who dont follow trends
or obsessively refresh their
Instagram feeds. Guys who
would rather catch a gig than
flutter about the social circuit.
He also crafts furniture and
dabbles in product design.
Dubey was raised in
Gorakhpur in eastern UP,
where design legends like Rei
Kawakubo and Yohji Yamamoto
whove inspired Dubeys
work mean nothing. But after
studying at NIFT, Kolkata and
apprenticing with Shantanu
& Nikhil for six years, Dubey
picked up on fashion-speak.
I had to convince myself before
being able to convince anyone
else that I could do it, he says.
It took Tom Fords life story
to inspire Dubey. Ford studied
to be an architect, but then
veered into fashion design.
That he was able to make
the switch and do it so
successfully made me believe
I could too, he says. Unlike
Ford, however, Dubey would
rather be backstage than in
the spotlight. His process is
technical, and he focuses more
on cuts and silhouettes than
embroidery and embellishment.
The mood of menswear today
is one of rebellion. Street style
is as important as the clothes
on a runway, bloggers pull
as much rank as editors and
wearability is the name of the
game. By playing the outsider
with a proclivity for edgy
fashion, Ujjawal Dubey might
just be more of an insider than
he thinks.

ROHIT
GANDHI
& RAHUL
KHANNA
Theres no R&R for R+R, who
despite their success may be the
rst people you see when you
enter their Delhi boutique

ou know that spot in Defence

Colony, that bit of D-Block near
the Lajpat Nagar metro station?
Oh, you dont. Its the stretch
with several hundred metres of
gigantic, backlit mens names
on the buildings. Rohit Bal has a store
there. Tarun Vadehra has a few. Yes? Thats
right, that one. And now, having moved
into a bigger, badder, more backlit space
themselves, are Rohit and Rahul, who will
be the first to remind you, in a very unpretentious way, mind you, that despite their
flashy new digs on the closest thing Delhi
has to Bond Street, back in the day they were
the first ones on the block: Were totally
responsible for bringing everybody here.
Rahul Khanna just wants to set that
straight while sipping his 5:30pm coffee
I dont know about you but I need my drugs
here in a basement room of the store he
shares with his business partner of nearly
20 years, fellow Delhiite and design-based
soulmate, Rohit Gandhi also stirring a
sugar cube into his coffee.
Look at this place now, says Khanna,
its become a fashion street. We have
seven art galleries, there are 12 designers,
and, people that may or may not have
known we were here now know for sure,

adds Gandhi. These guys really do finish each

others sentences.
This pair of possibly telepathic designers
are stuffed away in a corner of the basement
which used to be where Natures Basket
kept Japanese noodles and European cold
cuts because if they set foot upstairs theyll
be swept away by people wanting their
advice on how to spend disturbing amounts
of money on their clothing.
No, seriously, Khanna had to be dragged
away from Rekha Purie, wife of India Today
CEO Aroon Purie just now. Like, dragged.
But that is part of their charm. Rohit and
Rahul are always at Rohit+Rahul. Theyre big
famous fashion guys now, they dont really
need to be at the shop, but theyre people
people. And people shop here as much for
them as their clothes, paying as much for the
conversation as the cut, be it kurta, sherwani
or a forest green dinner jacket with crushed
velvet lapels.
We started 18 years ago, says Gandhi,
with a small store in my house in Golf
Links. Soon after, the duo launched their
first label, H2O, then Cue, which included
womenswear and still sells in dozens of retail
stores around the country. So at a certain
point in their commercial success, they must

have felt confident enough to amp it up and

put their own names on everything.
We always thought we were good
enough, picks up Khanna, but back in 97
there really were no labels. I remember we
were in London, and both of us got inspired
by the Tie Shop and the Sock Shop, shops
specializing in just one product. So we
thought of opening a shirt shop, with every
kind of print, every kind of collar. Thats what
H2O was.
This goes on for a while, and after their
dynamic shifts between squabbling siblings,
proud parents and a grumpy old couple,
theres a point at which one may wonder,
after having worked so closely for so long,
how is it the pair of them havent killed each
other yet?
We fight every hour, laughs Khanna,
who does sort of look like the actor who
shares his name, but we have a very
similar sensibility.
Gandhi finishes his coffee and looks
at Khanna. Its almost 6pm. The boys are
scheduled upstairs for several customer
fittings. Rahul can wear anything off the
rack, just pick up a jacket and wear it. He
pauses this last bit of the badinage to pat his
belly. Me, I have to figure things out.
DECEMBER 2015

149

TROY COSTA
How a mist came to be Indias go-to designer

ast year, Troy Costa answered a phone call that would

change his life. Narendra Modi, the newly elected Prime
Minister of India, was looking for a power wardrobe that
would do justice to a historic first trip to the US.
Costa is the designer of choice for clients as influential
and varied as billionaire scion Akash Ambani, media
mogul Vineet Jain, GQ sportsman of the year Rohit Sharma and
Hrithik Roshan. A powerful recommendation to the PM could have
come from any of these sources.
So how does someone with a socially awkward streak, who grew
up dirt poor in the fishing hamlet of Chimbai in Bandra, Mumbai,
end up dressing some of the most powerful men in the country?
In the Bollywood-worthy tale of Troy Costa, it all starts with a
football match.
There was a group of rich kids whod play a pick-up game on
Sundays at DMonte Park in Bandra against Sohail Khan and his
friends, says Costa. Every time I asked if I could join them, theyd
turn me down. One day they were a few players short, so they
agreed... They were losing the match anyway.
With Costa playing offence, the tide turned, both for the football
match, and his career. After discovering that their match-winning
teammate also happened to be a proficient menswear tailor, one
order turned into ten, and before long there was no turning back.
150

DECEMBER 2015

My business just exploded by word-of-mouth.

Costa knows how to work the rustic Bandra boy charm to his
advantage. Twenty-two years into the business and he still puts in
longer hours than his peers, walking around his workshop from
10am to 10pm with a measuring tape dangling from his neck, then
sitting back down at the drawing board once his family has gone to
bed. Client, journalist or friend his attention is available at every
waking hour, unless a natural catastrophe stops him.
His impeccably cut jackets look like they were sewn on Savile
Row and he can reel off the top menswear trends like the disclaimer
in a mutual funds advertisement. But what his clients equally value
is Costas ability to understand them and help them overcome their
physical shortcomings.
These days, the 40-year-old is obsessed with empire-building.
Nobody taught me about legacy, but Ive always understood the
importance of it, he says. The first step towards creating that will
be a showcase at Mens Fashion Week in Paris in June 2016, where
he will make history as the first Indian designer to see his name on
that prestigious menswear calendar. Its a slot he wrangled after
convincing Didier Grumbach, then-president of the Fdration
Franaise de la Couture, to look past his skin colour and nationality
and rate him purely on product.
Step two will be setting up a chain of affordable menswear stores
across India, Sri Lanka and Dubai. They will be named Cruz Troy
Costa, after his nine-month-old son, the synergy of two exercises in
building a legacy.
And if the past 22 years are any evidence, this glorified tailor, as
he was once called, is going to see his dream through. Im not in a
hurry, I aint going away, Costa declares dramatically. Only death
will cheat me, nothing else can.

V
V

EDITED BY VARUN GODINHO

Behind the scenes with Rolex at the Singapore GP

Talking watches with Sachin Tendulkar

PHOTO: ROLEX/JAD SHERIF

Singapore sling
Varun Godinho travels to the
Marina Bay Street Circuit
to make sense of the most
expensive, complex and
fastest sporting juggernaut on
the planet

ir Jackie Stewart has enjoyed a

trackside seat to the evolution of
modern-day Formula One:
Triple World Champion, team
owner and media commentator, his careers
spanned fifty years, and counting. So its
fair to say hes got a sharp insight and keen
instinct even correctly, if controversially,
surmising that the much-loved Ayrton
Senna deliberately crashed into Alain Prost
at the Suzuka GP to ensure he took home

the 1990 championship. Stewarts most

impactful contribution though has been
to increase the sports safety he was
the first F1 driver to wear a seatbelt, and
even fought for full-face helmets to be
made mandatory.
At this years Singapore GP, Stewart,
along with nine-time Le Mans winner Tom
Kristensen, gave GQ an all-access pass to
what really goes on behind the scenes at
the sports coolest GP.

DECEMBER 2015

153

THE
CHARACTERS
OF F1

THE PACEMAKER

Safety Car Driver: Bernd Maylnder

A former rally car driver, Maylnders been driving the F1 safety car for the
last 17 years. This season, hes got a swanky upgrade a 503hp MercedesAMG GT S. Throughout the race on Sunday, hes cooling his heels in the pit
lane, engine running, with a radio operator whos taking instructions from
Whiting riding shotgun. Although it seems like he drives terribly slowly on
the telly, Maylnder says that at tracks like the Marina Bay Street Circuit, he
can hit up to 248kph on the straights.

THE (REAL) BOSS

F1 Race Director:
Charlie Whiting
Whitings one of the most
hated people in the sport.
He decides the quantum of
punishment for teams and
drivers who err, and has the
power to start/stop/suspend
races. One of F1s most
seasoned professionals, hes
also apparently never missed
a single race over the last 30
years. During qualifying and
on race day, youll find him in
the control room, studying 40plus screens, monitoring the
action on every square metre
of the track.

THE MEDIA MAN

F1 Media Delegate: Matteo Bonciani

As head of media communications, this Italian isnt as affable
as youd expect. After the qualifier on Saturday, Bonciani
hustles the top three drivers into the press room for a televised
debriefing. During the Q&A, he stands in one corner, still in
sight of the camera, taking notes on whos asking what. As
soon as a journalist finishes his question, Bonciani nods to a
colleague a cue for her to follow up with the hack for a few
more contact details.
The average
annual television
audience for F1?

MILLION

THE ENFORCER

F1 Technical Delegate: Jo Bauer

Bauers responsible for catching cheats. Before

qualifying on Saturday, each team wheels their cars
into his office (above), a garage in the pit lane. There,
the car will be weighed on the FIA homologated
bridge (also known as the bridge of doom) and
officially measured. If teams are found to have
tampered with their cars on subsequent spot checks,
the multi-lingual Bauer wont let semantics get in the
way of laying down the law.
154

DECEMBER 2015

THE TECH WHIZ

Chief Technology Officer:

John Morrison
There are two primary functions of the tech
centre (left), over which Morrison rules:
electronic timekeeping and video production.
Each F1 car is fitted with a transponder. As
soon as a car passes a loop, placed every
200m on the circuit, data is relayed back to
determine lap and sector times.
Apart from a live feed collated from 24
cameras around the circuit, the army of
video specialists he oversees is tasked
with creating a rolling highlights package,
pit lane feed, onboard footage, drivers
tracking page, timing page and graphics.
The time it takes for all that to reach your
screen from when its beamed out of this
centre? Six seconds.

PHOTO: ROLEX/JAD SHERIF

425

PIT LANE-SPOTTING
WITH JACKIE STEWART
Involved in F1 for over 50
years, Stewarts made more
than a few (famous) friends
in the industry

And how the men backstage played a role

Lap 13: Contact. Williams Felipe
Massa collides with Force Indias
Nico Hulkenberg at Turn 3
coming out of the pit lane.
Lap 14: The race is yellowagged, while the stewards
four per race, who spend most
of the race in a room just next to
Whitings review the incident
to determine who was at fault.
Lap 15: Safety car standby.
Safety car go. Whiting instructs
Maylnder to get out on the
track and slow the race down
while the marshals clear out
the debris.

Lap 23: The stewards determine

Hulkenberg was at fault. The
punishment is swift: Whiting
slaps him with a three-place grid
penalty for the next race at the
Suzuka GP.
Lap 26-33: Lewis Hamilton radios
his team during Lap 26 that hes
losing power in his gearbox.
By Lap 33 the reining World
Champion begins to slide down
the order and his team cant x
the problem, nally ordering him
to box his car.
Lap 37: Vettels radio booms
to life: Theres a man on

SIR JACKIE STEWART &

TOM KRISTENSEN X ROLEX

SIR JACKIE STEWART

156

DECEMBER 2015

TOM KRISTENSEN

the track. Man on the track!

Thankfully, he climbs back out
soon but not before Whiting
gets Maylnder out on the track
once again.
Lap 61: Ferraris Sebastian Vettel
romps home to wins his fourth
Singapore GP, in a breezy poleto-podium nish.
Post-race: Bonciani tears the
three podium drivers, Vettel,
Daniel Ricciardo and Kimi
Rikknen from the Parc
Ferme, where theyre already
celebrating hard, and up into the
presentation area.

Although Rolex came on board as

Global Partner and Official Timepiece
of Formula 1 in 2013, the brands
involvement with motorsports goes
back to the Thirties, when Sir Malcolm
Campbell broke the land speed world
record with a Rolex strapped on his
wrist. In April 1968, Rolex signed one of
its first-ever ambassadors Sir Jackie
Stewart. Which means hes among
the brands longest-serving ones, too.
Even before 1968, however, Stewart
was already a Rolex collector. I bought
myself a Day Date in Houston in 1966
when I got a little money from qualifying
at the Indianapolis 500. It was a symbol I
couldnt have afforded in my early years.
That same year, I was in pole position
for the Monaco Grand Prix, and in those
days, Rolex gave a watch to the [driver
in the] pole position. That was my first
Daytona and I still have it.
Stewarts fellow ambassador since
2010, Tom Kristensen is arguably one
of the most successful drivers of the
24 Hours of Le Mans, having won the
race an unprecedented nine times.
Hes a regular fixture at F1,
often serving as a steward for many
of the races.

> The Dealmaker:

SIR MARTIN SORRELL
This advertising mega tycoon is
CEO of WPP (that own JWT, O&M,
Grey, Burson-Martseller, Hill &
Knowlton), and is also on the board
of the company that owns F1. But he
doesnt come across as a blowhard
multi-millionaire at the Singapore
GP, hes in grey linen shorts,
sneakers and a black T-shirt, sporting
a charming, self-deprecating attitude
(I couldnt afford the material to
complete my trousers). His salary
last year alone was 40 million
more than the annual fee Mercedes
supposedly paid Hamilton in 2014.
STEWART X SORRELL: Sorrell
was Stewarts first PA, before he got
into the advertising biz.
> The Commentator:
DAVID COULTHARD
You can spot his jaw from a mile
away. Seeing the two greet each
other is like taking a time-warped
trip through several generations
of F1. Today, Coulthards one
of the sports most respected
commentators and columnists.
STEWART X COULTHARD:
Coulthard was born the year Stewart
won his second world championship
in 1971. And while Stewart may have
been the sports first Flying Scot,
Coulthards the most recent.

ROLEX/JAD SHERIF

LIVE AT THE SINGAPORE F1 GP 2015

> The Talent Spotter:

HELMUT MARKO
Hes the Scooter Braun of F1, with an
uncanny knack for spotting young
talent. As head of Red Bulls driver
development program, hes given
some of the worlds finest drivers
including Sebastian Vettel, Juan Pablo
Montoya, Max Versatppen and Daniel
Ricciardo their break in F1.
STEWART X MARKO: Stewart
raced alongside Marko in the
Seventies. At the 1972 French Grand
Prix (which Stewart won), Emerson
Fittipaldis Lotus threw up a stone
from the track that pierced Markos
visor and took out an eye, ending the
Austrians racing career.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak

Sachin Tendulkar Limited Edition

So when did you get your first real watch?

Two years later. I was given a genuine Casio when the
family realized that I had grown up and was responsible
enough to look after a watch. Very few guys in school wore
watches. I was one of them.

How many timepieces do you own today?

I dont like counting. Im passionate about several things: cars,
clothes, shoes, perfumes and watches. But I dont go by
numbers. Its about how much satisfaction these things give you,
how much pleasure you derive.

OK, how about the luxury watch brands you own?

I own Franck Muller, Panerai, Girard-Perregaux and Rolex. But
once I started wearing Audemars Piguet, Ive stuck to AP.

Who inducted you into the world of luxury watches?

My uncle was a clock lover, actually. He would clean, polish and
keep the ones he owned in terrific condition, and thats how it
rubbed off on me. None of my friends back then actually wore
fancy watches.

A timepiece that you particularly treasure.

A
MASTERS
PIECE
S

60

Without a doubt, the AP rose gold Offshore [Ref 25940] with

a rubber strap. I wore it during the [2011] World Cup. I took a
photo and sent it to the brand. There couldnt be a better one:
World Cup trophy in my hand and an AP.

Any other athlete with an impressive watch collection

we dont know about?
Kumar Sangakkara is a collector but Ive only spoken to him
about Patek Philippe. Muttiah Muralitharan loves watches too.

loganeering brand ambassadors. There are

too many of them around, and the watch
industry is teeming with them.
And then theres the next level of ambassadors.
Panerai went from fringe military supplier to
mainstream player when Sylvester Stallone, a fan, got
his friends to invest in the brand. As for Kevin Spacey,
theres barely an episode of House of Cards in which
Frank Underwood doesnt go through at least half a
dozen IWC timepieces. Closer home, serious watch
collector Sachin Tendulkar has an enviable crop of
luxury timepieces. Over the last decade though hes
been batting for Audemars Piguet making him one
of the brands longest-serving ambassadors.
GQ caught up with the nationally retired Tendulkar
(he, along with 27 other retired cricketers including
Shane Warne, Ricky Ponting and Brian Lara, played
three T20 matches in the US last month) to get the
minutiae on his watch obsession.

What was your first watch?

The first watch that I received was from my uncle
when I was in the 4th standard. He thought that it was
better not give me an expensive watch since I was
always up to mischief. So I was given a plastic replica
of a Casio which I damaged within days.
158

DECEMBER 2015

Youve already collaborated with AP on a watch, the

one youre currently wearing on your wrist (above).
Given another shot, what would it look like?

For sure it wouldnt be a formal watch, but more sporty. Itd also
have something to do with India. [Tendulkar takes
his watch off to point out the details.] The colours
and type of stitching on the strap the kind around
a cricket ball the flag colours on the dial, were all
my idea. I would do something similar.
SECONDS

WITH JASMINE AUDEMARS,

CHAIRMAN, AUDEMARS PIGUET

Got any secret watch quirks?

Not many people know this, but when I was playing
for India, I always kept my watch around 7-8
minutes fast and I still do. Whether the team had
practice, a match, a function, a strategy meeting,
a pool or recovery session, or whatever, I always
wanted to be the first one to get there.

ON WHETHER THE
LUXURY WATCH
INDUSTRY CAN
EVER MOVE OUT OF
SWITZERLAND

There is no way we can leave

Switzerland in our business.
Wed lose the Swiss-made tag.
The entire watch industry here
is located between Geneva and
Schaffhausen, and in a very
narrow strip along the border.
Thats where all the know-how
is. The whole industrial base
the guys who make the hands,
the face, the dial are all
located here. Its a culture.

What happened if someone was late?

Anyone who turned up late was fined his daily
allowance. And if you repeated that, you ended
up paying double the amount youd paid last time.
If you did that a third time, you paid double the
second times amount. After that, the bus would
leave without you and youd have to find your
own way.

Did the bus ever leave without you?

You know, the fact that youve made the whole team
wait I didnt ever want that to happen. I was one
of the most punctual guys.

INTERVIEW: VARUN GODINHO. PHOTO: PRASAD NAIK. ILLUSTRATION: ARUN JAITAPKAR

On and off the pitch,

Sachin Tendulkars got
impeccable timing

talk

Lives: Che Kurrien

Art: Kishore Singh
Humour: Barnaby Pole
Film: Tanul Thakur
NEW

161

THINGS FALL APART

WRITTEN BY CHE KURRIEN

MY GRANDFATHER LOVED
ME DEEPLY, BUT THAT JUST
WASNT ENOUGH

ILLUSTRATION: SACHIN SHETTY

ou always hurt the ones you

love, and I was twelve when I
broke my grandfathers heart.
Throughout my childood,
he indulged me like a patriarch overcompensating for the fact that
my parents

DECEMBER 2015

161

LIVES

TALK

marriage was in tatters during my growing

years. He bought me expensive gifts on his
business trips to England and lavished me
with praise and attention tacitly, guiltily
acknowledging the hand he played in firming
up my parents ill-conceived union. He had been
swept away by my fathers charisma, wealth
and pedigree, erroneously endorsing him as the
perfect match for his daughter. The consequence
of that one call would be devastating.
My parents were married at St Thomas
Cathedral in Bombay on Boxing Day in 1976,
followed by a glittering reception at the Taj. At
the time, my grandad was at the peak of his
career, heading up Parry and Company, with a
cavernous bungalow in Madras where he and
my grandmother threw lavish parties aided by
a batallion of staff. Although he earned a salary,
he lived expansively: only drinking Johnny
Walker, insisting on Bally belts to punctuate
his well-cut suits, an elegant Bulova on his
wrist. He was tall and good-looking with an
uncanny resemblance to Christopher Plummer.
And when he retired, he blew up his provident
fund taking his wife and my mother on a twomonth tour of Europe living in the best hotels,
drinking the finest wine.
Soon after his first heart attack, my grandmother forbade
him from smoking. Although I often spotted cigarette butts in
the loo, it was our little secret. One of my fondest childhood
memories is driving down to the rickety Cooperage stadium
near Churchgate to watch Rovers Cup football matches
between teams like Mahindra and Union Bank with him.
This was the Eighties, and we sat on creaky benches amid
a strictly working-class crowd, enjoying the heckling and
peanuts. When I was even younger he took me every
Sunday to ride ponies at the nearby Bandstand a tradition I
continue with my daughter.
Despite his professional success, he remained connected
and comfortable with his blue-collar roots. My grandfather
was pushed out of his hometown, Kottayam, as a teenager
by his dad who was concerned that the boy was getting
embroiled with the activities of the local Communist
party. Armed with a diploma in mechanical engineering,
Karayoram Utthup Kurian was dispatched to his eldest
brother in Bombay, who had done exceptionally well,
162

DECEMBER 2015

heading up public relations at the old Burma

Shell the first Indian to hold the position.
Pushed by his uptight, imperious brother, he
went about Anglicizing himself in a bid for
upward mobility: He took diction lessons,
ballroom dancing classes and bought my
grandmother subscriptions to Femina and
Eves Weekly so she could master desserts
like Pineapple Upside Down and Baked
Alaska. He also insisted that English be
spoken at home, ensuring my mom and her
brother didnt pick up a Malayalam twang.
My favourite photograph of my grandparents
has them lounging about on a desolate,
spotless Juhu beach in the Fifties: she in a
racy swimsuit sporting Sophia Loren shades
while he towers over her, taut and muscular
in black trunks, cigarette dangling from his
hand, reminiscent of Richard Burton. He used
all these strengths innate and developed
to ascend to the upper reaches of the Indian
corporate world, acquiring status along the
way. This journey culminated in the grand
wedding of his daughter to my dad who
belonged to one of the most prominent
Malayali business families of Bombay at the
time.
Yet it took just over a decade for the marriage to officially
end. My grandfather never recovered from the humiliation.
No one got divorced in 1988, and the way my father went
about it was brutal. People around us talked and judged.
I loved him more than my son, my grandfather said to
me at the time, tears in his eyes, acknowledging the natural
chemistry between these gregarious men; in contrast to the
formal relationship he shared with his own introverted boy.
My grandfather was devastated, but had to keep it together
for his daughter.
My mother remarried and quickly got pregnant. Insecure
about my own future and seduced by my fathers charm, I
stayed with him and his family. My mother was shattered,
but the one who took it hardest was my grandfather who
viewed my decision as the ultimate betrayal. He never
looked me in the eye again. Soon after, my grandfather
acquiesced to his wifes demand and retreated back to
Kerala. And within a month of moving, he was dead.
Che Kurrien is editor of GQ India

ILLUSTRATION: SACHIN SHETTY

SOON AFTER HIS

FIRST HEART ATTACK,
MY GRANDMOTHER
FORBADE HIM FROM
SMOKING. ALTHOUGH
I OFTEN SPOTTED
CIGARETTE BUTTS
IN THE LOO, IT WAS
OUR LITTLE SECRET.
ONE OF MY FONDEST
CHILDHOOD MEMORIES
IS DRIVING DOWN
TO THE RICKETY
COOPERAGE STADIUM
TO WATCH ROVERS CUP
FOOTBALL MATCHES
BETWEEN TEAMS LIKE
MAHINDRA AND UNION
BANK. THIS WAS THE
EIGHTIES, AND WE SAT
ON CREAKY BENCHES
AMID A STRICTLY
WORKING-CLASS
CROWD, ENJOYING
THE HECKLING AND
PEANUTS

ART

TALK

164

HAMMER FEST

BY KISHORE SINGH

ver the last few years,

I must have invited a
few dozen novitiates to
attend auctions with
me, only to be met
with the same clichd
response: If I raise my hand by
mistake, will I have to pay for it?
Well, unless you have a paddle, and
unless you wave that paddle, youre
not in any danger of accidentally
emptying your bank balance. And
heres another eye-opener: Auction
rooms, far from being quiet as a
mortuary, buzz with conversations
and telephone calls as assistants
and agents receive bids from across
the world, sometimes requesting
the auctioneer to hold on, just one
more moment, please because
their client at the end of the line is
conferring with someone else about
whether the next bid is worth it or
not. Or possibly arguing with a
spouse about how much the addons of buyers premium and taxes
will increase the cost, give or take a
couple of lakhs.
If youre attending an auction
in London or New York, prepare
to be disappointed by the scant
number of people in the room as
expensive artwork worth crores of
rupees goes under the gavel. This
was not always so. Just the other
week, one consigner told me, Till a
few years back, the room would be
full and there would be no standing
room at the back. There are two
reasons for the change. The first is
164

DECEMBER 2015

technology: You can now bid over

the phone or online, as auctions
are run live on real time, making
geography irrelevant. The other
concerns the vexatious noseyparker. Collectors dont like being
identified which you cant help
if youre raising a paddle in the
room by either the media or
other collectors. An anonymous
gone to paddle 1835 is your best
bet for staying under the radar
and keeping your name out of the
papers, though much depends on
how discreet you choose to be.
Which is why we still dont know
who bought the VS Gaitonde at
Christies sale in Mumbai for
`23.4 crore in December 2013, yet
managed to find out that the
mysterious `27 crore FN Souza
buyer at Christies New York
in September this year was the
indefatigable Kiran Nadar.
There were only a couple
dozen people in the second-floor
room in New York in which the
Souza record was made, but a
week previously at Saffronarts
auction in Delhi, the ballroom
and pre-function area were
chock-a-block because an auction
in India is still the equivalent
of what fashion shows used to
be until recently: something
social and fun and preceded
and followed by lots of drinking
and dining. Invitations are
eagerly sought after, and to not
be asked to stay for the after

458

ON THE
BLOCK

Christies:
Sells Indian art
in London, New
York and, since
2013, Mumbai.
Has established
the most records
for Indian modern
art and has a
track record for
sourcing great
works.
Sothebys:
Competes with
Christies city
to city and has
recently set up an
ofce in Mumbai,
though no India
auction has been
announced yet.
Saffronart:
Created a
successful online
auction model but
has since gone
ofine too. Also
does jewellery.
Antiques are up
next.
Pundoles:
The Mumbai
gallery morphed
into an auction
house and is
mostly supported
by the Parsi
community.
AstaGuru:
The newest
challenger on
the block is
proving it has
the gumption to
pull off successful
auctions and
records.

party is the equivalent of facing

social opprobrium. With just one
serious bidder for every 100 people
present in the room, the auctioneer
must be extremely thankful for the
telephone and online bids. Even
though it does take the zing away
for those in the room hoping to
have a gawker moment.
Whats interesting to watch is
the difference between newbie
and veteran bidders. Those being
introduced to this world are
usually accompanied by a gaggle of
supporters and you can make them
out for the wild gesticulation that
accompanies their raised paddles
as though afraid of being ignored
by the auctioneer, should that be
possible and theyve been known
to get carried away and end up with
inappropriately high bids because
they didnt know better than to
restrain themselves. Professional
bidders, on the other hand, barely
gesture with their paddles,
confi rming a bid with a mere
twitch of their head, never doubting
the auctioneers ability to notice
them though people-watchers
miss the drama.
At the end, does the day belong
to the bidder, or the auctioneer?
When they shake hands at its
conclusion, you can be sure they
arent thanking each other. For,
theyre adversaries who each tried
to get the best deal, often at the
others expense.
Kishore Singh is a critic and an art consultant

ILLUSTRATION: ROHAN HANDE

A PEEK INTO THE

THE ACTION IN
AN AUCTIONEERS
CHAMBER

HUMOUR

166

HOW NOT TO...

BY BARNABY POLE

...MANSPLAIN. (IT'S SOCIAL SUICIDE)

Without checking Google, are

you sure you already know what
mansplaining is? For female
readers, are you sure you know
what Google is?
Congratulations! Youve just been
mansplained the act of men unduly
patronizing women because of their
gender. Ill help you out further: That
superiority thing we sometimes do
166

DECEMBER 2015

when trying to affirm our relevance

in the world to women with a sturdy,
forthright remark, but end up sounding
like a dick? That. Assuming we agree
its not our best feature, should we be
worried its now also a verb?
It seems to have started with an
American writer, Rebecca Slomit, who
was attending a party. She was cornered
and lectured by a middle-aged man on
a topic he thought he was an expert on

because of the book hed just read.

He was later dumbfounded to learn
that shed actually written it. Deep
down, all men know they have done
this at some stage. Even loveable Phil
Dunphy does it to his wife Claire in
an episode of Modern Family (The,
um... The trouble is Claire struggles
with technology of any kind). I
happened to ask a male friend what he
thought and got the searingly honest
reply: I think mansplaining exists
because sometimes its necessary.
More helpfully, I also asked some
female friends for examples and
experiences. Oh, boy, were they
happy to help. My main one is
motor-vehicle related. While parking,
I generally experience older males
standing behind my car waving their
arms around in a circular motion.
Then, incredulous silence if you seem
able to park a car, said one. A guy
helpfully explained to me at length
why the gender pay gap wasnt a
problem because hed watched a
YouTube video on it, said another.
Im particularly worried about this
last one. Truly, nobody wants a world
in which men think theyre experts
on something because theyve seen
a video about it on the internet. That
ends badly.
But when it comes to suspiciously
gendered hybrids in the English
language, mansplaining isnt the only
offender. Take manbag, for example.
Admittedly a noun, not a verb, but still
entirely unnecessary. Its just a bag,
isnt it?
Then theres moobs and
mannaries. Ive always had a softer
spot, so to speak, for these two. Words
describing men whove succumbed to
gravity make sense, because breasts
are naturally gendered in a way that
casual hand luggage could never be.
Bromance may appear to be a major
offender but, considering the often
pathetic difficulty we men have in
expressing admiration or even love
for a same-sex friend, it still gets a tick
for being somewhat useful.
So maybe when people women,
even use the term, they are
mansplaining mansplaining back to
us which, of course, would mean that
the term is useless, because if both
sexes are doing it its just explaining,
isnt it? Except for the fact that its not
only obviously a thing, but also one
weve been doing for way too long.
So... Yeah. Confused? Im confused.
To help, heres a test in the form of

ILLUSTRATION: BEN JENNINGS

TALK

HUMOUR

TALK
some new neologisms Ive just made up.
Please pass judgment on the following.
WOMOANING: Excessive female nagging
about something youve already said
youd sort out.
BROANING: A man discussing his
personal failings with another fellow by
blaming someone else, usually the only

person in the world willing to have sex

with him. Eg: John! Quit broaning
about Jane, shes the best thing to
happen to you for ages. And by
best, I mean only.
WOMENTOUS: The tendency
for women to overly
exaggerate the importance
of something not-that-

THAT SUPERIORITY THING WE

DO WHEN TRYING TO AFFIRM OUR
RELEVANCE IN THE WORLD TO WOMEN
WITH A STURDY, FORTHRIGHT REMARK, BUT
END UP SOUNDING LIKE A DICK? THAT. MEN
ARE STILL TOO COMFORTABLE LETTING THEIR
INSECURITIES MASQUERADE AS PATRONIZING
BROVADO AND, AS A SEX, WED BE MUCH
MORE ATTRACTIVE IF WE STOPPED
DOING IT IMMEDIATELY

important, particularly of an
emotional nature. Eg: Stop making
it sound so womentous, I was only
joking about fancying your sister.
(See also Making a womountain
out of a molehill.)
GUY-PAD: An apartment owned by
a man with no books, pictures or
decorations, but instead furnished
almost entirely with technology,
probably manufactured by Apple.
MISS-PLACING: The phenomenon
of women never knowing where
something is. Eg: Ive lost my
keys! Have you lost them or just
miss-placed them?

But this kind of etymological

freestyling can also be dangerous.
When we come up with a catchy
phrase like mansplaining, bandy
it about in conversation smugly
and then leave it at that, were
potentially trivializing our failings.
Men are still too comfortable letting
their insecurities masquerade as
patronizing brovado and, as a sex,
wed be much more attractive
if we stopped it immediately.
Apologies, by the way, if you had
to Google the word etymological.
And if, as a man, you found that
a bit patronizing, just be thankful
you dont have to put up with old
women telling you how to park
your car.
Barnaby Pole was raised by feminists in the UK
and still feels guilty about nding armpit hair
unattractive. He now lives in Germany where
nobody has body hair. Follow him on Twitter
@biggestbarn

168

DECEMBER 2015

IMAGE: GETTY IMAGES

WOMANIPULATING This is
getting offensive now...

FILM

TALK

170

DEBUTANT'S BALL

BY TANUL THAKUR

THE BIGGEST CELLULOID

EVENTS OF 2015

n May 23, 2015, a local film gave Indian cinephiles a

reason to celebrate: Neeraj Ghaywan had won two
major awards for his debut, Masaan, at the Cannes
Film Festival. The film opened in Indian theatres
a few weeks later. But Masaans triumph of an
accomplished Indian movie, fted at a renowned film
festival and securing a theatrical release in its own country wasnt
unique. It shared that privilege with four other films Court, Kakka
Muttai, Killa and Titli and all of them shared something else in
common, a commonality that augurs well for Indian cinema: They
were all made by young debutant film-makers.
These debuts, although superficially distinct, are at their core,
quite similar. Both Court, where the outcome of a legal case is
subconsciously shaped by the social awareness and economic
standing of its lawyers and judge, and Kakka Muttai, centred on
two preteens trying to procure pizza from an eatery thats recently
opened outside their slum, talk about the two Indias that are
constantly rejecting, and yet running into, each other. Even NH10,
Navdeep Singhs second directorial venture, adeptly explores the
unsettling consequences of that intersection. Kanu Behls Titli,
and Masaan, to varying degrees, revolve around characters in
search of their freedom: The male leads, bashful and reserved,
harbour a deep-seated desire to escape their worlds, desperately
seeking solace in an unfamiliar space and time. Killa, though
thematically different from Behl and Ghaywans films, also deals
with, for a major part of its runtime, anxieties induced by isolation.
But these debuts wouldnt have materialized had their makers not
found key collaborators and mentors at critical junctures. Ghaywan
assisted Anurag Kashyap on Gangs Of Wasseypur and Ugly, while
Behl worked with Dibakar Banerjee on Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! and
Love, Sex Aur Dhokha. Later, Kashyap and Banerjee helped coproduce their protgs first films. Similarly, Chaitanya Tamhane,
Courts director, formed a fruitful creative and financial partnership
with Vivek Gomber, who both acted in and produced the film.
M Manikandan, a wedding photographer by profession before
directing his first feature, impressed Tamil film-maker Vetrimaaran
with Kakka Muttais script, who along with Dhanush decided to
produce the movie. Kashyap, Banerjee, Vetrimaaran, Gomber and
Dhanush are primarily known as directors and actors rather than
producers, and it was this sensibility recognizing the need for
stories like these to be told, regardless of their commercial viability
that allowed these fine debuts to happen.
Some of these films also toyed with the conventional definition
of a hero; Killa and Kakka Muttai, in particular, which placed kids at
the centre of their stories. Indian directors, for long, have failed to
appropriately utilize children in their films, often overselling and

banking on their cuteness and innocence. Killa and Kakka Muttai, in

sharp contrast and quite laudably, managed to achieve the opposite:
Their protagonists were fully formed, complete with complexities
and ambiguities, defying simplistic labels. Manikandan and Arun
did retain, through their characters, the quintessential qualities
of childhood, the sense of wonderment and innocence, but their
heroes werent paragons of virtue; they were, at various times,
impolite, cheeky, sarcastic and, often, self-aware.
Eleven-year-old Chinmay, Killas lead, who is otherwise shown
as reticent in the film, scribbles an expletive on the wall of the
schools toilet when no ones watching; his letters to his cousin
include inquiries centred on, among other things, masturbation. The
brothers in Kakka Muttai slyly dupe a delivery guy to peer into his
box that contains slices of pizza, and ingeniously devise a method to
make money out of men too drunk to find their homes.
Masaans fourth character, who plays a crucial role in the films
climax, is a kid called Jhonta (Nikhil Saini), sharing an unlikely bond
with an elderly retired college professor one that contains shades of
filial affection and playful companionship. Even the biggest grosser
of the year, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, featured a six-year-old girl, Shahida
(Harshil Malhotra), who was as integral to the film as Salman Khan.
Happily, this trend of new directors making their own rules
is set to continue: A couple of months ago, Kannada fi lm Thithi
won two top awards at the Locarno International Film Festival;
Vetrimaarans Visaranai (Interrogation) screened at the Venice
International Film Festival in the Orizzonti section, where Court
premiered last year. Even Shah Rukh Khan whos signed his next
few films with risk-taking directors such as Anand L Rai, Maneesh
Sharma, Rahul Dholakia and, reportedly, Imtiaz Ali seems
intent to take some chances himself. This is promising, because if
Bollywoods reigning King is trying something other than extending
his arms in foreign locales, then even the most cynical of cinegoers
will have something to look forward to in 2016.
Tanul Thakur is an award-winning lm critic who, in a different life,
used to be an engineer

170

DECEMBER 2015

facebook.com/clarksindia

twitter.com/clarksindia

Instagram.com/clarksindia

Visit www.clarks.in for latest store locations and online shopping

+91 22 7111 7700

AO1, Amerchand Mansion, 16 Madame
Cama Road, Colaba, Mumbai 400 001, India
sales@simone.com | www.simone.com

Fine Fabrics | Furniture | Artefacts

Tuesday to Sunday: 11am - 8pm

WORDS: SHIVANGI LOLAYEKAR

OM
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EDITED BY VIJENDRA BHARDWAJ & SHIVANGI LOLAYEKAR

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IN THE FINEST
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When we say invest in quality leather, were not talking about the tote you schlep to the grocery store or
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DECEMBER 2015

173

THE GUIDE

YOU GOTTA
WEAR THE RIGHT
TROUSERS IF
YOURE GONNA BE
A ROCK STAR

1 TURN IT UP

BOTTOMS
UP

Trousers that twist and

shout make a loud
statement. Add excess
leg room to the mix and
youve found yourself the
perfect combo of style
and comfort.
BOMBER JACKET, `25,000,
REFLECTIVE PATIALA, `15,000, SHOES,
`18,000; ALL BY KUNAL RAWAL

We still put them on one leg at a time,

but pants arent what they used to be.
Move on from skinny jeans and slim
chinos and embrace the golden age of
below-the-waist fashion
PHOTOGRAPHED BY PRABHAT SHETTY

KUNAL RAWAL
Theres more than one
silhouette that suits every
body type. The idea is
to go out there and nd
what works for you with
an open mind.

2 FLOWER POWER
A throwback to Woodstock, Arjun
Salujas palazzos would get Jimi
Hendrixs approval.
BLAZER, PANTS; BOTH BY RISHTA BY ARJUN
SALUJA, PRICE ON REQUEST. VEST BY KUNAL
RAWAL, `3,000. SHOES BY CLARKS, `9,000

ARJUN SALUJA
The changing shape of
trousers is more visible
from a street style point
of view today. How you
wear them comes down
to your personality.
174

DECEMBER 2015

ive years ago, pants were a

straightforward proposition,
a non-issue, the opposite of a
fashion-conversation starter. It
was the heyday of flat-front chinos
and slim, dark denim. Those were
your options. Maybe you had a pair of
cargo pants or wool trousers in your
rotation. Maybe. Adventurous fashion
happened above the belt and below
the ankle, but what went on in between
was a not-so-risky business.
In the past two seasons, thats all
changed, with everyone from Neil
Barrett to Gucci staking claim to a
trousers tribe. Givenchy: loose leg,
tapered hem. Balmain: skinny track
pants, padded knee, back seams. Rick
Owens: extreme drop-crotch, which
hes perfected over the years. Gone
is the fear of attracting too much
attention or being held hostage by the
cult of the slim and skinny. One pair to
rule them all? Not anymore.
We have officially entered the era
of statement trousers a modern
pantsosphere populated by the rolled,
pleated, patterned, cinched, cropped,

ASSISTANT STYLIST: DESIREE FERNANDES. HAIR & MAKE-UP: MONA ANAND/BBLUNT. MODEL: KRISHNA CHATURVEDI/TOABH TALENT MANAGEMENT. IMAGE: GETTY
IMAGES (SALUJA), REX FEATURES

WRITTEN BY SHIVANGI LOLAYEKAR & ANTONINA JEDRZEJCZAK

STYLED BY TANYA VOHRA

THE GUIDE

3 EASY BREEZY
If you thought wide-leg pants
were for women, you havent
tried on the airy, masculine
version. They instantly put you
in a league of stylish men. Just
ask Jude Law and Purab Kohli.
LINEN DIGITAL PRINTED SHIRT, `6,400,
LINEN TROUSERS, `7,500; BOTH BY ANTAR
AGNI BY UJJAWAL DUBEY. SHOES BY
TRSMODE, `6,000

ANTAR AGNI BY
UJJAWAL DUBEY
Interesting trousers can be
paired with the simplest or
the most dramatic shirts and
the result is equally impactful.
Men are now realizing this
more and are more willing
to experiment.

extra-wide, cargo and jogger. Pants were

always the most consistent thing. They
were never really a consideration, says
Toby Bateman, the buying director at Mr
Porter. If you wanted to express yourself,
it would be through your shirt, your
shoes, or your jacket. Today, pants are
speaking volumes.
The pairing of Nike Flyknits or Adidas
Stan Smiths with just about everything
and the rise of sportswear in general
has a lot to do with the breaking-down
of a mans standard-issue uniform. (If
rocking sneakers with a pair of suit slacks
is permissible, traditional rules need not
apply.) Add to that the explosion of streetstyle blogs that celebrate adventurous
head-to-toe dressing, and youve got a
sartorial force propelling menswear in a
decidedly more daring direction, pants
included.
Like it or not, what men choose to
slip their legs through every morning
has always been linked to our idea of
masculinity. Graduating to long pants
from shorts and kneesocks was once
a full-on rite of passage, and until the
Seventies, trousers were so synonymous
with maleness that women were banned
from wearing them in some New York
City restaurants.
176

DECEMBER 2015

GAURAV GUPTA
Indian men have been
wearing draped trousers,
lungis and dhotis for ages.
With the idea of the Global
Indian emerging, men are
going back to their roots and
experimenting with different
silhouettes, old and new. Lets
embrace the difference.

4 BREAK IT DOWN
Remixed churidar pants are simply
the easiest way to break away from
the stereotypical slim-t chinos
you alway wear.
ASYMMETRIC PANELLED SHIRT, `9,200, WHITE
CIRCULAR ROCOCO TROUSERS, `22,000; BOTH BY
GAURAV GUPTA. SHOES BY TRSMODE, `6,000

THE GUIDE

5 ROYAL TREATMENT
Endorsed by princes and polo players
alike, breeches are the mark of a classy
gent. And no one cuts them better than
Raghavendra Rathore.
BANDHGALA, `80,000, SHIRT, `7,000, BREECHES, `13,000;
ALL BY RAGHAVENDRA RATHORE. SHOES BY CLARKS,
`6,000. POCKET SQUARE BY 16 STITCHES, `1,000

RAGHAVENDRA
RATHORE
A style treasured by the
Rajasthani aristocracy,
breeches have been worn
in Jodhpur for years. Even
today they are unmatched
icons of Indian style.

So whats the formula for

successfully shaking things up in a
world where the cropped drop-crotch
is claiming its place alongside flat-front
khakis? Where theres no sartorial true
north to keep you from looking like
MC Hammer or, worse, SpongeBob
SquarePants?
The simple answer: Flip your
approach to getting dressed. Just as
youd make a bold, technical overcoat
an outfits focal point, choose the pants
first and use them to anchor the rest
of your look. What do Kanye, Orlando
Bloom and Justin Bieber have in
common? They all own some crazy
pants; but their crazy pants dont own
them. With guys in the business, you
see a lot of printed-silk pants, whether
its Valentino, Givenchy or Christopher
Kane. And they look good, but thats
not for your regular guy, Bateman
says. But I think your regular guy can
wear a jersey jogger from Lanvin or a
skinny jean from Saint Laurent.
The beauty of manifold options
is that you actually get to be more
comfortable (painted-on raw denim
be damned). If one silhouette is
unflattering or puts your reproductive
system at risk, dont wear it. On the
other hand, getting the more avantgarde styles tailored to suit your body
type is no tougher than taking in the
hem on your work slacks. The choice
of where to land on the cut-and-fit
spectrum is yours alone and if you
dont want to retire your skinnies, well,
thats fine too.

SHANTANU & NIKHIL

The changing shape of
trousers gives men the
opportunities to layer and
bring a lot more versatility
to their daily look going
from work to play.

6 FAR AND WID

The secret to wearing this dhotipalazzo hybrid is nonchalance.
Pair yours with a black shirt for
an East-meets-West vibe that
few will be able to match.
SHIRT, `38,000, PANTS, `22,000; BOTH
BY SHANTANU & NIKHIL. SHOES BY KUNAL
RAWAL, `18,000

178

DECEMBER 2015

THE GUIDE
An art print of classical Greek cavalry

THEN
AND
NOW
GQ zooms in
on the trouser
timeline - the
key styles and
iconic moments
in the evolution
of men's pants

PLUS FOURS
Volume pants hung over
the knees, ballooning about
4 inches in an overlap.
Here, Golfer Bobby Jones
aunts a pair in 1936.

HIGH-CUT
Cut midway between the chest and waist, high pants were usually
held up by braces. It was common to see them on Englishmen in
1914 as they strolled through Londons Hyde Park.

THE SWITCH

JEAN PAUL GAULTIER S/S 1992

BREECHES &
PANTYHOSE
Peter The Great passed an ordinance in
Russia, making it compulsory for men to
wear pants. In the late 1700s, the Dandy
came alive in England and France, with
Beau Brummell leading the way: Think lace
edges, pantyhose, breeches and heels.

THE
JODHPURS
THE SKIRT
Once the preserve of kings and
maharajas, skirts were the mark
royalty. Theyve been pushed into
menswear time and again, most
notably by French designer Jean
Paul Gaultier in the Noughties.

COMME DES GARONS A/W 2015

4th Earl of
Pembroke,
1615

Sir Pratap Singh, the

Regent of Jodhpur
and an avid polo
player, invented
a new style of
pants in 1890 a
combination of
breeches and the
churidar called the
Jodhpuri trouser.
His version included
leather reinforcement
in the inner thigh
and tighter calves
to enable wearing
riding boots.

An Indian
maharaja in
Europe, 1935

STRAIGHT LEG
orian era saw straight trousers
triped) worn to formal affairs.
glish composer and pianist
de Lara sports them in 1908 for
Fairs Men Of The Day issue.

RAGHAVENDRA RATHORE A/W 2015

STEWART GRANGER IN BEAU BRUMMELL, 1954

Once upon a long time ago, the

Greeks and Romans endorsed nudity
and wore drapes occasionally. Then
in the 2nd century, Roman soldiers
took to pants for war purposes.

Teenagers in cropped trousers, 1974

THE ZOOT,
SWING
AND BAGGY
Extra long jackets and
voluminous peg top
trousers called the
zoot suit or the zazous
(in France) were a
cultural offshoot of
the hot jazz and swing
music scene of the
Twenties, right up to
the Fifties. Elvis Presley
and Frank Sinatra both
rocked the wide leg.
Later, a tamer (but still
pleated and loose)
version ltered into the
business casual getup.
And in the Eighties and
Nineties ghetto gods
like MC Hammer made
it their own.

CAPRIS AND THE CROP

First seen in the Sixties (think Halpin in
Flipper), capris or calf-length pants reemerged in the late Nineties as sportswear
trousers. In the new millennium, Thom
Brownes brought them back to the forefront.

Thom
Browne

Jimmy Page in
concert, 1973

THE BELLS

E DRAPED LEG
costume has always
ed the dhoti, and today ma
of the (pre-stitched) draped
re often seen in the global
r arena.

GUCCI S/S 2016

JEAN PAUL GAULTIER S/S 1995

Elvis Presley on stage 1956

Flared trousers took over

the world in the Seventies
everyone from Jimmy Page
Mick Jagger and John Travo
to Amitabh Bachchan rocked
them. They disappeared
from the menswear scene
after that, until Alessandro
Michelle sent them down th
Gucci runway this year.

Mick Jagger
on stage, 1968

Rebel Without a Cause an

Wild One in the early Fift
propelled the bad boy int
role. With it came a ward
of jeans by the likes of Le
US and Lee Cooper in Eng

The boys (and

their trousers)
stayed slim and
waif-like till the
Sixties. In 2000
skinny pants sa
major resurgen
when Hedi Slim
reinvented the
Dior Homme. T
continue to ma
strong impact.

DECEMBER 2015

TOM FORD A/W 2015

IN THE JEANS

DIOR HOMME BY HEDI

SLIMANE S/S 2007

THE
SKINNY

G-STAR RAW
A/W 2015

IMAGE: CORBIS, REX FEATURES, GETTY IMAGES

James
dean in
rebel
without
a cause
1965

181

THE GUIDE

JACQUARD
EVENING JACKET,
COTTON EVENING
SHIRT, WOOL
TROUSERS,
ALL BY GUCCI

starring

IMAAD SHAH
Designer Alessandro
Micheles new
collection for
Gucci has started a
revolution: reviving
Seventies rock
star swagger and
pushing forward
gender-bending
menswear. As
ribbon bows and
dotted blazers
become sartorial
mainstays, GQ
shows you how to
pull them off
Photographed by
ERRIKOS ANDREOU
Written by
SHIVANGI LOLAYEKAR
Styled by
TANYA VOHRA

182

DECEMBER 2015

ILD
HE W

CHIL

ROBERT PLANT

PHOTO AGENCY: DEU: CREATIVE MANAGEMENT. ASSISTANT STYLIST: DESIREE FERNANDES. HAIR & MAKE-UP: MONA ANAND/BBLUNT. PRODUCTION: PALLAVI KUMAR. LOCATION: ELLIPSIS, MUMBAI

THAT
70s
SHOW

Design & 2014 Little Yellow Beetle

CABLE KNIT
SWEATER, SILK
CRPE SHIRT,
COTTON PANT;
ALL BY GUCCI

The high-voltage
sex appeal that
had seeped into
Guccis core by
way of previous
bosses Tom
Ford and Frida
Giannini is gone

184

DECEMBER 2015

ack in 1975, when Robert Plant

walked onstage in Madison
Square Garden, hair long
and unruly, wearing crotchhugging jeans and a body-kissing floral shirt
left unbuttoned to flaunt his painfully lithe
frame, women went wild. Guitarist Jimmy Page
wasnt far behind in an embroidered pantsuit,
performing an unrehearsed 20-minute version
of his tour de force Dazed And Confused. This
was rock n roll history in the making.
The Seventies was an era dipped in
hedonistic glamour, soundtracked by everyone
from Led Zeppelin to Chic; fronted by the likes
of Andy Warhol; and dressed by legends like
Halston in a combination of hippie chic and rock
glam. Cut to 2015, when Guccis new creative
director Alessandro Michele debuted his first
full-fledged show in August. Out came the
birds, bees and butterflies embroidered on seethrough tops, pussy bow blouses and silk suits.
Oversized yellow-tinted sunnies masked models
with hair so long you couldnt tell whether they
were male or female. The allusion to the Me
Decade was palpable candy-coloured lights
across the ceiling of an abandoned train station,
roided up with a double dose of psyche rock. A
young Page and Plant wouldnt have looked out
of place here.
Only, Michele wasnt mimicking the
swashbuckling style of the Seventies; he was
recreating it, in more polished fashion, speaking
to a new generation of eccentric minds. The
muses for his Spring/Summer 2016 and more
recent Cruise 2016 collection could range from
a Left Bank intellectual to a Wes Anderson
character, indie musicians to youth ready to
break the moulds of conformity. The highvoltage sex appeal that had seeped into Gucci
by way of previous creative directors Tom Ford
and Frida Giannini was gone. And a radical
era of vintage opulence and bohemia is now
underway an aesthetic about-turn you only see
once in a few decades.

PHOTO AGENCY: DEU: CREATIVE MANAGEMENT. ASSISTANT STYLIST: DESIREE FERNANDES. HAIR & MAKE-UP: MONA ANAND/BBLUNT. PRODUCTION: PALLAVI KUMAR. LOCATION: ELLIPSIS, MUMBAI

THE GUIDE

THE LINE-UP

PRADA

CALVIN KLEIN JEANS

VALENTINO

DIOR HOMME

CASTELLO DORO

LOUIS VUITTON

CARRYON

The coolest alternative to a holdall just got a designer makeover.

Which means its not for schoolboys anymore

186

DECEMBER 2015

PHOTO: VLAD ANTONOV. STYLING: KIRILL AKIMOV

LONGCHAMP

PHOTO: EDWARD URRUTIA. STYLING: EMMA FAGG

NYLON BACKPACK BY
PRADA, `97,100

LEATHER BACKPACK BY
BALLY, `91,500

LEATHER CHRISTOPHER PM BACKPACK

BY LOUIS VUITTON, `2,65,700

NEOPRENE ALIOSHA BACKPACK BY

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN, `1,88,600

CANVAS/LEATHER BACKPACK BY
BURBERRY BRIT, `71,900

LEATHER BACKPACK BY HUGO

BY HUGO BOSS, `68,800

LEATHER BACKPACK BY
DIOR HOMME, `2,75,500

NYLON-BLEND BACKPACK
BY PAUL SMITH, `52,200

LEATHER BACKPACK BY
GUCCI, `1,58,800

DECEMBER 2015

187

THE LINE-UP

TOPMAN, `1,250

HUGO BOSS,
`11,000

PAUL SMITH,
`10,500

LOUIS VUITTON,
`34,400

TUMI, `5,250

MIND
THE
STRAP

DUNHILL, `18,100

BURBERRY `27,200

AIGNER AT GRAYS,
`12,000

Dont reduce one of the most functional fashion

pieces to a mere behind-the-scenes accessory.
Belt on with pride
LACOSTE, `7,100

188

DECEMBER 2015

WORDS: JASON ALEXANDER BASSON. PHOTO: SBASTIEN ROHNER

TAG HEUER,
`22,700

suits

/hallmarksuits
www.hallmarksuits.in
contact@hallmarksuits.in

GQ
EYE
TOP PICKS FROM
THE STYLE DESK

TWO WAY

Dean and Dan Caten

were born in Toronto,
live in London, and
show their label,
Dsquared2, in Milan.
And its in this nexus
that, for the past
20 years, the twins
have found their
niche: unrestrained
menswear that
ashes up a Canadian
ake on denim and
plaid, Brit punk and
talian tailoring. To
celebrate Dsquared2s
0th anniversary, the
Catens have looked
o the archives for
his years Fall/Winter
ollection. There are
rapper hats, tuxedos
n velvet, camouflage,
nd leather jackets
with studs and fringe.
squared2.com

FINE VINTAGE

ROCK N ROLL

To celebrate the 60th birthday of fashion

powerhouse Renzo Rosso, Diesel has
released a Limited Edition watch. Set in
a case thats more edges than curves, the
dials got his birth date 15/9/55 lit up
in fluorescent numbers, and a personal
message from Rosso himself etched
into the caseback. And, just so that we
remember that this man is in fact the
Jeans Genius, the strap on this ticker,
limited to 555 pieces, is made from black
denim. Rosso, rock on. diesel.com

OLD FASHIONE

Sixty-five years on, who would have ever thought th

young British soldiers wartime distraction would bec
the inspiration for one of the worlds most recogniza
shoes: Clarks Desert Boots. You can wear them o
Rocky Mountain camping trip, for a midnight stroll
New York or to a dive bar in Delhi, and theyll surviv
They also have yet to fall out of style. For that matter, the
probably wont for years to come. clarks.
190

DECEMBER 2015

Sometimes the
most subtle
accoutrements
have the strongest
impact. And few
understand this
better than Dior
Hommes artistic
director Kris
Van Assche, whos
put out a new
collection of
sumptuous wine
le t

BLACK BEAUTY
Meet the bag that will change how you
function. Herms Cabacity 45 is a
drawstring satchel nested within a roomy
carryall thatll stock your office stuff and
your casual clothes to transition from
work to the weekend in Alibaug like a
bawse. hermes.com

WORDS: SHIVANGI LOLAYEKAR, VARUN GODINHO, KEVIN PIRES (DSQUARED2)

THE LIST

WHISKY
Special
a

MILE
HIGH

Few places contain as much existential dread

as the modern airport. Which is why drinking
is always a good idea. We pick the rarest, most
decadent reserves from Mumbai Duty Free that
alone are worth travelling for
PHOTOGRAPHED BY NIRMAL JAIN

JW ODYSSEY
This big daddy is a
smooth blend of three
single malts, packaged in
a crystal decanter that
swings 360 degrees so
its impossible to spill
even at sea.
Price on request

ROYAL SALUTE
38-YEAR-OLD STONE
OF DESTINY
Named after the legendary Coronation
stone of the ancient Scottish Kings, this has
one of the richest, most luxurious avours
youll nd.
`26,000

192

DECEMBER 2015

MACALLAN M DECANTER
BY LALIQUE
Drawn from Spanish sherry oaks dating back to the
Forties and packaged in a limited edition crystal
bottle, this ones for savouring, not swigging.
`2,61,000

WHISKY
Special
a

SINGLETON OF
GLEN ORD ARTISAN
When only a hand-crafted, small-batch
single malt will do.
`10,650

LAPHROAIG 25 YEAR OLD

Characterized by an intense medicinal avour, Laphroaig
falls into the love-it-or-hate-it category. We love it. The
25 Year Old, especially, is a mellow, restrained expression
with delicate peat (for Froyg anyway), baked apple notes
and a gentle nuttiness. A malt to unwind with.
`34,300

GLENMORANGIE
SIGNET
Possibly the storied distillerys
most unorthodox offering. The lack
of an age statement on the bottle
is a statement in itself.
`12,740

BALVENIE
TRIPLE
CASK AGED
12 YEARS
Made from three different
casks and with three
distinct avour proles
(vanilla, cinnamon and
honeycomb), this makes a
cracking end to any meal.
`5,030

194

DECEMBER 2015

WHISKY
Special
a

BRUICHLADDICH
ORGANIC
It may look more like a shampoo
bottle, but once you taste this
non-peated rebel from Islay youll
know just how serious it is.
`6,010

DEWARS
SIGNATURE
Awarded 95 points in Jim
Murrays Whisky Bible,
this one is a fresh hit
of vanilla fudge and cut
owers and cacao. Find a
good friend and put the
world to rights over a
few glasses.
`11,440

JAMESON
SIGNATURE
RESERVE
A sweet Irish blend with
no hard edges. Just the
kind needed to put you
into a sweet, deep sleep
on a long ight.
`3,140

196

DECEMBER 2015

ARDBEG
The godfather of Islay malts, this
chest hair-producing, coalmine-in-aglass whisky may be a tad intense,
but its still a damned good dram.
`4,380

Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann

THE ULTIMATE
SHOPPING DESTINATION
Located in the heart of Paris, Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann,
on the Boulevard Haussmann, has the best creations on offer in its 70,000m.
The agship store, symbol of the Parisian elegance, offers more than 3,500
brands from affordable to the most prestigious references.

La cave, an embassy
for champagnes
and wines
La Cave, at Galeries Lafayette Maison &
Gourmet,

is

450m

space

dedicated

to wines, spirits and Champagne. It was

designed to showcase a range of more than
2,500 references. The wide selection is sure
to satisfy both connoisseurs and novices alike.
Alcohol abuse is harmful to your health. To be consumed
with moderation.

The ultimate
shopping destination

Exclusive offer
Exclusive offer*:
Benefit a 10%** discount upon presentation of

Since its creation in the late 19 th century,

Galeries

Lafayette

Paris

Haussmann

has

this page to the store cashiers. This discount

can be added to the 12%*** tourist tax refund.

aptly expressed everything that is fashionable

Receive a gift upon presentation of this page

at the moment through a subtle, constantly

and your cash register receipt at the welcome

renewed selection of brands, from the most

and information desk located on the ground

prestigious to the most accessible.

floor of the Galeries Lafayette Coupole near

to the Mogador entrance. One gift per person

Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann offers

a large selection of items in every segment,
from fashion to accessories, beauty, interior
decoration and fine food.

and per page.

* Valid until 31/03/2016.
** The discount does not apply on services, food, beverages,
books, items marked with red dot, and cannot be cumulated
with other discounts.
*** See conditions in store.

GALERIES LAFAYETTE PARIS HAUSSMANN:

40, BOULEVARD HAUSSMANN, 75009 PARIS
METRO: CHAUSSE DANTIN - LA FAYETTE
Open Monday through Saturday from 9.30 AM to 8 PM.
Late opening every Thursday until 9 PM.
Special opening every Sunday in December from 11 AM to 7 PM.
Tel: +33 (0)1 42 82 36 40 - haussmann.galerieslafayette.com/en

Code: 670 132

WHISKY
Special
a

GLENLIVET
21 YEAR OLD
SINGLE MALT
SCOTCH
The most mature of the Glenlivet
classic range, this much awarded
21 Year Old is a debonair addition
to your bar.
`11,300

198

DECEMBER 2015

CHIVAS 18
Chivas blended whiskies, which
were introduced over a century
ago, were one of the rst luxury
whiskies the world saw and
loved. The 18 Year Old made with
over 20 malt and grain whiskies
makes it simple to see why.
`6,860

GLENFIDDICH
VINTAGE CASK

MONKEY
SHOULDER

A seriously classy single malt

with a lightly peated avour.
Unveil it on very special
occasions.
`8,170

A unique triple malt thats so

drinkable it dees convention.
Just knowing about it makes
you a man of mystery.
`2,875

FOR THE
LOVE OF GIFTING

Celebrate the festive season at Mumbai Duty Free with its latest
Christmas campaign, The Joy of Gifting
If youre travelling from Mumbai this
winter, stop by Mumbai Duty Free (MDF)
and pick out the perfect Christmas gift
for your loved ones. Celebrating its
latest campaign, The Joy of Gifting,
MDF presents its premium offerings
at unbeatable prices, along with
exclusive promotions to help you nd
the perfect present.
This year, MDF will be converted into
a winter wonderland, with the entire
store featuring Christmas elements to
get you into the festive mood. However,
the highlight of this years promotions is
the special BMW activity. While you are
sifting through various spirits and gifts,
dont forget to stop by MDFs BMW store
promotion for a chance to take home a
BMW 320d.
Whats more, MDF has also tied up
with the upcoming romantic action lm
Dilwale. If you shop at MDF before
December 18, you can win an exclusive
meet-and-greet with the stars of the
movie, Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol.
So, if you nd yourself passing
through Terminal 2 at the Chhatrapati
Shivaji International Airport from
December to January, dont forget to
shop at MDF.

HAPPY SPIRIT
SHOPPING!

An expansive range of spirits

spread over 2,500sq ft
Over 39,000 bottles displayed at
any given time
120 plus single malts available
More than 700 liquor brands to
choose from
Exclusive special savings on
pre-order facility

DRIVE
AWARDS
2015

WORDS: JASON BARLOW

INDIA

200

DECEMBER 2015

Not in recent memory have so many luxury brands shifted out of their comfort
zone in a single year. From rst-time SUVs by Jaguar and Bentley to a spankingnew Rolls-Royce (convertible) as well as an Indian motorcycle-maker thats creating
a stir on the global stage, we raise a well-greased wrench to this years rising stars
EDITED BY VARUN GODINHO

BEST COLLAB

LAND ROVER
DEFENDER X PAUL
SMITH
Land Rovers Defender has dodged
the sword of Damocles a few times
in its 67 years, but now the end is
truly nigh: Production will stop in
December. Two million have been
made since 1948, when the Series
I arrived, and an estimated 75 per
cent of Landies are still running
wherever in the world they ended
up most likely in all 195 of the
planets countries. But GQs favourite
is the singular edition created by Sir
Paul Smith. No fewer than 27 colours
enliven the cars agelessly appealing
utilitarian exterior. Theres a handpainted bumblebee on the roof, blue
leather trim on the air conditioning
vents and a set of keys painted on the
inside of the glove box.

THE NEW DEFENDER

It lands within the next two
years and insiders insist the
new Defender is a corker. The
2011 DC100 show car was too
pretty and not robust enough
for some observers, and served
as a reminder that anything
wearing the Defender badge
has to weather a Russian winter
as convincingly as it handles a
tony city suburb. Three million
hardcore utility vehicles
including Toyotas indestructible
Hi-Lux and Nissans Patrol are
sold worldwide every year, so the
stakes are high.

DRIVE
AWARDS
2015
INDIA

LIVE WIRE

PORSCHE MISSION E CONCEPT

In the world of electric cars, sheer power and acceleration rouse little excitement
(although its good to know that the Mission E concepts got a 600hp engine and can
do 0-100kph in 3.5 seconds). Here, the endgame is maximizing range. Unveiled at the
Frankfurt Motor Show, this four-seater supercar can travel 500km on a single charge.
Better still, it can charge up to 80 per cent of its capacity in just 15 minutes. And its
got zero emissions.

BILLIONAIRES CONVERTIBLE
BEST WEEKEND BAG
TO THROW IN THE
BACKSEAT OF A HOT
HATCH

TUMI X MINI

By proclaiming it to be a drivers car, RR hopes to snare a completely different customer

from its traditional base that has until now always done business in the back seat. The
brands kitted this convertible with a massive 6.6-litre V12 engine that heaves its nearly
2.5-tonne frame from 0-100kph in an improbably quick five seconds. And its got some
clever driver aids too: Theres a nifty satellite-aided transmission system that will scan
the road ahead and pre-select the optimal gear from among the eight available.

WORDS: VARUN GODINHO

In a move thatd make the UN

proud, American luggagemaker TUMI has collaborated
with MINI, the British car
manufacturer with German
engineering credentials, to
create a capsule collection
each made from military-spec
ballistic nylon. Our pick is this
trolley, that rolls as well as
your ride does.

ROLLS-ROYCE DAWN

202

DECEMBER 2015

BEST SUPERCAR

FERRARI
488 SPIDER

MOVIE OF THE YEAR

The 488 Spider is the

most powerful and
aerodynamic mid-engined
V8 convertible to come out of
Maranello yet. The 3.9-litre engine generates a
stellar 661hp of power. And, this being a Ferrari,
it seems almost anachronistic to quote 0-100kph
times its appropriate instead to note that it goes
from 0-200kph in 8.7 seconds, and all the way to
a hair-raising 326kph. Its even got an F1-derived
dual-clutch seven-speed gearbox. We wouldnt
drop the term best Ferrari ever lightly, but
theres a strong case for this ride.

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE
ROGUE NATION
Despite a career spanning over three
decades, 2015s Rogue Nation is Tom Cruises
highest-grossing film of all time. There were
thunderous action sequences and climactic
chases, with some fascinating cars and
bikes driven and ridden on the limit too.
Chief among them were a BMW M3 (driven
backwards at one point), X5 xDrive 40e and
6 Series convertible. The coolest though was
Cruise ripping a BMW S1000RR, one of the
worlds fastest accelerating bikes (0-100kph
in 3 seconds, with a top speed of 305kph).
Rogue, indeed.

DRIVE
AWARDS
2015
INDIA

EDITORS CHOICE

ROCKET MAN

AUDI TT
Theres visual evidence to call this one of
Audis sportiest: a flat-bottomed steering
wheel, a body thats lither and lighter
by 50kg than the outgoing model, and
a racing-inspired fuel cap. The turbine
A/C vents are angled towards the driver,
and theres no infotainment system to
entertain any other passenger all the
necessary information has migrated
to the instrument cluster behind the
steering wheel. In Dynamic mode,
a tiny actuator fitted into the 2-litre
dynamo feeds the cars glorious rev
notes from the torquey 370Nm engine
into the cabin. Exactly why you should
white-knuckle grip the wheel and keep
your right foot pinned.

204

DECEMBER 2015

Since the Fifties, Mercedes most imperious saloon has

always spawned an era-defining coup. The latest version
is more sharply clothed than its predecessors and takes
full advantage of Mercs techno-superiority to inject some
dynamism into the mix. The big news here is the debut of
a system called active curve tilting, which uses the Magic
Body Controls camera-scan function to register corners
up to 15 metres away. The camera relays its findings to
the cars individual suspension struts and alters their
angle by up to 2.5 degrees to keep things level between
speeds of 30-180kph. Elsewhere, the Coups panoramic
sunroof features Magic Sky Control you can choose how
much of it you want to see and if its LED headlights
arent powerful enough, you can option an additional 47
Swarovski crystals. Clearly, 46 werent quite enough.

WORDS: VARUN GODINHO, JASON BARLOW (MERCEDES-AMG)

MERCEDES-AMG S63 AMG

COUP

IF BOND OWNED A TRAIN

PININFARINA E320
EUROSTAR TRAIN

From the Alfa Romeo 8C (1933) and the outrageous Ferrari

Sergio (2014), through to yachts and private jets, Italian
design firm Pininfarina has created some of the most
iconic vehicle shapes of the past century and has now
turned its attention to the trans-Europe express. La dolce
vita is brought to life with Pininfarinas sweeping design
aesthetics applied to livery, seating, bars, lighting and
even onboard meeting rooms. Even leaves on the track
couldnt stop it.

DRIVE
AWARDS
2015
INDIA

GLOBAL INDIAN

ROYAL ENFIELD
This brands got some serious ambition. First, it had
record global sales in 2013. Then it unveiled its Continental
GT 535 caf racer last year, a bike thats been a thumping
success in Europe, with its two manufacturing facilities
in Chennai already peaking at their half-a-million annual
capacity. Next, it poached some fine hands like ex-Ducati
designer Pierre Terblanche and Mark Wells (of Triumph
Daytona 675 and Explorer fame). Last year, it also set
up dealerships in Dubai, Paris, Madrid, London, Bogota,
Jakarta and Melbourne but thats only the beginning.
Its next stop: Milwaukee, USA. We get it, Enfield.

PARIS

WORDS: VARUN GODINHO

LONDON

MADRID

206

DECEMBER 2015

Eternity Lifestyles Pvt. Ltd.

+91.22.4340.2222
info@eternitylifestyles.com

KING OF THE ROAD

MERCEDESBENZ G63 AMG

ULTIMATE
EXTRAVAGANCE

DRIVE
AWARDS
2015
INDIA

BREITLING MULLINER
TOURBILLON CLOCK
IN THE BENTLEY
BENTAYGA
$180,000. Thats the cost of the
diamond-studded Breitling Mulliner
Tourbillon clock, optional of course,
that nearly doubles the price of
Bentleys first SUV. The purpose of a
tourbillon is to protect the movement
from gravitational forces. Good thing
then that Bentley added a tourbillon
the Bentayga is the worlds fastest
SUV, ripping through 0-100kph in 4.1
seconds, which means that this clock
will be subjected to some serious
g-forces.

This isnt a car as much

as a battering ram. From
conquering armies to
peace-loving Popes, the
Gelndewagen has showed
up for duty for a varied
demographic over the
last 35 years. This year,
Mercedes introduced the
G63 AMG Crazy Colours
Edition in India, with one
variant each in Solar Beam,
Sunset Beam and Alien
Green up for sale, for a
whopping `2.17 crore. The
deliberate hard-edged
exteriors complement that
beast of an engine a rorty
5.5-litre V8 thats good for
544hp (nearly equal to the
combined horsepower of
five MINIs).

MOST RADICALLY
OVERHAULED SUV

MARS VEHICLE

LAND ROVER
DISCOVERY
SPORT
Were done with soft-roaders
SUVs masquerading as offroad vehicles that in reality
lose traction on so much as
a wet patch. But the new
Discovery Sport is the real
deal: a proper off-roader that
doesnt look like a tool. It has
the go-anywhere capability
of a Freelander (which the
Disco Sport replaces) and the
city-bred good looks of the
Evoque. Screaming metal.

208

DECEMBER 2015

Any generational update

requires a thorough
revamp, and the German
marque delivers with
this second-gen ride (the
Q7 was in fact Audis
entry ticket into the SUV
market ten years ago).
From a new platform (it
now shares one with
Porsche and Bentley)
and powertrain (the
thirsty 4.2-litre V8s
been traded in for a fuelsipping 2.9-litre V6) to its
chassis (300kg lighter)
and infotainment system
(capable of computing
8 billion operations per
second), this is one heck
of a makeover.

WORDS: VARUN GODINHO

AUDI Q7

THE SUV YOU CANT

CRASH (EVEN IF YOU
WANTED TO)

VOLVO XC90
Volvos safety chops are legendary.
(It even invented the three-point
safety belt back in 1959.) Short
of taking over the steering, this
second-gen XC90 is the most idiotproof car on the road. If you turn
into an intersection and the radar
detects an object in the way, it will
automatically brake. Likewise, if the
front-facing cameras sense some
erratic driving on a straight road, itll
apply more torque to the steering
wheel to help you get back in line.

DRIVE
AWARDS
2015

BEST CUSTOMIZATION

SALVATORE
FERRAGAMO DRIVERS
When it comes to footwear specialists, few brands
are as renowned as Salvatore Ferragamo. And when
it comes to shoe design, few are as loved as the
Driver moccasins. But with the new Made-To-Order
service, you wouldnt want just a ready-to-wear pair.
The customization options are limitless: textures like
crocodile, ostrich and condor calf, and colours ranging
from sapphire grey to flaming red. Then theres the
Gancio ornament the strip of metal that adorns every
pair which can be brushed in graphite or polished gold,
with personalized lettering. In short, your mocs just got
a whole lot cooler for your next summer drive.

210

DECEMBER 2015

BEST COCKPIT KIT

JAGUAR F-PACE
Called In Control Touch Pro, Jaguar claims its
infotainment system in its first-ever SUV has more
processing power than a Boeing 777: 100GB storage
drive, 1GB/s Ethernet, with a built-in WiFi system that
can hook eight devices up to the interwebs. And then
theres the software: Via your smartphone, or even
smartwatch, you can control the temperature, lock
the car and switch on the engine. If youre headed
to a meeting, enter that persons email address into
the system, and the car will send a message with
your ETA after culling the information from the sat
nav. Its also got social media connectivity and voice
recognition. Which means you can tweet while you
#KeepYourEyesOnTheRoadYourHandsUponTheWheel.

WORDS: VARUN GODINHO, SHIVANGI LOLAYEKAR (SALVATORE FERRAGAMO)

INDIA

CRUISE CONTROL

HARLEY-DAVIDSON ROAD KING

The low-slung stance, wide-set handlebars and broad rear
tyre inspire the kind of confidence necessary for a longdistance touring motorcycle. And there are the added bits
that make sitting upright for hours tolerable: adjustable
air-suspension, a leather saddle with lower lumbar
support and a windshield thatll deflect the wind as you
tear down the road. Most importantly, on a stretch that
doesnt require you to continuously shift gears, thumb
this into cruise mode and let the six-speed gearbox find
its sweet spot.

DRIVE
AWARDS
2015
INDIA

COMEBACK
OF THE YEAR

After lying in a morgue

for three years, Mercedes
ultra-luxury brand is
back. Its the quietest
car in the world. Still, the
cabins so commodious
that each time the driver
speaks, a tiny microphone
will pick up his voice
and amplify it through
the speakers in the back.
For the tycoon seated
in the Business Classstyle reclining massage
thrones, sipping Dom out
the Maybach-branded
silver flutes, theres a
special air filter too that
ionizes and perfumes the
air. Delhi dudes, youre
welcome.

212

DECEMBER 2015

WORDS: VARUN GODINHO

MERCEDESMAYBACH S600

HURRICANE

KAT

Shes a hubba hubba incarnate. But theres more to her than meets the eye.
KATRINA KAIF breaks her stoic silence on everything youve ever wondered about her

PHOTOGRAPHED BY SIGNE VILSTRUP

Written by Megha SHAH

eres what happens in this article: I meet Katrina

Kaif over three days in two cities in less than a
week. Much does not go as either of us expects.
On the first day, we mainly talk about why no one thinks shes
got a brain. On the second, we halt a Jet Airways plane thats
ready for take-off, and she shares her insecurities with me in the
cosy confines of its J Class cabin. On the third, she invites me to
her home (which she shares with Ranbir Kapoor) and reminisces
about her days as a model and thrusting her breasts into Gulshan
Grovers face. Her parting words to me on the second day as we
get out of a crowded airport coach: Shit, Ive said too much.
.
The first thought when you lay eyes on Katrina is: Thats a
lovely sight. The second: She must be a bitch.
Hers isnt a grand, gracious, self-important aura possessed
by most Bollywood stars; but a furtive, steely, dont-approachme coolness that presents itself matter-of-factly to anyone
within selfie-taking distance. Shes certain about her ideas and
puts them across firmly. But in general, she would prefer not to
put them across at all. In fact, she would prefer for there to be
no people in the room at all. We have to remind her to make
eye contact with people, a member of her mostly female team
tells me.
We are in Goa at the Alila Diwa resort shooting the
214

DECEMBER 2015

styled by vijendra BHARDWAJ

images for this cover story with a Danish photographer, her

Swedish assistant and a South African make-up artist talent
specifically requested by Katrina. Dressed in an androgynous
suit, suggestive lingerie peeping out from under her lapels,
with dahlia-shade lips and big anime eyes, she looks like some
neo-noir femme fatale en route to her next kill. But her body
language suggests otherwise. She keeps her head low, looks at
nobody and nothing except the camera. And when the shoot
pauses, and her hair is being fixed, she quickly retreats to the
back of the large suite, facing the wall, her back towards me and
the rest of the crew.
Katrina Kaif is a fiercely private person. A quality that can
easily be mistaken for arrogance in her line of work. But the
more you observe her, the more it seems like shes trying hard to
protect some particularly fragile part of herself.
Four hours into the shoot, she finally looks at me. Mainly
because Ive sat down next to her while she eats her lunch. In
front of her is a bowl of grilled fish and assorted vegetables,
which she prefers to consume with her fingers.
I know the conversation about me is rarely about my
work, she tells me. I was recently invited to a conclave
which brought together some of the countrys most brilliant
young minds, but all anybody could ask me about was my exboyfriend. I dont think people consider me intelligent.
Its strange, I tell her. The fact that people think she has
climbed her way to the top without a brain.

SHIRT BY RALPH
LAUREN. TROUSERS
BY PAUL SMITH.
LINGERIE BY MYLA.
BOW TIE BY BROOKS
BROTHERS. BRACES
BY THE BRO CODE

DECEMBER 2015

215

BLAZER BY
ERMANNO
SCERVINO.
BRIEFS BY MYLA

216

DECEMBER 2015

Its not impossible, she says, The minutes between cut and
action, you dont need to use your brain also, you shouldnt
ask questions like Is this logical? or Does this dialogue make
sense? The less you can tap into this side, the better itll be for
you. But after the shot is done its all about using your brain.
Its about people management. Its the only way to make it in an
industry thats so haphazard and highly strung.
But she hasnt had many films to talk about recently, I
remind her. Her last semi-hit (Bang Bang) released almost a
year-and-a-half ago. She looks at me sharply, and for a moment
it seems I may have offended her.
Ive had to deal with a lot of delays, she agrees. Like,
Dhoom 3 was essentially Aamir Khan and Aditya Chopra
taking the decisions. I may have screamed and stormed
around the office but it wasnt of much use.
Katrina is a double-digit exponent of good-lookingness, but
more petite than youd expect: She doesnt eat up a door frame
the way Deepika Padukone might. She flicks back her perfectly
messed-up hair and licks her lips, which have the bright,
clear-coat finish of a sportscar. She may look exceptionally
young and dewy, but Katrina belongs to a previous generation.
She isnt part of the new breed of actresses and celebutantes,
notorious for being beautiful and having fun, for treating fame
like a beach vacation full of shells to find and then Instagram.
She doesnt take selfies or feature in Dubsmash videos. She
isnt on Twitter. Fame for her is serious, something shes
worked hard for, and she cant seem to come to terms with
how it can be left naked online, for anyone to dissect.
Its easy to get a break in this business, but to maintain
your momentum you have to be one of two things crazy
talented; or you have to work your butt off... like me.
She gets a call and her voice drops slightly. Im at work,
baby. Yes, Goa. She hangs up the phone. Its Ranbir Kapoor,
whom shes been in a relationship with for about four years.
The industrys not an easy place, but the hardest thing is to
be the partner of an actor. Actors are selfish, she continues,
They may have beautiful attributes, but for the large part,
theyre megalomaniacal. As most successful people in the
world usually are.

.....

ts time to shoot on the beach, which is practically

deserted at this hour. Then one of her shapely legs
hits the sand and mayhem ensues. There are people
everywhere, all at once, perching on bicycles and
motorbikes, fast multiplying, running towards the spot where
security guards are holding up shields on either side of her:
shack owners, locals, honeymooning couples, even curious
Russians pointing, smiling, delighted. The camera phones
strobe around her like a Ferris wheel. This annoys her, but just
barely. She gives it ten minutes, and then, just like that,
shes inside a robe running away from the throng.
.....
The next time we meet, Im racing towards a deserted Jet
Airways check-in counter at Dabolim airport, waving my ticket.
The tight-lipped woman in uniform stares at me incredulously:
the flight to Mumbai is ready for take-off. The counter shut
half an hour ago. Im with Katrina Kaif... I pant and point at
the movie stars emerging figure dressed in distressed jeans
and a checked shirt. Shes back in walls-up mode, standing a
fair distance away from us, face deep in her phone, completely
transformed from the pouting, fearless goddess on the beach.

IF MY PARTNER
GIVES ME
WHAT I NEED,
I CAN BE
THE BEST
GIRLFRIEND
Ten minutes later, the aerobridge that had been detached is being
reconnected to the flight. And five minutes later were taking off.
Shah Rukh taught me this trick. He always arrives twenty
minutes before a flight, to avoid the crowds and lines. Were
seated strategically in the last row of the Business Class section.
Katrina takes her seat right back and curls into a feline position,
her legs drawn close to her chest. The sun has set and as the
cabin crew switch off the lights for take-off, were plunged
into darkness, save for the twinkling, fading lights of the town
below us. I dont know if its the dark, or the rhythmic purr of the
engines or the fact that were literally in transit, but Katrina is in a
meditative mood.
I am a very responsive person. So, ifmy partner gives me
what I need, I can be the best girlfriend you can wish for.
This isnt tough to believe.
See, men and women, theyre different. Women give birth to
babies and men dont. We cant say oh equality on all levels, were
all the same. No, our biological needs and bodies are different.
Men have been the hunters and the philanderers. Being with
an actor has its own set of issues, but the basic differences arise
because men are men. Cheaters will cheat anywhere.
It all comes down to the cards youve been dealt. The person
youve chosen, or havent chosen, because your heart chose him
for you. Look around us, marriages and relationships are in
trouble everywhere. The lucky ones are able to find selfless love
that transcends ego and insecurity.
And is she one of the lucky ones?
Shes silent for a moment and looks directly at me. Even
through the darkness, I can feel her gaze this time really looking
at me.
The back of my head wants to believe that I am. But the front
of my head says be careful. Shes silent again, for a moment.
I dont think I can make such claims, because were it selfless
love, then I wouldnt feel the need to assert myself as much in the
relationship. I would be more tolerant. I dont want to be tolerant.
I dont want to accept it, I want to fight. I want to get what I think
I deserve.
My greatest fear is that if and when I get married and
Im standing at the altar or the mandap, he may not love me
completely. That he may not know his mind well enough to be
making those commitments. The anticipation of heartbreak is my
only fear. Theres a fleeting, vulnerable quality in her voice and
it seems to come from somewhere inside her that was established
early and deeply.
We both know where the conversation is headed, yet she
seems unprepared when I voice the question. What does she
think about Ranbir working on his most recent film with exgirlfriend Deepika Padukone, the trailers of which promise
DECEMBER 2015

217

WAISTCOAT,
TROUSERS;
BOTH BY
RALPH LAUREN.
LINGERIE BY
CALVIN KLEIN.
LOAFERS BY
ERMANNO
SCERVINO

DECEMBER 2015

219

a tantalizing lip lock, among other things? Theres a long pause

(from now on all pauses are long). I cant enforce my will on the
people in my life. Their choices are their own. I may not be happy
with them but I hope that as they mature or evolve, their choices
will change. She doesnt say more.
I ask her about her father, who left her mother and seven
siblings when she was six. I didnt have a father figure and Ive
often wondered if that has affected my relationship with men. I
havent really scrutinized this with a therapist, so Im not sure.
But when I think about my daughter and the qualities I want her
to possess, I envision a big role played by her father, in instilling a
strong sense of self. Thats important to me.
Up close, Katrina is affable. Shes hard-working and focused
about the things she wants. Shes an eager learner and has the
ability to look stunning but appear completely non-threatening
too. Shes also able to say something disarmingly smart or wise
but make it sound wide-eyed and innocuous. Qualities that
probably worked in her favour when she landed in India at the
age of 17 (the 13th country she had called home by then) and
which endeared her to two older, experienced men soon after
she debuted in Kaizad Gustad's Boom, who played an important
role in shaping her life. Salman Khan, whom she met and fell in
love with when she was 18, saw her through from anonymity to
stardom, and Akshay Kumar, who starred in some of her biggest
hits, and taught her all about the business of Bollywood. She
may have been criticized for being arm candy and a glamorous
supplement in movies, but theres no denying the magnitude of
her celebrity. Katrina Kaif is as A-list as it gets.
A fact that she seems to have forgotten as she strolls out of the
plane casually once it lands, chattering about boy problems and
stepping into the coach which will take us to the domestic airport.
The base of my relationship with Salman was correct, it was
true. Which is why were still able to be friends. Around us it
seems to me as though everybody hanging on to the handles
in the coach has leaned in towards us, straining to listen,
disbelieving of their luck. But he lives in a parallel universe,
always making these jokes about me publicly which get the media
really kicked. Like, the comment he made on Kapils show when
he saw my picture on a packet of crackers. She is of no use to
me. She rolls her eyes. I called him and yelled at him. I can do
that, its the sort of equation we have. And he said Okay sorry
Ill apologize to the media. I told him to do no such thing and
maintain a dignified silence if thats possible. She laughs.
And thats when she tells me, Shit, I think Ive said too much.

.....

n her earliest memory of India, shes wearing tiny shorts

and a tee and standing in a little white room at Famous
Studios in south Mumbai holding up a chalk board with
her number on it. Shes on her daily auditioning rounds.
A bored assistant gives her a cue, she turns to her side and
shows her profile. Shes up for anything: fashion shows, events,
appearances but shes really hoping for a TV commercial
because that would mean more money. Later that night she
heads out from her rented flat near Rizvi College in Bandra to
Olive with her friends: show choreographer Alison Kanuga,
fashion model Niketan Madhok and designer Rocky S. She likes
partying, she gets a lot of attention and she knows its the best
way to network. She throws back a shot and decides to stay until
the money lasts, and then, if nothing happens, move on to the
next country.

220

DECEMBER 2015

Shes able TO
say something
disarmingly
smart or wise,
but make it
sound wide-eyed
and innocuous
Why dont you come over on Friday? If youre free, reads
Katrinas text message. And so I make my way to her three-level
Bandra residence for our final meeting, not too far from Salman
Khans home. Shes down with the flu but this turns out to be our
most upbeat encounter.
Im not as close to Ranbirs family as Id like, she says,
flopped on a couch in one of the many sitting areas, dressed in
track pants and a vest with no make-up. But Id like to hang out
with them more. Family would be a defining factor when I make
the decision to marry.
Without the weird enforced intimacy of the flight the
close seats, the drinks, the dim lights our meeting feels more
business-like. Around her a staff of about seven people are
hovering, bringing her things she doesnt seem to know she
needs. One announces the arrival of Nitya Mehra, the assistant
director of Life Of Pi, whos here for a script reading.
Sandhya, she says to her assistant, please sit with her, na?
Just engage.
And then to me, I feel like I have a lot of wisdom, experience
and a lot of knowledge to pass on. Shes joking, but only half.
But Ranbir doesnt seem to want any of it, he thinks hes doing
just fine in his career on his own.
But whether the people around her recognize it or not, the
story of Katrina Kaif is extraordinary. Home-schooled and
dragged around the world by her moms peripatetic lifestyle,
she had no money or connections in India. She was fortuitously
born with dark hair that was it. She learnt the Devanagari
script, auditioned tirelessly, changed her name, worked hard
on her body, Indianized her look, fine-tuned her image, taught
herself things she wasnt privy to knowledge that most of
her contemporaries had inherited. And then quietly, when the
others were clambering for meatier roles or declining to do
just a song, became a commanding force. The Katrina Effect
is a palpable energy that follows her everywhere she goes and
lingers long after shes left. And here, on ground zero, Im
engulfed by the charm, the wounded fragility, the hustling
enterprise, and the silent force that is Katrina. And it takes me a
few days to shake it off.

SUIT BY PAUL SMITH.

LINGERIE BY MYLA.
ASSISTANT STYLIST:
TANYA VOHRA
HAIR: BIANCA HARTKOPF/
TOABH TALENT
MAKE-UP: SUBHASH
VAGAL
PHOTOGRAPHER
AGENCY: TOMORROW
MANAGEMENT
PRODUCTION: GIZELLE
CORDO, RAMAN LAMBA/
SALT MANAGEMENT
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT:
PALLAVI KUMAR
FASHION COORDINATOR:
RAVNEET CHANNA
LOCATION: THE DIWA CLUB
BY ALILA, GOA

221

Looking out over the fertile Ziro Valley , sustained by a permanent wet rice cultivation of paddy fields which also feeds the Apatani with its
stock of fish the only hint of modernity is the corrugated aluminum roofing that replaces the traditional bamboo. It was this idyll that inspired
the festival founders to return after an accidental visit, but with bands. Lots of bands.

222

DECEMBER 2015

DIVIDED BY

By now, you may have heard about the

Ziro Festival of Music, held in the most
northeast corner of Northeast India.
But only the truly intrepid make the
gruelling journey to remotest Arunachal
Pradesh. Four years ago, the native Apatani
people rst opened their impossibly
beautiful valley to visitors from across
the Subcontinent, to share in three
days of music. Here, photographer Adil
Hasan captures this unique place where
modernity hasnt yet supplanted tradition

DECEMBER 2015

223

With one of the lowest

population densities in
India, theres plenty of
space to stretch out at
the Ziro Festival, which
is becoming more
popular by the year,
hosting folk bands
from Rajasthan, hiphoppers from Delhi
and, of course, the
rock n roll outfits that
sustain the Northeasts
musical palette. Get
there while it's still
cool, hip cats.

WE SAW THIS
BEAUTIFUL PLACE AND
SAID WHY CANT OUR
BAND PLAY HERE? AND
THEN WE REALIZED:
WHY CANT WE HAVE
TEN BANDS HERE?
WHY CANT WE HAVE A
FESTIVAL HERE?
-- RANDEEP SINGH (right),
festival co-founder & bassist for menwhopause

The Tetseo
Sisters of
Nagaland

Tripura-born Borkung
Hrangkhawl of Delhi-based
hip-hop act BK

IN THE DAYS
BEFORE THE
FESTIVAL,
LOCALS BUMP
UP PRODUCTION
OF RICE MILLET
AND BAMBOO
HOMEBREWS
TO SATE THE
THIRSTY CROWD
AND,OF COURSE,
MAKE SOME
MONEY

226

DECEMBER 2015

Ziro Valley may

be closer to the
Chinese border than
any Indian city, but
aside from the local
Apatani tribe youll
find Assamese and
Biharis, and Hindi
is embraced as a
common language
in this microclimate
of peaceful
coexistence.

Fresh off his success on Cold War-era

thriller The Americans, Rahul Khanna
heads to Vietnam with GQ for a
masterclass in luxury menswear

PHOTOGRAPHED BY KENNETH LAM

STYLED BY TANYA VOHRA
INTERVIEWED BY SHIVANGI LOLAYEKAR
228

DECEMBER 2015

JUMPER BY
CORNELIANI.
TROUSERS BY
GIVENCHY.
SLIDERS BY
MR. HARE

DECEMBER 2015

229

Some castings seem so obvious

in retrospect. Rahul Khanna,
who plays Pakistani intelligence
agent Yousaf on The Americans, is
central to one particularly salacious
episode: He strangles an American
spy, mid-coitus, before stuffing
her naked body into a suitcase
and carrying it out the front
door. Khannas performance was
stacked with seduction, titillation, a
devilish charm what any woman
would confess he brings to the
table. Khannas acting chops have
become a talking point, so we get
the actor to dish on doing the dirty
on primetime.

What was your experience

shooting for The Americans?
Its got one of the finest casts
and crews Ive had the privilege
of working with. I feel were in
the Golden Age of television.
American shows, in particular,
are on par with feature films in
terms of quality and scale. The
joy of working on a project like
this is that its so meticulously
researched, its like a history
lesson. The show was created
by Joe Weisberg, a former CIA
agent, and every script has to
be cleared by them. Theres
fascinating detail about the

lives of spies during the Cold

War. And I particularly love
the disguises, gadgets and the
extremes they would go to for
their cause.
Tell us about the infamous
sex-to-suitcase scene.
Id watched the show so I knew
it was pretty sexy. However
after I signed on, they sent me
an updated draft of the script
(which was much more risqu)
and a nudity and simulated
sex consent agreement, which
actors are legally required to
sign. Thats when things got

SHIRT BY
MARNI.
TROUSERS BY
CORNELIANI.
SUNGLASSES
BY GIORGIO
ARMANI. TOTE
BY TODS.
LOAFERS BY
MR. HARE

230

DECEMBER 2015

pretty terrifying. I tweeted that

Ive bungee jumped, but signing
that document was much scarier!
I had a few days of wild panic but
then told myself, One of your
favourite TV shows wants to fly
you to New York to play the title
role in an episode, roll around
in bed with a beautiful woman,
and pay you for it. You should be
rejoicing, not panicking. When
we started shooting for Season
3 and I got another (much more
graphic) love scene, I didnt even
bat an eyelid. In fact, I was quite
excited. As an actor, you dont
often get the opportunity to make

love to a woman, then strangle

her and then help two KGB
operatives break up her body
and stuff it into a suitcase! Its
Shakespearean.
How did you prep for it?
Its amazing how self-conscious
and vain you get when you learn
youre going to be spending a
full day in your birthday suit
with strangers and being filmed
in HD. There was a fair amount
of discipline with my diet and
exercise regime in the weeks
leading up to the shoot. On the
day, the wardrobe department

SHIRT BY
MICHAEL KORS.
TROUSERS BY
PAUL SMITH

DECEMBER 2015

231

232

DECEMBER 2015

JUMPER, TROUSERS;
BOTH BY BOTTEGA
VENETA. BRACELET
BY MONICA VINADER

DECEMBER 2015

233

T-SHIRT BY
CANALI.
TROUSERS BY
PAUL SMITH.
SUNGLASSES
BY GIORGIO
ARMANI.
BRACELET
BY MONICA
VINADER.
LOAFERS BY
MR. HARE

234

DECEMBER 2015

delivered something called a

modesty pouch to my trailer. Its
a contraption invented by Satan
himself: basically a codpiece
thats supposed to stick to your
skin like a Band-Aid and give
the illusion of nudity while
maintaining a degree of modesty
and hygiene on the set. Ironically,
if you get a little sweaty, it
doesnt stay stuck which can
be mortifying. Lets just say I no
longer have any secrets from
the crew.
The shows set in the Eighties.
What do you think about the
style from that time?
When I went in for my initial
fitting, the first thing wardrobe
designer Jenny Gering told me
was, Everythings going to feel
weird. And it did. The cuts and
fits of the clothes back then were
so different. The Eighties was a
decade of economic boom, and
people were dressing to reflect
that. Clothes were designed to
make you look and feel bigger and
more powerful wide, padded
shoulders, boxier cuts and louder
prints. You feel like a different
person in different clothes.
And menswear today?
I see a lot of experimentation.
Gender lines are blurring and
menswear is borrowing a lot
of styles, prints, colours and
accessories that are traditionally
associated with women. Itll be
interesting to see if this continues
to evolve into an androgynous
norm or if there will be a hypermasculine reaction to it.

TROUSERS BY PAUL SMITH

DECEMBER 2015

235

SUIT BY ETRO. SHIRT,

CUMMERBUND, POCKET
SQUARE; ALL BY CANALI

236

DECEMBER 2015

SHIRT BY JOHN
VARVATOS. SCARF BY
DOLCE & GABBANA

DECEMBER 2015

237

SUIT, SHIRT; BOTH

BY LOUIS VUITTON
ASSISTANT STYLIST:
RAVNEET CHANNA
HAIR & MAKE-UP:
SUCHILA AKSONPAEN
PRODUCTION:
VASUNDHARA SHARMA
LOCATION: SIX SENSES
NINH VAN BAY, VIETNAM

238

DECEMBER 2015

DECEMBER 2015

239

PRESENTS

ip f yo tastebuds
Do you travel the world in search
of mouth-watering delicacies prepared by some
of the most celebrated chefs? Now with Cond Nast Traveller,
some of our selected guests have the opportunity
to taste the nest cuisines right here in India.
Presenting Hot Tablesan exclusive live culinary series
for tastemakers around the country that celebrate
the common passion point of food.
The launch of the rst Hot Tables event in Bengaluru
saw fty guests enjoy a seven-course meal prepared
by Dharshan Munidasathe half-Japanese, half-Sri Lankan
chef behind not one, but two, culinary hotspots.
Both Nihonbashi and Ministry of Crab feature
on the Asias Best 50 Restaurants 2015 list.
Whats more, before each course, chef Munidasa engaged
in an open dialogue with the guests to explain his ideas and
the special ingredients behind every dish. The ballroom
at The Leela Palace Bengaluru provided the perfect setting
for a riveting night with many more to follow!

To collaborate with Cond Nast Traveller

on this culinary series, please email
meghana.dave@condenast.in

From left:
Rohan Murty, Ajay
Shetty, Raghu Karnad
& Gautam Bhimani

242

DECEMBER 2015

Call it what you will the Garden City, Indias IT hub, its pub capital, or the place where that one lake was so polluted
it caught re. Call it Bangalore or Bengaluru, this city of 7 million, perched on the Deccan Plateau, is easily overlooked
and often overshadowed by Delhi and Mumbai, but to miss out on Karnatakas capital is to miss out on a big part
of India. So into the cozy, old-world den of the Library Bar at the Leela Palace we recruited Rohan Murty (Infosys
scion, philanthropist, Bangalorean), Ajay Shetty (entrepreneur, vintner of Myra Wines, Bangalorean), Raghu Karnad
(journalist, author of Farthest Field, Bangalorean) and Gautam Bhimani (cricket commentator for ESPN-Star Sports,
a Bengali whos been to Bangalore enough to be able to keep up) to chat about the city. And over perhaps a bit too
much whisky, a fuzzy but truthful portrait of Indias most underrated city takes shape.
Photographed by KUNAL DASWANI Interviewed by DAVE BESSELING

In association with
Well, weve done enough of
these things in Delhi and
Mumbai, so, gentlemen, whats
the deal with Bangalore?
LOCATION: THE LIBRARY BAR/THE LEELA PALACE BANGALORE

KARNAD: I think you should be

talking booze when you talk about

Bangalore.
SHETTY: Its known for its bars and
pubs. Thereve been some really
iconic ones The Night Watchman,
Guzzlers Inn, Picos is very famous.
MURTY: Well, for me, Bangalore is a university city,
because our leading research institutes are here, a
couple of other very well-known research centres are
in Bangalore.
SHETTY: And its just become more cosmopolitan,
right?
KARNAD: Its always been a cosmopolitan city. It has
origins that are a little uncommon: It was a Kannadaspeaking town, but then the cantonment arrived, and
that became the character of Bangalore. Its a little
awkward because its a colonial legacy.

And beyond pub culture, booze

production was a big part of
the citys growth, wasnt it?
KARNAD: Yeah, when I moved

back to Bangalore from Delhi, I

showed up in the middle of town
and expected everything around
Lavelle Road to be fairly peaceful
and sleepy. Suddenly UB City
was looming over everything.
And the site that UB City is built
on is actually the first brewery
in Bangalore. More than a hundred years ago. So
theres a really interesting lineage that connects this
cosmopolitan aspect to this pub aspect of Bangalore;
the way its always been a centre for both making
and consuming alcoholic drinks. And that has made
it, I think, a hospitable place for people from all over
the world.
MURTY: Actually, I have a very different take on that.

Shoot.

MURTY: I mean, far be it to apply the same set of

DECEMBER 2015

243

rules here and there, but if you look

at the US and you look at Cambridge,
you look at Boston; Boston has 70
colleges and universities in and
around it. And I think thats what
makes it very international, thats
what makes it very easy for people
from the outside to come in, because
you have universities.
KARNAD: And there were lots of
higher engineering institutions and
science institutions, and as far as I
can tell, thats one of the reasons that
IT flourished here as well But
theres definitely a connection
between the BPO/IT industry and the
drinking scene.
SHETTY: And thats normal. When
you have more youngsters, more
income, [this confluence] makes sense.
And look at Bangalore before 91 we
were a retirement home, you know? A
lot of people treated it that way. Bangalore was
very sleepy and yes there were colleges, but it
was the advent of industry that made it attractive.
And I think we people here, were pretty laidback,
pretty welcoming.

Gautam, youve been coming here as an

outsider for years. How have you seen the
city change?

BHIMANI: If you talk about a neutral person going

on a pub crawl in Delhi or Mumbai or various cities
across India Chennai doesnt count the difference in
Bangalore is that you can actually have a conversation
with a complete stranger.
MURTY: By virtue of the fact that we have a fair bit of
migration from outside of Karnataka into Bangalore,
its perhaps a little easier to get used to living here
versus some of Indias other cities.
KARNAD: Absolutely. But dont you guys have this
experience, where a friend visits Bangalore and
they say, Hey can you tell me what I should do, the
244

DECEMBER 2015

AJAY SHETTY

LOCATION: THE LIBRARY BAR/THE LEELA PALACE BANGALORE

ROHAN MURTY

main things I should see, and you say,

Theres Tipu Sultans palace, but then
youre basically done and you should
just start eating and drinking? I really
think that Bangalore ultimately boils
down to this slightly epicurean life of
eating and drinking.
SHETTY: Im glad Bangalore has that.
KARNAD: And theres no other capital
city in this country where you can be so
agnostic towards language. That means
that its extremely inclusive and easy to
get around.
BHIMANI: Even a rickshaw driver
is resigned to the fact that its a
cosmopolitan city. Theyre expecting
nine out of ten passengers to be from
somewhere else.
KARNAD: When it comes to the question
of which culture you belong to, which
gets emphasis and which is neglected
I just love this city because its a study in colonial
hangover for better and for worse.
MURTY: Even more than Calcutta?
KARNAD: For sure.
BHIMANI: I dont agree. In Calcutta, at the Tolly
Club, the Calcutta Swimming Club, not only would
the bearers speak [English] better than they spoke
Bengali, if you spoke to them in Bengali they wouldnt
reply. Just try to get a little over-friendly with them
and say, Hey can you just get me a little bit of this,
and theyd reply in English, Yes sir, it shall be done.
MURTY: Whenever I go to Calcutta, these clubs
get to me to no end. Which is why I will never step
into a Bangalore club. I dont know what theyre
celebrating, what laws they are preserving.
BHIMANI: Would you call it the Bengaluru club and
get away with it?
MURTY: Thats the perfect question. Even: can you
go inside and call it the Bengaluru Club?
KARNAD: It wouldnt be popular.

Bangalore considers
itself the only
psychically healthy
city in the country
But back to Rohans question: What exactly
are these clubs celebrating?
KARNAD: As a colonial inheritance, I think

RAGHU KARNAD

GAUTAM BHIMANI

Do you think Bangalore has an inferiority

complex to Delhi or Bombay?

EVERYONE: No! [Laughs]

KARNAD: I think Bangalore considers itself the only
psychically healthy city in the country, and everyone
else is just fucked up. And, we dont have touch
wood we dont have riots.
SHETTY: So we go back to the first point we were
talking about: how laidback we are, how we
adjust to things.

So it wasnt like you wanted to move

to another city where bigger, better
things were happening?

SHETTY: No, I dont think that ever

happened.
MURTY: I always viewed Bangalore as the
new city of India, and all the other cities
were like old city, old money, old everything.
KARNAD: By the time any of us were
old enough to make comparative
judgments about cities, Bangalore was on
fire, in the mid-Nineties.

So when you moved to Delhi, you werent all

excited to be moving to the capital city?
KARNAD: No, no, no. I wasnt. You know Delhi has

its own intellectual chops, and those have to do with

the industries that are centred there. Certain law,
journalism, policy scenes. But Bangalore holds its
own with a certain kind of decency thats really hard
to find.
SHETTY: I think thats the key word. I think
Bangalore is a very decent city.
BHIMANI: The day I finished my ICSE, there was
an India-Pakistan test match happening here. It was
during Holi, March 1987, and the two teams played
Holi at the West End hotel and ruined the pool.

As a journalist, that story writes itself.

MURTY: Look at the number of very decent

cricketers in Karnataka and Bangalore Decent,

I mean, in terms of their character. I dont mean
in terms of the performances: Of course those are
superlative. [Laughs]
BHIMANI: I was just going to come to that. Its not
a coincidence. Theres Srinath, Anil Kumble, Prasad,
everyone of those guys just very decent guys.
246

DECEMBER 2015

LOCATION: THE LIBRARY BAR/THE LEELA PALACE BANGALORE

Bangalore is unique, because unlike Calcutta, there

is discreet linguistic life in Bangalore. In Calcutta,
everyone I know who is Bengali, learns Bengali.
SHETTY: Theyre comparatively proud of
the language.
KARNAD: The same is true for Madras,
or Delhi. Bombay is different because
everyone at least can speak Hindi. But
here, cantonment culture still defines
modern Bangalore.
SHETTY: Forget cantonment, do you
guys think city-bred kids in Bangalore
arent proud of their language because
its Kannada?
MURTY: It really depends. My school
did us a big disservice. They segregated
the second-language Kannada students
and the second-language Hindi students.
So from the first standard to the tenth, we used to
view the Hindi students with disdain. So we never
really learned Hindi, and they never really learned
Kannada because they viewed us the same way.
BHIMANI: Thats exactly what happened to us in
Calcutta. I took second-language Bengali, and those
Hindi students were like outsiders.
MURTY: I remember, once I was talking to some
guys from school in Kannada, and one said Dude,
dont talk in Kannada, the girls are here.

2
3

250

DECEMBER 2015

10

1. CASHMERE
JACKET BY
ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA
2. CASHMERE
JACKET BY
ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA
3. WOOLLEN JACKET
BY GUCCI
4. CASHMERE JACKET
BY ERMENEGILDO
ZEGNA
5. WOOLLEN JACKET
BY BRIONI
6. CASHMERE
SILK JACKET BY
ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA
7. SILK TIE BY BRIONI
8.COTTON SHIRT BY
DS DAMAT
9. WOOLLEN
CARDIGAN BY UNIQLO
10. WOOLLEN
POCKET SQUARE BY
BRUNELLO CUCINELLI

1. WOOLLEN COAT BY
GIORGIO ARMANI
2. WOOLLEN
CARDIGAN BY
GIORGIO ARMANI
3. WOOLLEN SHIRT BY
GIORGIO ARMANI
4. SILK TIE BY
ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA
5. COTTON COAT BY
BOTTEGA VENETA

252

DECEMBER 2015

1
2
3

7
4

6
5

9
8

1. WOOLLEN COAT BY
LANVIN
2. WOOLLEN COAT BY
GUCCI
3. WOOLLEN JACKET
BY HUGO BOSS
4. WOOLLEN JACKET
BY GUCCI
5. WOOLLEN JACKET
BY BRIONI
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254

DECEMBER 2015

6
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1

8
2

3
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1. WOOLLEN JACKET BY
BRUNELLO CUCINELLI
2. WOOLLEN COAT BY
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3. COTTON SHIRT BY
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256

DECEMBER 2015

1. WOOLLEN
COAT BY TOMMY
HILFIGER
2. WOOLLEN COAT
BY GUCCI
3. WOOLLEN TIE
BY BRUNELLO
CUCINELLI
4. COTTON SHIRT
BY BRUNELLO
CUCINELLI
5. POCKET SQUARE
BY BRUNELLO
CUCINELLI

258

DECEMBER 2015

BFF
260

DECEMBER 2015

livier Rousteing
is old. Old, old,
old, he moans, peering at his reection in the
window of The Klay, the fancy gym in Paris
where he takes his morning boxing lessons. He
puts down his cigarette and presses his skin
upwards, miming a facelift. In less than seven
days, the fashion designer will turn 30. I have
denitely lost some of my youth, he says. Not so
much, though, that his face doesnt immediately
bounce back when he lets it go.
The past few years have moved fast for
Rousteing. His relationship with H&M, of all
things, puts it in perspective: Eleven years ago,
he was standing in line outside the H&M in
Bordeaux, waiting with everyone else for Karl
Lagerfelds collection to drop. Eight years ago,
he was an assistant at Roberto Cavalli, creating
sketches for the Italian labels collaboration with
H&M. And now, this month, Rousteing releases
his own highly anticipated H&M project a
line inspired by the aristocratic fetishwear hes
been producing for nouveau royals like Kanye
West and Beyonc. They ask you to take some
pieces from your rst collection, like vintage,
Rousteing says, sipping a restorative orange
juice. So it is kind of a celebration, which in a
way is kind of scary. It was only ve years ago!
To me it feels like yesterday!
A collaboration with a youth brand like
H&M is a natural t for Rousteing, who ever
since becoming Balmains creative director at
the age of 25 has brought new life to a label
that until recently conjured the smell of musky
grandmother perfume. A bright-eyed sylph
with a sunny disposition, skin the colour of
a nonfat soy latte and a limitless collection of
deep V-neck tees, he has managed to bring the
septuagenarian fashion house, famous for its
heavy embroidery and heavier price tags, into

IMAGE: REX FEATURES

He may be as famous for his

Instagram exploits partying
with models, canoodling with
Kardashians as for his work coolifying the venerable French fashion
label Balmain. But Olivier Rousteing,
the 30-year-old designer whose
buzzy H&M collaboration launched
last month, says hes out to upend
an industry thats too old and too
white to reach millennials like him.
Jessica Pressler reports from Paris
on the Rousteing revolution

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the modern day, not only through his designs but also through
force of his persona. With his boundless enthusiasm, he has
charmed the jaded fashion industry and racked up recruits to
his #BalmainArmy, a collection of models, actors, musicians and
pop-culture icons whom he denes, in his American-accented
Frenglish, as glamorous and beautiful and diverse and condence
and sexy and powerful especially powerful and become
something of a celebrity himself, thanks to the duckface seles he
posts on Instagram.
The attention he has brought the house of Balmain has
transformed a business that was not long ago facing bankruptcy,
even as it has occasionally caused the suits at
the label to gulp back a few mon Dieus.
Yes, I am aware of the rap song
Anaconda, booms Balmain CEO Emmanuel
Diemoz. I have not been aware of it before,
and yeah, for sure, that was not easy, he goes
on, possibly in reference to the awkwardness
that ensued when an assistant was called upon
to explain the meaning of Nicki Minajs line
He toss my salad like his name Romaine/And
when we done, I make him buy me Balmain.
We must remember Balmain is a very old
Parisian fashion house, Diemoz says. But
when it comes to success and democratization,
you cannot control everything. The worst for
us would be not to be quoted anywhere.
Considering it was only a few years ago
that the CEO of Louis Roederer the venerable
French house that produces the champagne
Cristal appeared to dismiss rap musics
audience as too lowbrow for its product, this is
progress. Of course, getting his CEO to a place
where he considers it a positive development
when the label is mentioned in the same breath as asseating is also part of the reason Rousteing feels so old.
When I started out, I was Balmains baby, he says. To
tell you the truth, now I think that Balmain is my baby.
He said that? Diemoz says. Theres a long bit of
silence. Well, I suppose it is the truth. He has built his
brand, and without him we would not be where we are
today.
At the gym, Rousteing looks up at the sky, where the
morning sun is just creeping through the clouds. Its
perfect for a sele, actually, he observes. Holding the
phone in front of his face, he adjusts his black Borsalino
hat, props his hand on his chin, pouts his lips and sucks in
his cheeks. Click.
Creating a brand is something that comes naturally to
Rousteing, since its something hes been doing his whole
life. As the adopted only child of a white professional
couple, he spent a lot of his time concocting origin stories
for himself, ones that didnt involve being plucked from
an orphanage at 4 months old.
When I was like 10 years old, I was the Prince
of Egypt. When I was 15, I was the Prince of Brazil,
hed said the previous evening over a glass of Pinot
Noir at Htel Costes, a Paris hotel that has itself been
aspirationally swishy since the mid-Nineties. With its
curated house music and international clientele, its a far
cry from Bordeaux, where Rousteing grew up, a city that
is very conservative, he says, and very, very French.
Rousteing appreciated the culture:

The outt that rst piqued his interest in fashion, he says, was
a Chanel jacket and matelass bag. But he was obsessed with
America, which he knew through pop music Britney Spears,
the Backstreet Boys, Michael Jackson. I was like, How can you
name someone the King of Pop? It impressed upon him the idea
that America was a land of possibility. You feel like anything can
happen, he says. You have to show that you deserve it and that
you are worth it, but they let you do it. In France, its not so easy.
Rousteing worked hard, got good grades, and was encouraged
by his parents to enroll in law school. I like defending people, he
explains. But after a month, he bagged it to study fashion at the
cole Suprieure des Arts et Techniques de
la Mode in Paris. He didnt fare much better
there. I hated it, he says. His professors, he
felt, were constantly trying to tamp down his
ambition.
To the surprise of his family, he quit school
and took off for Italy. I wanted to change my
life, he says. Soon he was doing grunt work
at Roberto Cavalli in Florence, dancing in a
nightclub to make ends meet. Five years in,
after he had worked his way up to the right
hand of then head designer Peter Dundas, he
decided he was homesick for Paris. He sent
his CV on impulse to Christophe Decarnin,
the sensitive goth genius who had not so
long ago helped pull Balmain from the brink
of bankruptcy and then began peddling his
hugely popular $1,500 ripped jeans. Decarnin
didnt talk much. (Literally not at all, says
Diemoz. He was very deep in his art.) But he
made up for it when he hired Rousteing, who,

262

DECEMBER 2015

IMAGE: REX FEATURES

WHEN I
STARTED
I WAS
BALMAINS
BABY...
NOW I
THINK
BALMAIN IS
MY BABY

,
Fashion s

BFF

a reputation as an insatiable, eager worker who was also really

fun to hang out with. The market is in general greedy for new
faces, which we perfectly know, says Diemoz. The fact that he
was not known was risky, but it was part of the game.
After the decision was announced, several longtime
employees departed. Some people left because they couldnt
have any respect for me because I was younger. Some people
stayed because they loved me and thought I was really
talented, Rousteing says.
His rst collection was inspired by Las Vegas, a place
Rousteing had only ever seen in movies. I think my youth
helped, he says. Like a kid, hes not afraid of the water if he
doesnt know how to swim. Hes just going to go in.
He based the next collection around a Faberg egg he had
seen at an auction of Elizabeth Taylors belongings. For another,
he took the office on a trip to Versailles. The reviews were solid.
But as time went on, he realized he wasnt especially happy.
Two years ago, he paced nervously before his runway show in
Paris when, he says, he was approached by Suzy Menkes, then
fashion editor for the International Herald Tribune. Sensing
his anxiety, she offered comfort. She said, Just stay true to
yourself, because when you are honest with yourself and you
are happy, thats a success.
264

DECEMBER 2015

here are times in everyones life when a simple

platitude can blow you away, and for Rousteing
this was one of those times. He looked at Menkes,
pompadour bobbing as she walked away, and had
a revelation. I think I have been for long insecure, he says.
Because when I was a kid, I was trying to please my parents so
much because I was scared to go back to orphanage.
On this day I realized, You know what, I am going to believe in
myself, whatever we are, whatever the reviews are.
From then on, he vowed to embrace who he was: a pop-starworshipping, social-media-loving capital-M millennial. His next
few collections were inspired not by long-forgotten times but
by things from his own life, the streetwear of the Eighties, the
androgynous glamour of childhood idols like Michael Jackson.
Core members of the Balmain Army include
Kanye West, whom Rousteing met through Decarnin,
and Kim Kardashian, who in turn introduced him
to the rest of her family. We all love him, says
Kylie Jenner, who co-starred in a recent campaign.
Hes so charming, he makes you feel like hes
your friend. Rihanna felt the same way when she
visited the atelier during her Diamonds World Tour
and Instagrammed all the outts Rousteing had
picked out for her. #TheyOnlyPlayMyMusicInHere
#HeCalledMeHisMUSE #IDiiiiiiieeeeddd, read the
captions. That was a moment, for Olivier, when
everything switched, says Michail Papadogkonas,
who identies himself as the designers best friend
and whose V-neck reveals a bros before hos tattoo.
For one, Rousteing grasped the power of
Instagram, and watching Kim Kardashian taught him a
thing or two about how to exploit the medium. We are
in a world where everybody wants to see every step,
Rousteing says. The behind-the-scenes. At rst,
Balmain was not entirely on board with the photos
he started posting on his own and the companys accounts, or
the seles he took, sometimes with celebrities, always with what
became his trademark expression: cheeks sucked in, lips pouty,
erce Grace Jones gaze. I said, Whoa, whoa, whoa. Where are
we going with this? says Diemoz.
But as Balmains followers and sales increased, the CEO
came around. Sure, the vast majority of people on social media
cant afford a $3,000 poncho, but Balmain also sells shampoo,
sunglasses, perfume. By sharing his life, he is feeding the
market, Diemoz says.

etween Rousteings internet presence and

celebrity outreach, as one blog put it, the
brand began picking up buzz. But the approval
was not entirely universal. As the Kardashian Principle attests,
popularity is accompanied by a corresponding amount of what
even the French call haters. Articles about Rousteing refer to
his work as divisive or controversial, although they dont usually
say why. Privately and online, people in the industry will say
Rousteing comes across as a narcissist or that he is too awestruck
by celebrities. Rousteing brushes this off. In France we have

IMAGE: REX FEATURES

three weeks later, was in Paris, working as Decarnins studio

manager.
Despite his volubility, Rousteing is, like everyone else,
circumspect on the details that led Decarnin to miss his winter
2011 show and prompted his subsequent disappearance from
the industry. It was said he had a nervous breakdown, and a
spokesperson, quoted anonymously, claimed he was suffering
from an ailment that was not physical.
Obviously it was really difficult, Rousteing says. We were
really close. I always believed in him, and obviously something
amazing happened to me, but I didnt step on him to get where
I am. It is thanks to him that I got what I have today.
There were a few other obvious candidates to replace
Decarnin, but Balmains top brass werent interested in hiring
a fashion diva, according to a source inside the house.
They wanted someone young and fresh. Their gaze fell on
Rousteing, who had only been there a year but who had forged

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,
Fashion s

BFF

266

DECEMBER 2015

you know, that life is different than the way it was before. The
mainstream is changing.
Rousteing may have scrapped the lawyer career, but hes still
found himself defending people, defending choices. If theres a
common thread among the members of his Balmain Army, its
not race or youth, its that they are people whom society has built
up and also sort of diminishes. The Misunderstood Famous. The
Crme de la Downtrodden. My girls and my boys, they are like
warriors, Rousteing boasts to me.
His latest recruit is reformed child pop star Justin Bieber,
whom he took, dressed in a glittering Prince Charming jacket, as
his date to the highbrow Met Gala this year, an event that despite
Biebers international stardom, he had never been to.
Sometimes its not only a matter of ghting against something,
its a matter of believing in someone, says Rousteing. Like a kid
from Bordeaux who is tired of having to justify his existence.
Its an honour to have you, Andr Leon Talley gushed on the
red carpet.
Im really honoured to have this guy support me, Bieber said,
shrugging his gilded shoulders.
Back at his office, Rousteing takes a long look at himself in
the full-length mirror he keeps by his desk. I dont feel insecure
about anything anymore, he says. Balmain is doing well, and the
company has doubled its revenue. His next show is coming up,
and after that, a birthday party in Malibu. I dont know where I
come from, he says. But he knows who he is. I am the prince of
my own castle.

IMAGE: REX FEATURES

this word, blas, like its cool to be bored, he says. And I am not
bored, I am ambitious. And maybe this makes them mad, because
they forgot when they were sexy and young.
All designers hang out with celebrities, as one poster on a site
for fashion obsessives noted: He reminds me of Gianni Versace
in the Nineties and Jean Paul Gaultier when he was young and
chilling with Madonna. For Rousteings critics, the problem seems
to be which celebrities hes chosen. Balmain, the house of reality
sex stars, reads one comment on a picture Rousteing posted of the
Kardashians on Instagram. Great house going downhill.
Rousteings face tightens when I mention this. Kim is so
chic, he says. The comments that the pregnant Kardashian
drew when she wore a Balmain dress to last years Video Music
Awards enraged him (example: She looked like a baked potato).
I dont know how you say in English, but in French you say antifministe, he says, growing more heated. Should she stay home
and wear black? Because she is proud of giving birth, she doesnt
want to wear a caftan, she wants to be on the red carpet to be with
her husband and supporting him. What is more beautiful than
that?
That there is a racial element to the animus against the
Kardashian-Wests seems undeniable. But for Rousteing the highprole mixed-race family is inspiring. It is to me like a modern
fairy tale, he says. When I was a kid, I was like, Where I can see
this kind of couple?
Rousteings own heritage remains a bit of a mystery to him.
It was always too much for me, he tells me of his reluctance
to learn more. What if you nd out your mother was raped, or
a prostitute? As a Person of Colour, hes frequently called on
to answer Big Questions about race in the fashion industry. His
decision to cast Rihanna as the face of a 2014 collection wasnt a
statement, he says. Nor is his habit of casting a diverse array of
models a mixety, he calls it in his shows and campaigns. Its
just common sense. I think its sad, Rousteing says of people
who would wonder about these choices. They dont realize,

CORE MEMBERS OF
THE BALMAIN ARMY
INCLUDE KANYE WEST,
KIM KARDASHIAN,
KYLIE JENNER AND
RIHANNA

PHOTOGRAPHER: TARUN VISHWA; FARROKH CHOTHIA

E
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R
C
S
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BY BURBERRY
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WORKS OF

Photographed by DARREN McDONALD

Styled by BARNABY ASH

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DECEMBER 2015

271

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DECEMBER 2015

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DECEMBER 2015

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GROOMING:
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278

DECEMBER 2015

WORDS: MARK BYRNE (FIRST TAT). STYLIST: TANYA VOHRA. ASSISTANT STYLIST: DESIREE FERNANDES.
HAIR & MAKE-UP: MONA ANAND/BBLUNT. PRODUCTION: PALLAVI KUMAR

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Your first tat doesnt have to be

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The worst thing you can do with a rst tattoo

There was a time, not that long

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besides kanji is overthink it. (Tip: That

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keep it small and place it on your chest or
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rst is, the harder itll be to cover when you go
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PHOTOGRAPHED BY PRABHAT SHETTY

Acquins chest tattoo by Ashwin

Dhondge at Als Tattoo, Bandra,
Mumbai; alstattoostudio.com
JEANS BY LEVIS

DECEMBER 2015

281

TATTOO YOU

Gr omng

Tattoos by
Duncan Veigas at
Inkfidel Tattoo,
Assagao, Goa
T-SHIRT BY VOXPOP.
JOGGERS BY
BERSHKA. SHOES
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Dont ask

If youre going to

start getting ink, the

first thing you should
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I view my tattoos
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GARRETT MUNCE

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In most offices, at least. But if visible tattoos are still off limits at your
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THE 4 LEVELS OF INKED-UP OFFICE ACCEPTABILITY

282

Kevin
Durant

Brad
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David
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1. The Secret
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Keep your tats
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WORDS: MARK BYRNE (SFW). IMAGE: GETTY IMAGES (OFFICE ACCEPTABILITY)

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TATTOO YOU

Gr omng

THE WORLD ATLAS OF TATTOOS

(FOR ALL THE IDEAS YOU NEED)

BY ANNA FELICITY FRIEDMAN AND JAMES ELKINS

DO YOUR
HOMEWORK

Nikhils tattoo by
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redrockettattoo.com
Adityas space
sleeve tattoo by
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Inkfidel Tattoo,
Assagao, Goa

SHIRT BY SHANTANU &

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T-SHIRT
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A BRIEF HISTORY OF TATTOOS (AND WHO WORE THEM FIRST)

POLYNESIAN
(MAORI) TATTOOS
The word tattoo comes from the
Polynesian word tattau, which
means to mark.

284

SAILORS...

AMERICAN REBELS

JAPANESE GANGSTAS

... Likely caught the tattoo bug from

ancient Polynesian tribes. A turtle
tattoo meant youd sailed past the
equator, an anchor signified youd
crossed the Atlantic.

Once tattoos got a rap for being badass,

American and Russian prisoners took
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The Yakuza have some of the most

elaborate tattoos youll ever see. But way
before that, tats had a spiritual significance
for ancient Japanese tribes and sometimes
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DECEMBER 2015

THE REST OF THE

WORLD GETS ON BOARD
There has never been a better time to get
inked. The scene on the Subcontinent is
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WORDS: SHIKHA SETHI (WORLD ATLAS). IMAGE: REX FEATURES (MAORI, SAILORS, REBS, YAKUZA), THE WORLD ATLAS OF TATTOO, BY ANNA FELICITY FRIEDMAN, PUBLISHED BY THAMES & HUDSON.

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TATTOO YOU

Gr omng

tattooing professionally after

college in the hope that I could
revive this tradition in Nagaland,
where its stopped completely
for the last 50-60 years.

THE NEW
TRIBAL TATTOO
Meet Mo Naga, the tattoo artist
whose geometric neo Naga
style is taking over arms and
legs worldwide
Youre an accidental
anthropologist and tattoo
artist. How did you become
interested in Naga tattoos?
I stumbled on this rich tradition
in 2007 when as a NIFT
graduate I was researching
the traditional textiles of the
Northeast. The more I studied,
the more I realized that there
was an urgent need to start
researching and documenting
this ancient art form. I took up

What did you discover?

Men and women both had
tattoos, but a man could usually
only get one if he proved
his prowess as a warrior
sometimes this meant bringing
back the head of an enemy. As
a general rule, though, Naga
women have more elaborate
tattoos to mark important
occasions such as puberty,
marriage, having a child. In
some tribes, the only person
allowed to tattoo anyone else
was the queen. But its hard
to dig deep into the history, as
many of the traditional artists
are old and dont want to talk
about their work.
Why?
With the coming of colonialism
and with Christianity, tattooing
the body was seen as wrong, so
its become taboo. Most of the
artists are Christian converts.
What are the most popular
designs you do?
The protectors eye is an
important symbol, similar to
the third eye of Shiva. But not
all symbols can be given to

outsiders. Right now my style

is very modern, with a lot of
straight lines and geometrical
shapes. But in the next 4-5
months, Im working on bigger,
more complex pieces. Many of
the traditional tattoos include
symbols of nature tigers,
birds and snakes.
What kind of techniques do
you use?
We use modern machines and
organic inks, so its completely
safe and hygienic. But Im also
learning the traditional way of
tattooing, using indigenous ink
and bamboo needles.
How long do the tattoos take?
Anywhere from 30 minutes
to 3 months. The neo Naga
tattoos are about precision,
and symmetry, so they take
double the time of other styles,
like portraits.
Tell us about your tattoos.
I only have one. I had it done
last December by a friend, a
German tattoo artist with over
30 years of experience, who
was on a biking trip across the
world and stopped by. Its a
fusion of Polynesian- and Nagainspired tattoos.
Contact Mo Naga at
Headhunters Ink on Facebook
or headhuntersink@gmail.com

JUST ONE IS FINE.

SO ARE 100

SHORTS,
SHOES; BOTH BY
BREAKBOUNCE

VEST BY KOOVS

286
000

DECEMBER 2015

INTERVIEW: SHIKHA SETHI

Just ask Deputy Editor Dave Besseling. Hes

covered from shoulder to ankle

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THE CURE

Gr omng

THE CURE

Its party season all over again. Heres how to get over that brutal
hangover from hell (it may involve sparrow droppings.)

tsSundaymorning. The one after

the night before, if you get my drift.
The kind when you dont wake up
until the middle of the afternoon.
Given a choice, Id be fast asleep. Instead,
I find myself in a bar. It is a little after 7 in
the morning and I, along with a few other
fools, have gathered to watch a Formula
One race.
Having ended the previous night not
much before this hour, Im having a bit of
trouble keeping my eyes open. And my
head from experiencing a dull throbbing
that resonates like the inside of a race
car engine.
Wodehouses Jeeves had a marvellous
pick-me-up for these occasions. The
ingredients called, among other things, for
raw eggs and tomato juice. Unfortunately,
the admirable Jeeves never shared his
secret recipe with the rest of the world, so
I cant tell you if it worked. But at my table
this morning, we go for something that we
know will: A Bloody Mary.
290

DECEMBER 2015

Yes, I know. Youre reading this thinking

what kind of idiot pours more alcohol
into his system when hes hungover. Well,
thats why its called the hair of the dog.
The original old wives tale said that if you
swallowed a hair of the dog that bit you,
you wouldnt end up with rabies. And
pouring alcohol back into your system
helps you get over a hangover.
A Bloody Mary, with the spice and
salt that go into making it, is the perfect
solution. So is a very cold beer. One glass
of either is all you need to start feeling
human again. Any more than that and
you may find yourself back on the floor. Of
course you really shouldnt be drinking so
much that you have a hangover the next
morning. But if you do, try the Bloody
Mary remedy. Or the non-alcoholic version,
which I call a Bloody Shame.
You also need lots of water, though
scientists disagree. The only thing water
does they say, if youre sensible enough to
alternate glasses between Jaegerbombs, is

to slow down the amount you consume.

Thats fine, if youre willing to take advice
from the blokes of The Big Bang Theory.
Dont drink pots of coffee. The
caffeine can irritate your insides and do
you more harm than good. The same is
true of orange juice, which has citric
acid that irritates your already tender
stomach lining. For the same reason, you
shouldnt take a painkiller.
On a recent visit to Budapest, having
unwisely gone on a crawl through
the citys ruinpubs, I was offered the
Hungarian equivalent of the pick-me-up. It
involved brandy and sparrow droppings.
Im not sure about the reasoning, unless
its to make you violently ill, getting all the
alcohol out of your stomach and into the
gutter. But I can say with some certainty
that wandering the streets of the city in
the wee hours of the morning looking
for a fricking sparrow certainly cured me
of mine.
Grease. Theres a reason why farmyard
animals are bred: So they can put on
our plates necessities such as eggs and
bacon and black pudding. OK, so that
last one is stretching it a bit, but all that
food shovelled into your gut does more
than clog your arteries. It helps with the
absorption of alcohol. Trust me. This is no
time to be counting your cholestrol.
As a quick aside, the ultimate
aphrodisiacal breakfast, Eggs Benedict,
was reportedly invented by a hungover
New York native who was too pickled to
handle a knife and fork when it came to
moving grease from plate to palate. So
he asked for everything to be made into a
semi-sandwich. Now its a brunch staple.
Which brings me to sex. Seriously.
It has absolutely no medicinal value but
it will help you focus on parts of your
body that have nothing to do with your
throbbing head.
And finally, sleep. Draw the curtains.
Pull up the covers. Set your phone on
silent. And withdraw from the world. By
the time you wake up, that alcohol should
be on its way out of your insides. Put it to
the test. Order pizza. Bring your girlfriend
to climax at least twice. Look for a plot in
Orange Is The New Black. Yes, apparently
there is one. You just have to look past the
shower scenes.

IMAGE: SMM AUSAJA/NIHARIKA BUBNA KEDIA

WRITTEN BY ANISH TRIVEDI

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THE MERCHANDISE FEATURED EDITORIALLY HAS BEEN

ORDERED FROM THE FOLLOWING STORES. SOME SHOPS MAY
CARRY A SELECTION ONLY. PRICES AND AVAILABILITY WERE
CHECKED AT THE TIME OF GOING TO PRESS, BUT WE CANNOT
GUARANTEE THAT PRICES WILL NOT CHANGE, OR THAT SPECIFIC
ITEMS WILL BE IN STOCK WHEN THE MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED.
WE SUGGEST THAT, BEFORE VISITING A STORE, YOU CALL TO
MAKE SURE THEY HAVE YOUR SIZE

011-4601 5361; Bengaluru,

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Land Rover Mumbai,
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Levis Mumbai,
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Longchamp longchamp.com

Louis Vuitton
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Agent Provocateur
agentprovocateur.com
Aigner graysonline.com
Akubra strandhatters.com.au

Antar-Agni by Ujjawal
Dubey ujjawaldubey.com
Audi Mumbai,
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Audemars Piguet Mumbai,
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D's Damat dsdamat.com

Damaris
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Dior Homme Delhi, DLF
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Dolce & Gabbana

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Dragon deepight.com

Dries Van Noten

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Dunhill Delhi, 011-2336 6777;
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Mr. Hare mrhare.com

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Omega Mumbai,
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011-4151 3255; Bengaluru,
080-4098 2106

Ralph Lauren

Orlebar Brown

rishtabyarjun.com
Rolex Mumbai, DiA,
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Kapoor Watch Co,
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080-2211 3976

orlebarbrown.com

Maria Black

Paul Smith

johnvarvatos.com

maria-black.com
Marni marni.com
Michael Kors Mumbai,
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Mimi Holiday

pochette-square.com
Porsche Mumbai,
84520 00911; Bengaluru,

Koovs koovs.com
Kunal Rawal kunalrawal.com
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Mini Mumbai, 022-6171

Rado Mumbai,

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John Varvatos

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Mercedes-Benz Mumbai,

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Ray-Ban ray-ban.com

Rishta by Arjun Saluja

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

Mumbai, 022-2481 3326;
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Royal Eneld Mumbai,
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S
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Bally Mumbai, Palladium,

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Emporio, 011-4053 4149
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080-2222 4544

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Ermanno Scervino
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Bottega Veneta

77177; Delhi, 99113 32203

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Gaurav Gupta Mumbai,

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022-2269 3433; Delhi,

011-4104 2989; Bengaluru,
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Brunello Cucinelli
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Burberry Mumbai,
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Delhi, DLF Emporio,
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UB City, 080-4173 8826

Ferrari Mumbai, 98706

Giorgio Armani
Delhi, 011-4102 7122
Givenchy givenchy.com
Gucci Mumbai, Palladium,
022 6749 9491; Delhi, DLF
Emporio, 011-4647 1111

Calvin Klein Mumbai,

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Christian Louboutin
Mumbai, 022-4347 1787; Delhi,
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PHOTO: SIGNE VILSTRUP

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Harley-Davidson
Mumbai, 022-6155 7777;
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Bengaluru, 080-4949 7676
Herms Mumbai,
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Hugo Boss Mumbai,
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Churchs

IWC Mumbai, Time

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Clarks Mumbai, Phoenix
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Phoenix Market City,
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Corneliani Mumbai,
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Avenue, 022-2651 5757;

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011-4151 3121;
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Jaeger-LeCoultre
Mumbai, Rose The Watch Bar,
022-2362 0275; Delhi, Kapoor
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TAG Heuer Mumbai,

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022-3027 7098; Delhi, DLF
Emporio, 011-4666 2700;
Bengaluru, UB City,
080-4280 0000
Tom Ford Delhi, DLF
Emporio, 011-4103 3059
Tommy Hilger Mumbai,
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011-4087 0041; Bengaluru,
080-2268 2091
Topman topman.com
Trsmode Mumbai,
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Tumi Mumbai, Palladium,
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Uniqlo uniqlo.com
v

Valentino valentino.com
Vicomte A valextra.it
Volvo Mumbai,
022-6669 6969; Delhi,
011-4327 7100; Bengaluru,
080-4545 1414

Z Zegna Mumbai,
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011-4606 0999; Bengaluru,
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Zenith Mumbai, Times of
Lord, 022-2369 5254;
Delhi, Johnson Watch Co,
011-4151 3121

DECEMBER 2015

295

GQ CENTRAL

For mo
re,
see

DOUBL
E AGEN
T

on

PAGE 2
28

GOOD MORNING,

VIETNAM
The sun, sand, sea and palatial landscape of the
Six Senses resort provided the perfect backdrop
to shoot with actor Rahul Khanna

ahul Khannas penchant for impeccably cut suits and

for looking perfect in them made him the obvious
guy shoot for Decembers luxury fashion feature.
But how do you make a GQ regular look fresh
every time? Answer: With a little help from a sexy
resort in Vietnam.
Tucked away on the island of Ninh Van Bay, the
sprawling Six Senses resort begs you to indulge. Each
beach-front villa comes with a private swimming
pool and unadulterated views of the ocean. And each
one is so stunning that it was a no-brainer to shoot
Khanna in his Rock Villa on Day One. A couple hours
in, photographer Kenneth Lam, Khanna and the rest of
the team got onto bicycles to wander around the resort,
stopping at a lush fruit garden to click a few more shots.
For lunch, the team enjoyed a Vietnamese BBQ, lobster and
king prawns, with a side of pho and papaya salad some of which was off

296

DECEMBER 2015

Sun kissed

pernova

Champagne su

p
y
p
amazing GQ team and frequent swimming breaks
made it feel more like a holiday with friends!
Rahul Khanna

the menu. Shooting continued

through the afternoon before
we were treated to a tour of the
surrounding cliffs and forest.
Dinner was another lavish
feast: Pork Vindaloo at Chulha,
the hotels Indian restaurant. It
was sumptuous enough to warrant
a good nights sleep and a late lie-in
the next morning, but Khanna was up
at the break of dawn anyway, enjoying
the gorgeous sunrise and the hotels
whitewashed beach.
Six Senses felt like a relaxing getaway
as much as a work trip. Wed grown
so used to the staffs tremendous
hospitality that saying goodbye was
hard, but we promised to return, with
the prospect of a whole lot more play
the next time.
298

DECEMBER 2015

Six Senses Resort

Ninh Vn, tx. Ninh Ha,
Khnh Ha, Vietnam
+84 58 3728 222

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2015

INDIA
`150

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL HOMES IN THE WORLD

THE ART ISSUE

SCULPTURAL
SPACES BY
THUKRAL & TAGRA
KOHELIKA KOHLI
RAJIV SAINI

ARTISTS & THEIR STUDIOS

SUDARSHAN SHETTY SUBODH GUPTA

RAVINDER REDDY

INDIAS POWER COLLECTORS

PLUS ON THE SETS OF SPECTRE

REM KOOLHAAS

WHAT DAMIEN HIRST DID NEXT

THE ART
OF LIVING
AD goes inside the art-lled homes of some
of Indias leading collectors and the studios
of seven of the countrys most inuential
contemporary artists.

STREET SMART

GRAFFITI IN INDIA
IS NO LONGER
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NOVEMBER - DECEMBER ISSUE ON STANDS NOW

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GQ CENTRAL

A DIVA IN DIWA
Katrina Kaifs sexiest shoot yet has us sweating
in the winter

hes kneeling on the beach in Goa, attired in only a jacket

and lingerie, her shoulders and toes speckled with sand,
her bronzed, wet skin glistening in the sun. But Katrina
Kaif is not the only sight to behold.
Looming behind us is the Alila Diwa Goa, the location for GQs
cover shoot with the actor. Despite being a 5-star hotel, the property
exudes a boutique feel, and the level of service hangs in the air like a
heady fragrance. A rare feat in Goa, where one is forced
to choose between impersonal luxury and design-led
edge, often lacking comfort.
Katrina is staying at the Diwa Club, which has its own
entrance, in-room check-in and a private pool with an
open-air jacuzzi. Combine that with gourmet East-meetsWest food at the Spice Studio, and its really no wonder
that our cover star exudes that dewy, blissed-out glow
thats normally the result of a 5-star vacation.

Alila Diwa Goa

48/10, Village Majorda Adao Waddo,
Salcete, Goa 403713 India
+91 832-274 6800
www.alilahotels.com/diwagoa

For more,
see
HURRICANE KAT

on
PAGE 214
302

DECEMBER 2015

PHOTOGRAPH: ERRIKOS ANDREOU

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Whether its food, fashion, cars or

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Shady styles

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Priced `27,100. Available at Ermenegildo Zegna
boutiques across India

306

DECEMBER 2015

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Have a destination wedding to attend?

Ditch the iron and pack the new NonIron Royal Oxford Dress Shirt by Brooks
Brothers. Treated to remain wrinklefree, this shirt is crafted from Americangrown Super 100s 2-ply Supima cotton.
Featuring the brands signature buttondown collar and pucker-free seams, this
shirt is all about making you look sharp.
Priced `6,990. Available in Mumbai at
Palladium Mall, Delhi and Gurgaon at Ambience
Mall, Chandigarh at Elante Mall, Chennai at
Phoenix MarketCity, Hyderabad at Banjara
Hills and Bangalore at 100 ft Road, Indira Nagar

Cashmere it in

This winter, Italian menswear brand

Corneliani introduces the Cashmere
lan Collection. The bandhgalas, doublebreasted blazers and sleeveless jackets
from this collection are an elegant hybrid
between a formal coat and a sports blazer,
and are crafted from the rarest baby goat
fibre. This crimson bandhgala, paired with
slim-fit trousers will add a regal touch to
your winter wardrobe.
Priced `1,97,000 onwards (Jackets) `30,000
onwards (Scarves), `49,000 onwards (Pullovers).
Available in Mumbai at The Taj Mahal Palace,
Delhi at DLF Emporio and Bangalore at The
Collection, UB City Mall

Scent and sensitivity

ICON, the new fragrance from the house

of Dunhill, is all about bringing a touch
of sensitivity to raw masculine strength.
A fusion of rare and exotic ingredients,
ICON opens with Italian bergamot, neroli
absolute and a racy black pepper. While
the mid notes reveal cardamom and
Lavender de Provence, its base notes
bring you the warmth of oud wood, Oris
leather, earthy vertiver and oak.

Tic talk

Iconic and unstoppable, the new Calvin

Klein Infinite is a timeless construction
inspired by accuracy and elegance.
Featuring a PVD pink gold case, this
one-of-a-kind timepiece comes with
a black leather strap. The watch also
showcases the Calvin Klein logo
at 12 oclock and has polished white
superluminova hour and minute hands
that illuminate in the dark.

Priced `6,950 (100ml) and `5,300 (50ml).

Available Parcos outlets across India

Priced `20,700. For more information, visit

explore.calvinklein.com/en_ROW/explore/
ckwatchesandjewelry/home/products/

Suave means sartorial

Carry on business

Samsonites GT Supreme, is a collection

of travel bags for businessmen who are
always on the go. Featuring backpacks,
tablet cases, rolling totes and more,
each bag is fitted with Radio Frequency
Identification (RFID) protected pockets
that secure your electronics. Crafted
from heavy-duty ballistic nylon and
premium leather, the GT Supreme makes
for a perfect travel companion.
Price on request. Available at Samsonite retail
outlets across India. For more information,
visit samsoniteindia.com

Bespoke clothing speaks volumes

about your personal sense of style.
Its about taking a current trend and
making it your own. Raymond Madeto-Measure Autumn/Winter 2015-16
collection showcases exquisite fabrics,
classic silhouettes and a sophisticated
colour palette for men with discerning
fashion sensibilities. Whether its
the Business collection, playful
Leisure line or the grand Ceremonial
compilation, this season the brand is
all set to help you create your own
signature style.
Price on request. For more information,
visit raymondmtm.com

DECEMBER 2015

307

OPEN LETTER

you want us
back in your pants, unless
Put your pumped-up fists
come all this
ve
We
.
artfully stubbled face
to introduce ours to your
is about to
DJ
e
dop
t
tha
,
ival
e music fest
way to attend our favourit
is blocking our
flailing bucket of Smirnoff
come on stage, and your
view.
sticks, glowlover, but with your selfie
You purport to be a music
thrusting in
ic
too much kandi and pelv
in-the-dark T-shirts, way
d of candykin
rst
wo
the
firm yourself as
all-girl moshpits, you con
ity we
pid
stu
ant
vac
of
pe
vast landsca
ass, stalking around this
rave.
know as the modern-day
down for
your daddy, let us break this
Before you go calling for
mittee who got
com
h man in the organizing
ow meow and stuff
you. We dont have a ma
line our Jockeys with me
nt
s and
did
We
ty.
par
ter
r-af
afte
the
at Nagar original subwoofer
to
us passes and access
tomized cars banging Lajp
cus
in
e
her
collab. So
up
rix
e
Gar
driv
rtin
nt
Ma
arettes. We did
now for a Badshah and
our girls lingerie with cig
wasnt us screaming just
ly
tain
cer
it
And
fs.
roo
our sun
said girls sprouting out of
y are you even here?
and our big question: Wh
er
wat
e
som
b,
doo
a
MPDG bunny on MDMA
es
her
Is getting a selfie with an
m?
the
w
follo
to
ide
dec
and
assistant
n film for you, you junior
l crowds WhatsApp group
ld be a great big Zac Efro
Did you hack into the coo
cou
life
t
tha
k
thin
to
did you just happen
top on your bucket list? Or
red in Coimbatore?
arte
dqu
hea
and Fatboy
techie at a startup
version of LinkedIn. Tisto
kind of socially acceptable
e
som
of
ival
side
fest
r
this
you
is
Your Friends. Nor
ressing them thus from
Sorry man, life isnt We Are
names and insist on add
first
ir
the
no
d
And
che
r.
ear
me
res
sum
ressed that you
ssed your way through
Slim arent going to be imp
because youve bench-pre
lla. Guess what:
to fall into your arms just
ng
goi
is
e
chi
were so tight at Coache
hoo
ond
No
.
Bey
&
ve
Abo
the console
how
ut
abo
ng
ant-to-be-overheard moani
one is listening to your me
year.
A&B werent invited this
and
e,
why?
Everyones got YouTub
ve got it all wrong. Know
for this epic weekend, you
is
Lev
e
r
urit
you
favo
of
r
se
you
e you spent distressing
sound like, before the noi
No matter how much tim
ember what that used to
Rem
sic.
mu
the
ut
abo
isnt about you. Its
Because a music festival
out all the pleasure?
ed
wn
dro
ts and
es
social anxieti
roders and FlyLos, Ratata
our idols, our Giorgio Mo
see
to
ime
sharing of
lifet
a
The
:
of
nce
nce
ivals are the cha
nal, harmonious experie
For some of us, these fest
.) Its meant to be a commu
you
h
that made
s
wit
e
one
don
The
not
ms.
re
roo
we
gle yet,
sung along to in our bed
or
to
d
nge
Disclosures. (Dont go Goo
dba
hea
ve
we
t
and over again. Others tha
songs weve played over
s
e.
le remixes of David Guetta
adolescence a better plac
g strobe lights and multip
hin
flas
and
nis
ere
leti
wh
App
p
an,
cra
stroy the beaches of Dam
of advice: Return to your
yet, next year, plan to de
So we have a few words
m, which
w the lyrics to). Or, better
kno
you
g
re of trying to impress the
son
ssu
one
pre
t
the
Love Is Gone (aka
ll just save yourself all tha
You
.
cks
chi
zero
h
Wit
e.
lywood styl
you can party all night. Bol
place, you know?
like such an ass in the first
ave
beh
you
g
kin
ma
is whats
Stay Plurnt,

308

DECEMBER 2015

WORDS: NIDHI GUPTA. IMAGE: ALAMY

eon afro and imitation

Dear guy with a faux-n
ide shack on the
Wayfarers from a roads
highway,

COMPLIMENTARY WITH
GQ DECEMBER 2015

ODE TO AN ICON

A TRIBUTE TO
CHARLES CORREA
INDIAS MOST
INFLUENTIAL ARCHITECT

MEN AT WORK
DESIGNERS WITH EDGE

FINE TASTE

A GUIDE TO INDIAS BEST

DESIGNED RESTAURANTS
BARS & CAFS

A HOME FOR
$500 MILLION

A GUIDE TO INDIAS
FINEST LUXURY HOMES

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

PHOTOGRAPHER: KATE DAVIS-MACLEOD; STYLED BY: VIJENDRA BHARDWAJ; HAIR: CRAIG TAYLOR/ONE REPRESENTS, LONDON; MAKEUP: SONIA DEVENEY / ONE REPRESENTS,

hrilling times are here India's

burgeoning real estate sector
is estimated to swell fivefold,
hitting the $676 billion mark
by 2025. A decade away from real
estates big bang, this special edition
comes replete with myriad choices for the
luxury homeowner. True to our creed, we
turn the spotlight to men in design and
decode what inspires that big idea as well
as what drives their design sensibility in
equal measure to their ambition.
Spaces, and homes in particular, have
graduated from mere enclaves of utility
and comfort to holistic experiences. Plunge
pools with breathtaking views, lounges
bedecked in world class art, one-touch
security systems, temperature-controlled
botanical terraces, state-of-the-art gaming
and theatre sanctums, etc., are modest
stipulations on buyers checklists. The global
Indians travels and tastes, now serve as
an important catalyst to the process of
owning and decorating a home. The men
in this issue stand testimony.
Exclusivity marked by discerning design
elements, leave alone postcodes, pledge
extravagant experiences to the man who
exemplifies the good life.
Welcome to GQ Luxe Addresses 2016.

EDITOR

PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Arjun

Che Kurrien

MANAGING EDITOR Maniza

Bharucha
Bhardwaj
ART DIRECTOR Mihir Shah
PHOTO DIRECTOR Gizelle Cordo
DEPUTY EDITORS Shikha Sethi, Dave Besseling
FASHION DIRECTOR Vijendra

DEPUTY ART DIRECTOR Vivek

Surve
Shah
AUTO & WATCH EDITOR Varun Godinho
ASSISTANT EDITOR Nidhi Gupta
FASHION FEATURES EDITOR Shivangi Lolayekar
SENIOR COPY EDITOR Vritti Rashi Goel
JUNIOR FASHION EDITOR Tanya Vohra
FASHION BOOKINGS EDITOR Vasundhara Sharma
FASHION STYLIST (LONDON) Ravneet Channa
SYNDICATIONS MANAGER Michelle Pereira
JUNIOR PHOTO EDITOR Pallavi Kumar
SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Richa Khonde
SYNDICATIONS COORDINATOR Giselle DMello
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Vidisha Srinivasan
FASHION ASSISTANT Desiree Fernandes
LIFESTYLE EDITOR Megha

DIGITAL EDITOR Rochelle

Pinto
Dsouza, Pauline Zonunpuii
PHOTO RESEARCHER (DIGITAL) Simone Dhondy
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT (DIGITAL) Sanika Waglay

ASSISTANT EDITORS (DIGITAL) Meryl

Mehra

PUBLISHER Almona Bhatia

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR (NEW DELHI) Kapil Kapoor
SENIOR ADVERTISING MANAGER Sneha Mahant Mehta
ADVERTISING MANAGERS Mala Kashyap, Vinayak Ambekar
ASSISTANT ADVERTISING MANAGER (NEW DELHI) Siddhartha Swarup
ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Priyank Vora
ITALY SALES REPRESENTATIVE Angelo Carredu
US ADVERTISING MANAGER Alessandro Cremona
ASIA SALES REPRESENTATIVE Kim Kenchington
MIDDLE EAST SALES REPRESENTATIVE IAS Media
DIGITAL COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR Archana Jhangiani
DIGITAL SALES MANAGERS (NEW DELHI) Akshat Saxena, Kritika Sharma
MANAGER CUSTOM SOLUTIONS (BENGALURU) Anitha Ramabhadran
COMMERCIAL MANAGER DIGITAL Ishani Roychoudhary
MARKETING DIRECTOR Oona Dhabhar
MARKETING MANAGER Komal Puri
ASSISTANT MARKETING MANAGER Aditi Sharma
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR SUBSCRIPTIONS Bindu Nambiar
AGM ADMIN & SUBSCRIPTIONS OPS Boniface DSouza
ASSISTANT MANAGER SUBSCRIPTIONS Radhika Dani
PR MANAGER Yasmin Ranijiwala
ASSISTANT PR MANAGER Aishwarya Chhetri
HEAD EVENTS Neha Mishra
ASSISTANT MANAGER EVENTS Mansi Harkisandas
CREATIVE DIRECTOR PRINT PROMOTIONS Dipti Soonderji Mongia
SENIOR PROMOTIONS MANAGER COPY Sherrie A Marker
PROMOTIONS MANAGER Tarana Sheth Sabharwal
SENIOR PROMOTIONS WRITER Kinjal Vora
SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Malavika Jadhav
COPY EDITOR AND WRITER PROMOTIONS Karishma Mehrotra
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Karishma Gupta
CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Prem Abraham
MANAGER ALLIANCES Kosha Gala
CIRCULATION COORDINATOR Jeeson Kollannur

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Amit

Navarange
PRODUCTION MANAGER Sunil Nayak
COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION MANAGER Sudeep Pawar

FINANCE DIRECTOR Vishandas Hardasani

SENIOR ACCOUNTANT Dattaprasanna Bhagwat
ACCOUNTANTS Anthony Paulose, Nitin Chavan

GQ LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

A. Shah
MANAGING EDITOR Nisha Samson
ART DIRECTOR Ashish Sahi
PROJECT MANAGER Deepti Bellad
FASHION EDITOR Kushal Parmanand
FASHION BOOKINGS EDITOR Apoorva Singh
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Varun Patil
CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER Ayushi Dalmia
COPY EDITOR Risha Merchant
CONTRIBUTING WRITER Arzoo Dina
JUNIOR FASHION STYLIST Arshia Kachwala
FASHION ASSISTANT Janine Dubash

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Nishant Jalan

PLANNING MANAGER Alisha Goriawala

EDITOR Sukanya

MANAGING DIRECTOR Alex

ASSOCIATE MANAGER HUMAN RESOURCES Disha Makharia

DIGITAL DIRECTOR Gaurav Mishra
HEAD TECHNOLOGY Arshad Kazi
HEAD AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT Mayuri Nigam
PRODUCT MANAGER Shefali Pandey
UX DESIGNER Anurag Jain
TECHNOLOGY PROJECT MANAGERS

Amrita Sudheendran, Dipak Raghuwanshi

SENIOR EXECUTIVE AD TECH Sandeep Tiwari
SENIOR EXECUTIVE DIGITAL MARKETING Tanishta Singh
DIRECTOR VIDEO Anita Horam
CREATIVE PRODUCERS Amrita Mahindroo, Ishita Bahadur
EA TO MANAGING DIRECTOR Andrea Dsouza

Kuruvilla

Conde Nast India Pvt. Ltd.

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DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR, CONDE NAST UK

Albert Read
Coleridge

PRESIDENT, CONDE NAST INTERNATIONAL LTD. Nicholas

RNI.NO.: MAHENG/2008/27014. Printed and published by Almona Bhatia on behalf of Conde Nast India Pvt. Ltd. Printed at Thomson Press India Ltd., 18/35, Delhi-Mathura
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Processed at Commercial Reprographers. Distributed by Living Media Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is strictly
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CHAIRMAN, CONDE NAST INTERNATIONAL LTD.
8

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

Jonathan Newhouse

ROCHE BOBOIS
Unusual elegance and bespoke style, denes the iconic furniture brand's design philosophy

ith a legacy spanning over 50 years, the name Roche Bobois

is no stranger to the world of high-fashion decor. The
French luxury furniture, accessories and home furnishings
brand is known worldwide for its eclectic designs a blend
of creativity with a timeless aesthetic for pieces that are
as iconic as they are innovative.
Roche Bobois story dates back to the 1960s. A chance encounter
between two families the Roche and the Chouchan at a furniture expo
in Copenhagen and their shared vision to import Scandinavian furniture
in Paris, led to them merging businesses. As individuals from the post-war
period began looking at new design influences, the label drew heavily from
sophisticated Scandinavian furniture, breaking away from traditional, fluid
forms, towards bold and unique interior elements.
Its this notion of combining fashion-forward designs thats continued
even today, leading to the brands popularity among decor connoisseurs and
discerning patrons. Today, it has warranted its presence across 50 countries,
including India, the USA, the UAE, China and Luxembourg, among others,
with over 250 showrooms and counting.
10

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

INSPIRED
COLLECTIONS
Plush yet comfortable, modern yet timeless,
the legendary company is synonymous with
fine furniture and exclusive style. Considered a
trendsetter in the design world, Roche releases
two new collections each season, often teaming up
with established fashion houses and designers to
bring out furniture and decor accessories that are
diverse, yet epitomise understated luxury that they
are known for. Using some of the finest fabrics
and leathers, textures and materials, each piece is
crafted to perfection. Part of its design philosophy
is allowing consumers to customise their furniture,
from carefully sourced materials, to create a piece
that is bespoke and defines ones personality.
Les Contemporains and Nouveaux Classiques
the brands standing collections are refreshed each
year. While the former is futuristic and edgy, the
latter harks back to the traditional with a melange
of original prints and textures.

LES CONTEMPORAINS
Avant-garde and advanced, this line features sleek,
contemporary designs in a vibrant colour palette.
Dining and coffee tables, sofas and modular wall
units, lighting and accessories each element
tells a story. For instance, Mah Jong, one of the
brands most iconic and recognised pieces is
crafted by Hans Hopfer. It breaks away from the
design mould, with a modular lounge sofa and is
upholstered in one of the finest fabrics available.

NOUVEAUX CLASSIQUES
Classic designs never go out of style. And when
combined with a hint of modernity, you get
statement pieces that go beyond the constraints
of time and trends.
For instance, the Fifty-Fifty trend that draws
inspiration from the colourful '50s, uses playful
patterns and hues, but with a modern twist. The
elegant Lieto collection with a mixed wood and
metal table and a bevelled marble-top buffet, is
another fine example, or the Aries Sofa upholstered
in Sonia Rykiel Maison fabrics.

REINTERPRETING MODERNISM
We want to provoke visual sensations and
establish a dialogue between the design and the
user, says Nicolas Roche, creative director, Roche
Bobois, while explaining their latest Autumn/
Winter 2015-2016 collection that underlines the
theme of 'Experience. Take the Quiet Life recliner
or the padded egg-shaped Aircell. Each creation
in this collection exudes the notion of experience.
Comfort, as part of the Experience theme,
also takes on a modern definition in this years
collection. Today, we want to see comfort, not
just experience it. We no longer sit down on a sofa
simply to watch television. We read and work there
as well, using our tablet or computer; it needs to be
multi-functional, he explains.
At the heart of the brands philosophy is savoirfare combined with design, original fabrics and
an attention to detail thats made them a step
above the others in the luxury decor space.
Although the brand has been on an expansion
spree, Roche Bobois has never strayed from its
guiding principles of maintaining quality, comfort,
individuality and exclusivity.

ICONIC
COLLABORATIONS
Apart from a talented team of in-house designers,
Roche Bobois regularly teams up with leading names
in the fashion and design world, such as Stephen
Burks, Christophe Delcourt, Ora-to and Cdric Ragot,
to name a few. Over the years, they has also partnered
with several high-end decor houses including Missoni
Home, Sonia Rykiel and Jean Paul Gaultier, to design
and curate exclusive collections. Promoting new talent
allows the design house to imbibe new techniques and
styles. The Roche Bobois Design award, the fourth
edition in Germany, is one such initiative, encouraging
upcoming fashion designers, artists and architects to
lend a unique personality and modern aesthetic
to their collection.
Available exclusively at Roche Bobois, Mumbai,
Tower 1, Indiabulls Finance Centre, Elphinstone (W), Mumbai
400013; Tel: +91 22-61062222; Email: mumbai@roche-bobois.
com Roche Bobois, Bangalore, 7/1 Ulsoor Road,
Opposite Purvankara, Head Oice, Bangalore 560042;
Tel: +91 80-41233336; Email: bangalore@roche-bobois.com

COLLECTION SPOTLIGHT
PERIOD STYLE
The Fifty-Fifty trend draws inspiration from the
glamorous fifties while implementing a newage style with its design and finishes. Upgrade
your space with the elegant Lieto table, with its
arborescent base and bevelled marble or walnutveneered top, paired along with the Ixilon solid
beech chair, for a modern-vintage aesthetic.

PATTERN
PLAY
The Graphisme trend
features a bold blend
of hypnotic prints,
offset shapes and
myriad colours.

INFORMALLY ELEGANT
The Comfort trend is de rigueur for a contemporary look,
while conveying comfort and warmth with their smooth
silhouettes. If you're rooting for style over staccato, decorate
your abode with Quiet Life, the reclining swivel chair and the
Beam floor lamp with a hand-blown Murano glass shade.

Accents such as the

Rosace cupboard in
a 3-D faceted foampadded fabric and
the monochrome,
handmade Optical
vases, lend a strong
visual impact to the
modern bachelor pad.

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016 13

CONTENTS
18 MEN AT WORK
Designers with edge
40 HEY GOOD LOOKIN'!
Because technology should
look as good as it feels
70 GENTLEMAN'S LAIR
Bachelor pad 101
76 ODE TO AN ICON
A tribute to Charles Correa
India's most influential architect
80 FINE TASTE
A guide to India's best designed
restaurants, bars and cafs

90 A HOME FOR $500 MILLION

This 100,000 sq. ft. gigamansion
in Los Angeles is up for grabs
96 GLOSSARY
COVER
LOCATION COURTESY: ROCHE BOBOIS, MUMBAI
PHOTOGRAPHER: PRASAD NAIK
STYLED BY: KUSHAL PARMANAND
MODEL: GAURAV ARORA
HAIR & MAKEUP: GEORGE P KRITIKOS/
ANIMA CREATIVE MANAGEMENT
PRODUCTION: APOORVA SINGH
FASHION ASSISTANTS: ARSHIA KACHWALA,
JANINE DUBASH
ON GAURAV
SWEATER BY HERMS. JACKET BY CANALI.
TROUSERS BY DIOR HOMME. OVERCOAT BY
CORNELIANI. SHOES BY HEEL AND BUCKLE.
WATCH BY OMEGA. BRIEFCASE BY LOUIS VUITTON.
PRELUDE PAGES
LOCATION COURTESY: SIMONE NATURALLY INSPIRED
PHOTOGRAPHER: FABIEN CHARUAU
ART DIRECTION: ASHISH SAHI
PRODUCTION: APOORVA SINGH

14

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

PHOTOGRAPHER: SUSI BELIANSKA; STYLED BY: VIJENDRA BHARDWAJ; HAIR & MAKEUP: CLAUDIO FERRI

84 COMING HOME
Ditch your regular hotel chain
for these serviced apartments
across Europe

CONTENTS
AN ADVERTORIAL/
PROMOTIONAL SECTION
`10 CRORE +

50 FOUR SEASONS PRIVATE

RESIDENCES BANGALORE AT
EMBASSY ONE, BANGALORE
Embassy Group
52 THE RESERVE, MUMBAI
Runwal Group
54 SAPPHIRE, NATRAJ, MUMBAI
AND RAHEJA CASCADES, LONAVALA
S Raheja Realty

`2 CRORE +

62 KINGS DOMAIN AND

GINGER AT GREENAGE,
BANGALORE
Salarpuria Sattva Group
64 ADARSH PALM ACRES,
BANGALORE
Adarsh Developers
66 RAHEJA EXOTICA
SORENTO, MUMBAI
Raheja Universal Pvt Ltd
68 HIRANANDANI PARKS,
CHENNAI AND HIRANANDANI
FORTUNE CITY, PANVEL
Hiranandani Communities

DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this supplement has been prepared solely for the purpose of providing information to interested parties about luxury residential apartments in the various cities/
states of India and the same is based upon the information provided to Cond Nast India. You are therefore requested to verify this information and the authenticity thereof before you act upon the same.
The contents of this supplement are purely conceptual and have no legal binding on Cond Nast India. All images of drawings, amenities, facilities, etc. shown in this supplement are subject to change and in
reality may appear different for various reasons, including colour schemes. No representation is made or warranty given (either express or implied) as to the completeness or accuracy of the information contained
herein. While every care has been taken in the compilation of the information provided in this supplement and every attempt made to present up-to-date and accurate information, we cannot guarantee that
variations will not occur. Readers are requested to conduct their independent inquiries before acting on the information contained herein and Cond Nast India does not accept any responsibility for or any loss
or damage suffered in this regard. The information provided herein and the views expressed herein are not of Cond Nast India and Cond Nast India does not accept any responsibility for the same.

16

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

PHOTOGRAPHER: SUSI BELIANSKA; STYLED BY: VIJENDRA BHARDWAJ; HAIR & MAKEUP: CLAUDIO FERRI

60 LEELA RESIDENCES,
BHARTIYA CITY BANGALORE
Bhartiya City

SHOWCASE

MEN AT
WORK

MOODBOARD
A collection of sketches,
photographs and
inspirations on Gautam
Sinhas pinboard in his
personal studio.

18

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

WORDS: SAMIR WADEKAR AND DIVYA MISHRA; PHOTOGRAPHER: ANSHUMAN SEN; STYLED BY: SURBHI SETHI

We pry into the

workspaces of five leading
men in design and decode
their aesthetic

A R E VO LU T I O N A RY
C E R A M I C M AT E R I A L
SaphirKeramik, a high-tech material driving innovative design.
With its precise, thin-walled forms and tight-edge radii, Laufen brings a new
language to bathrooms. Collection INO, design by Toan Nguyen.

www.fcmlindia.com | info@fcmlindia.com
FCML Bangalore : 080 41169343
FCML Delhi : 011 26800482/92

|
|

FCML Chennai : 044 42176167

FCML Mumbai : 022 49261200

GAUTAM SINHA
FOUNDER AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR, NAPPA DORI

MAKING THE CUT

1. Gautam Sinha in his
Sultanpur village workspace.
2. A curation of Sinhas
Nappa Dori products,
material and personal work
tools. 3. Sinha has decorated
his personal space and
desktop with art and design
artefacts that inspire him.

Gautam Sinhas Nappa Dori is a lifestyle

brand that retails stationery, accessories and
home decor products. A tribute to Indian
sensibilities it has gained recognition by
blending craftsmanship and fine materials
with contemporary design. With an eye for
austere aesthetics and a passion for leather,
Sinha created Nappa Dori in 2010 as a vintage
expression of an urban lifestyle brand. While
the footprint in India continues to grow with
three retail stores in New Delhi and launches
scheduled for Mumbai and Bangalore, a
strong digital presence prevails through the
website (nappadori.com) and Instagram
account (@nappadori).

What do you love about your space?

Definitely the natural light it transforms
your state of mind and design.

What was the first product you designed for

the brand?
The first product I made was a classic metal
trunk with a modern take. My father was in
the air force and we moved a lot, so I have
seen these trunks throughout my childhood.

Define your aesthetic in a word.

Minimalist.

20

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

Do you have any pet peeves about

your desktop?
I am a cleanliness freak; my biggest peeve is
clutter. I like things in their place perfectly
aligned if possible.
What are your workspace essentials?
A big work desk, music, good stationery
and a measuring tape. I love pencils, pens,
rulers, scissors anything to do with
writing and creativity.

How has social media changed the way

you conduct business?
Its an essential part of every business. One

needs to embrace it to reach a wider audience.

Favourite Instagram accounts:
@symmetrybreakfast is a visual delight for any
food lover. @adamsenotori is a pilot and
photographer whose aerial views are just
awesome. I just love the dark, yet serene
compositions by @local_milk. @thiswildidea is
about a man and his dog, in its truest sense.
Favourite stores and galleries:
I absolutely love visiting design stores
whenever I travel Merci in Paris; Hutspot in
Amsterdam; and Recollection in Antwerp. My
favourite museum is the Metropolitan
Museum of Art in New York City.
What are you currently working on?
Something new is always brewing at our
studio. The next line of bags is something I am
very excited about. We are also coming up
with more stationery products.

NIKHIL SHARMA
FOUNDER, LACQUER EMBASSY

Nikhil Sharma defines his mens fashion

brand as a combination of classic influences
and modern culture. While focusing heavily
on detail and minimalist silhouettes, the label
has managed to find a seamless yet timeless
aesthetic. He set up base in New Delhis Hauz
Khas, dividing the studio into three distinct
sections: his office, store and sampling unit.
How did you find this space?
This used to be a bakery and cafe called
Elmas, which I used to frequent. I had an
instant connection to the space and when they
relocated I was lucky to find this for my brand.
What is your favourite spot here?
It has to be this cosy spot (pictured left). Even
when I am involved in non-creative tasks, its
still my favourite section.
Define your aesthetic in a word.
Polished.
In what way has e-commerce changed
your business?
I didnt want my products to have a limited
reach due to geographical limitations. Its a
necessity to be present online nowadays.
We also get a lot of growth in terms of
business as people order things almost
instantly when they see what they like.
Name five fashion staples for men.
A well-fitted white shirt, a good pair of
brown leather shoes, a silk pocket square,
a well-crafted wallet and a blazer for
day-to-night transformation.

FASHION FORWARD
1. Nikhil Sharma at his
desk. 2. A curation of
pieces designed for the
brand, work tools and
personal objects. 3. A
section of the Lacquer
Embassy store in Hauz
Khas Village.

Oddest request from a customer:

Stingray leather for the collar of a shirt!
An overrated trend.
Loud luxury logo display! Also, I am not
sure why people blindly follow trends
without knowing if it truly suits them.
3

24

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

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Born in Galway, Ireland, Enda Noone grew up

in an environment where culture, art,
literature and music were at the centre of daily
life. After studying music and film, and getting
a management degree in Dublin, he worked at
setting up new ventures in London before
moving to India to set up Ikka Dukka, with his
friend from college, Nilisha Kohli. The duo
conceived this passion project aiming to bring
to the Indian market all the things they love.
With an eclectic collection of books, fashion
and home decor, Ikka Dukka has turned into
one of Indias best-curated websites.

ENDA NOONE
FOUNDER, IKKADUKKA.COM

How did it all begin?

It all began over a hot port, back in an old
Dublin pub. After unsuccessfully trawling
through the stores in search of unique gifts,
Nilisha and I wondered: If we created items
that we loved, would there be others like us
who would love them too? It grew from there.
What was your biggest challenge?
Finding the right craftsmen, who could not
only interpret our designs, but who also care
as much about quality as we do.
What would you add to your oice?
A showroom space so that people could come
and see the products we are working on.
Where do you shop online?
Mr. Porter (mrporter.com) for great clothes;
Abe Books (abebooks.com) for rare vintage
books; and the Victoria and Albert Museum
shop website (vam.ac.uk) for its incredible
one-off finds and books.

DIGITAL DOMAIN
1. Enda Noone in his Gurgaon
oice. 2. A collection of
products available on
Ikkadukka.com. 3. A corner
in Noones personal oice.

Fondest shopping memory:

My 1920's watch, with a well-worn
leather strap, that I found in Londons
Portobello Market.
3

26

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

SANJAY GARG
FOUNDER AND DESIGNER, RAW MANGO

What did you think of this oice space when

you first saw it?
It was very far from the city, but the place
really connected with me. However angry or
mad I am, all the pressure in my head just
calms down because the only sound you
can hear is birds chirping.

WARP AND WEFT

1. Sanjay Garg in his
Chattarpur studio in
New Delhi. 2. A sampling
of handwoven fabrics,
sketches and curios from
Gargs studio.

Five essentials for work:

Natural light, flowers, my laptop, books and
my old textiles.
Inspired by history and culture, Sanjay Garg,
a textile design graduate from New Delhis
National Institute of Fashion Technology, is
busy reinventing Indias traditional
handwoven fabrics. In 2008, he founded his
label Raw Mango, and broke new ground
with his line of re-engineered Chanderi saris,
transforming them from stiff, heavy garments
to fluid, near-weightless drapes that combined
colours and motifs in daring new ways. From
a small town in Rajasthan to having some of
his works displayed in the permanent
collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum
in London, this perfectionist, who finds beauty
in imperfection, has come a long way.

imperfect, and those imperfections make for a

beautiful aesthetic. We never work with
master craftsmen, only young weavers, so in a
sense, we make things with raw hands. Also,
the paisley known as ambi or kairi
(meaning mango) in India symbolizes
Indian handwoven textiles, and is the one
motif that is common across all weaving
communities in India.

Why Raw Mango?

Many ideas went into this. I believe in the
beauty of imperfection. Handloom fabrics are

What is the first thing you do in oice?

I see if everything is kept in the right place.
Im 1,000 per cent particular about neatness!

28

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

What drew you to handwoven textiles?

Ive always gravitated towards beauty
specifically towards things made by hand.
Today, I am working with textiles, but
tomorrow it could be terracotta.

What do you like best about your job?

I think I can solve problems like a doctor
of design. Every craft comes to me with a
problem. I dont bypass it; I treat it.
What space-related advice would you give
a fledgling designer?
They should look for a place that is an
extension of their aesthetic and also their
philosophy. For example, I would never want
to be in a mall, because I dont think the
products I create would fit there. Sometimes
you see these malls with fake palm trees; I
would never enter a space like that! I dont
have anything fake in my house. I would also
see who my neighbours are, what kind of
brands they have and what their philosophy
is because all these things matter.

RAHUL MISHRA
FOUNDER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR, RAHUL MISHRA DESIGNS

Winner of the 2014 International Woolmark

Prize at Milan Fashion Week, designer Rahul
Mishras work with traditional Indian textiles
and its craftsmen, has earned him a
reputation for socially conscious design. A
graduate from Ahmedabads National
Institute of Design, Mishras approach to his
ground-floor studio is as pragmatic, as his
designs are romantic.
What is the first thing you do when you
enter oice?
We receive a lot of calls from Japan and
Australia in the morning. So we first try to
finish all our international commitments after
which we say a short prayer, for the vastu,
thanking the space.
What do you look for in a studio?
For us, a creative space has to be a bit more
neutral, and actually, less inspiring. Ideally,
it should be in the by-lanes, so parking is not
a problem, and off the main road, because
those usually have high levels of pollution.
This space is south-east facing, which means
I get the maximum amount of sunlight. Also I
have always had this thumb rule in my
professional life that I dont want to live more
than 15 minutes away from work so [the
commute between home and the studio] is
very convenient.
What are five things you cant work without?
My sketchbooks, Rotring pen, iPad, colour
printer and my table lamp.
What space-related advice would you give
to a fledgling designer?
Go for an office that makes you feel at home.
That way, you dont hate Mondays or
working those extra hours. Have as many
plants as possible around you. Dont
over-design. If the space is too strongly
designed, your work may become slightly
repetitive. I think this is critical.

FINE CRAFTSMANSHIP
1. Rahul Mishra in his Noida
oice. 2. One of the many
work tables in the oice
Mishra rotates between.
3. Tools and inspirations
on Mishras desk.

30

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

LODHA

ALTAMOUNT
32

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

When it comes to having an address with an

enviable pin code, Altamount Road in Mumbai
ticks all the boxes. Lodha Altamount, part of
Lodha Groups The Luxury Collection, picked its
spot well. One of the most exclusive residential
projects from the Group, Lodha Altamount makes
for a plush living experience. The building,
constructed on the highest elevation, makes a
flagship project of Lodha Luxury Collection with
breathtaking views.
AN EXTRAORDINARY LOCATION
This modern tower being constructed with glass
finds itself nestled among colonial bungalows.
Heritage homes such as the official residence
of the Bombay Port Trust Chairman, and the
residence of the Municipal Commissioner of

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016 33

Mumbai, are testament to a street that

is replete with history, heritage and
illustrious living. Of course, the richest
man in India calls this street home,
along with a host of industrialists,
politicians, and corporate scions
among others.
It is no wonder that Indias very
own Billionaires Row is the 10th
most expensive street in the world!
A SITE IN A MILLION
Lodha Altamount stands on the
highest elevation of Altamount Road,
the site which was formerly home
to Maharaja Hari Singh of Jammu &
Kashmir and then to US Consulate,
famously known as Washington House.
It is an outstanding and unique site
in the heart of cosmopolitan South
Mumbai, embracing the beauty,
tradition, and tranquillity of an old
world charm blending amicably with
the buzz of commercial hot spots
around. The views of the city from here
are unparalleled across Back Bay
to Nariman Point, one can view the
expanse of Marine Drive, Haji Ali, Race
Course and eastern harbor of Mumbai.

34

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

In a city starved for space and views,

the fact that the area overlooks the
Arabian Sea on three sides, makes it
an absolute win-win.
A LANDMARK WORK OF
ARCHITECTURE
German-Iranian architect, Hadi
Teherani conceived this tower
that makes for quite a sight! The
gorgeous glass faade ensures that
Lodha Altamount offers its residents
unrestricted views of the Arabian Sea.
In addition, while you enjoy the sea
view and scenery, the double glazed
tinted glass takes care of your privacy!
Considering that this tower is
aiming to bring you the best of the
best, Lodha Altamount is the
culmination of some of the best
expertise from all around the world.
MKA Chicago, Francis Landscapes
Lebanon, BES Singapore, Al Abbar
Dubai, and Rajiv Saini & Associates
are some of the names involved
in constructing this masterpiece
development that promises to
become a landmark of the island
city of Mumbai.

Lodha Altamount
was conceived with
the objective to bring
the best in luxury
living to Mumbai.

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016 35

COME HOME TO THE WORLD OF

EXCEPTIONAL SERVICES
Lodha Altamount is in so many
ways more than a mere residence.
Integrated into the building are leisure
facilities to rival those anywhere in
the world, from sports to health and
well-being and entertainment. Spread
across two dedicated recreational
zones, the first at 100 ft. above the
ground with a 25- metre temperature
controlled pool with Jacuzzi, a fully
equipped fitness centre, private
cinema, a sports field, a pool side
bar, kids play area, massage room
and a crche.
The second recreational zone is the
residents private lounge at 500 ft.
above the ground a rarity to find
in the island city of Mumbai. These
are exclusive residences with lesser
density ensuring only likeminded

36

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

neighbourhood and generous

luxurious splurge at the amenities.
The grand entrance lobby is
adorned by Indias first Picasso.
THE RESIDENCES
Want a grand experience of estate
living in the sky? With a 13 ft. floorto-floor height and an all glass
envelope in the residences starting
at more than 100ft above the ground,
Lodha Altamount commits generous
bare shell residences to suit your own
preferences. Moreover, in keeping
with your privacy, each apartment
has a private elevator lobby! Taking
privacy a step further, this tower has
a separate entrance for domestic staff.
With this and more, Lodha Altamount
offers you 3-, 4- and 5-bedroom
homes as well as 5-bedroom pool
villas with 3 sides open promising

nothing short of breathtaking

panoramic views of the Arabian sea
and the city beneath.
In an effort to take service to
another level, Lodha Altamount is
managed by hospitality experts Saint
Amand. This is a bespoke service
thats a first for India and they bring
the finest standards of luxury service
and living to your doorstep. This team
puts your needs first and provides you
with a dedicated concierge service to
maintain the upkeep of the communal
areas 24x7.
Whats more, you will never have
to leave your home if you dont want
to. Craving a particular meal? Saint
Amand will take care of that for you
with delicacies from their signature a
la carte menu. Leaving for that soiree
de gala and need pets to be taken
care of? Saint Amand does it all.

Fully managed by hospitality experts,

Saint Amand, these residences will
bring a new dimension in modern
living, effectively delivering the
service of the worlds nest hotels
to a domestic setting.
and the Arabian sea. To take care of the recreation needs of the
residents, there are two thoughtfully designed levels. The first one
is 100 ft above the ground with an amenities space that's inspired
from across the globe along with a private rooftop pool and
lounge at 500 ft above the ground, probably the highest
South Mumbai has.
From its location , to modern architecture to the most enviably
picked amenities and the fully managed residences with 24 x 7
living in a five-star experience by hospitality experts, Saint
Amand - everything is crafted to ensure Lodha Altamount stands
true to the values of Lodha Luxury Collection.

IN CONVERSATION WITH

CEO, LODHA LUXURY

What is your vision for Lodha Altamount?

The vision for Lodha Altamount comes from Lodha familys vision
of creating the finest in luxury living. Lodha Group have been
delivering world class homes and office spaces for the past 35
years. Two years ago, the company decided to raise the bar even
higher. The group made its debut in London - the worlds capital
in fine tastes and living. We have acquired 1 Grosvenor Square,
the most coveted address in Prime Central London followed by the
acquisition of New Court famous for its well-established vicinity
in Central London. With Lodha Luxury Collection, headquartered
in London, we intend to bring luxury developments to some of the
globes most coveted locations, crafted to the highest level of detail
and refinement and offering the highest standards of service to
the residents. Lodha Altamount was conceived with the objective
to bring the best in luxury living to Mumbai. It's a one-of-a-kind
development that focuses on architecture and lifestyle.
What makes Lodha Altamount an outstanding project?
Located in Altamount Road, South Mumbai, the neighborhood
houses corporate scions, bureaucrats, some of India's most
influential families, and the largest gathering of international
consulates, which is why it's called 'Billionaires Row'. Lodha
Altamount boasts of unparalleled features in its residences. The
project has one residence per floor and a private elevator lobby for
each residence ensures privacy. The 13 ft floor-to-floor height and
all glass faade create a grand experience of estate living in the
sky. These are bareshell residences to suit ones own preferences.
All glass walls ensure breathtaking, panoramic views of the city

Tell us about your design philosphy for Lodha Altamount.

Design sensibilities are defined by location. German Iranian
architect Hadi Teherani had a big role to play. He is famous for his
striking contemporary architecture and has created landmarks
including Kranhuser Cologne, Germany, Zayed University Dubai,
United Arab Emirates, and Tanzende Trme Hamburg, Germany.
The resulting design is an exclusive facade emphasizing the grand
vision for the tower and city, a spectacular modern building that
would fit perfectly into Altamount Roads classical context. Its not
just a masterpiece on the outside, the inside, too is unique and
detailed with lavish amenties that pamper its residents.
You spoke about managed residences; please elaborate?
With Lodha Altamount, our endeavour is to bring the finest
contemporary living to India. Fully managed by hospitality
experts, Saint Amand, these residences will bring a new dimension
in modern living, effectively delivering the service of the worlds
finest hotels to a domestic setting. Saint Amand provides seamless,
immediate, and personal attention with the help of a dedicated
'residences team' manning the site 24-hours a day, seven days a
week. From a dedicated concierge service to immaculate upkeep
of the communal areas, residents will love to come home because
they would know that everything is taken care of.
How is the luxury real estate market evolving in India?
Rapid urbanisation, increased disposable incomes, growth of
luxury outlets, awareness of luxury products and focus of people
towards getting experiences are all contributing to splurges
in luxury sales across categories. India has upwards of 150,000
UHNI's that's growing at 17% per year. Homes are the most
involved purchase and they look for a singular brand they can
trust. It's an ever-increasing market.
What are the factors to consider when it comes to
purchasing luxury property?
The first rule is location. It has been and always will be the most
important factor to keep in mind before purchasing any property.
This is followed by the quality of construction and detailing. If
youre looking at a truly luxurious development, its important
not to compromise on any of these factors.

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016 37

ELEGANCE PERSONIFIED
Simone Aroras decor store in South Mumbai is all about
effortless luxury and timeless style

esigning and curating spaces

is something that comes
naturally to Simone Arora.
Her tryst with interiors and
decor began early on, as she,
alongside her husband Ajay Arora, built
upholstery brand, DDecor, to what it is
today. After over 15 years of participating
in international trade fairs and exhibits
and interacting with designers across
the globe, Arora decided to branch
out on her own with her concept store,
SIMONE, a culmination of design
experience fused with her signature style.
Her passion for decor is visible through
her eponymous boutique, located in a
prominent heritage mansion in South
Mumbai. Inspired by nature, the interior
space showcases a globally sourced
selection of furniture, exclusive fine
fabrics, objet d'art, tableware, glassware,
bed and bath linen, lighting solutions
and outdoor accessories, to create a
tranquil living environment.
Tell us about your design journey.
I have spent 20 years of my career
in the field of design as D'Decor's
creative director. Here, we created new
collections, explored colour options,
attended, participated in international

38

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

fairs and learned new techniques from

people in the trade. These incredible
chances, gave me a tremendous hands-on
education and experience in the field of
design. My foray into interiors came when
I took on the challenging project to build
and decorate my home 'Amore'. This is
when I had the opportunity to personally
source building materials, furniture,
artefacts and accessories, from a global
selection of offerings. These experiences
further enhanced my creative sensibilities.
This in turn led to the inception of
'SIMONE' a fascinating fusion between
the old and the new. The brand showcases
international labels that are curated into
room settings in natural hue themes.
What inspires your design sensibilities?
I was nurtured and brought up in a
progressive and cosmopolitan home,
where I was constantly exposed to
beautiful art and objects, fine living and
extensive travel. I met many influential
people very early in my life. My parents
are both artistically inclined and exposed
me to a number of things that lead to my
heightened sensibility. My inspiration also
comes from various sources like heritage
architecture, elements of nature, books
and travel, that influences me to

different sights, sounds, interactions

and experiences.
What sets your style apart from other
creatives in the same design space?
My design aesthetic is classic,
contemporary and distinctive. It leans
towards a natural look and feel, with
a luxe component. The colour palette
is neutral with an emphasis on varied
textures and forms, with a hint of metallic
sheen. The SIMONE Naturally Inspired
collection has a European-African design
appeal that helps create a sophisticated
yet comfortable ambience. It is a classic
example of the kind of adaptive flexibility
that urban planners and architects laud.

My design aesthetic is classic,

contemporary and distinctive. It leans
towards a natural look
and feel, with a luxe component.
Simone Arora, Designer,
Curator & Founder

When did you discover your love for

fabric and design?
I was exposed to a beautiful home
and visually stimulating surroundings
very early in life. After marriage I was
introduced to the world of fabrics and
textiles my husband and I visited and
participated in all the leading home textile
and design shows in Europe. Rich hues,
art and textures in numerous forms and
variations of home decor and textiles were
on display. This exposure and further
enhanced my love for fabrics, fashion,
design and decor.
What is the SIMONE signature style?
My creation is contemporary, nature
inspired and tranquil in feel with a luxe
appeal. I instinctively gravitate towards
natural and neutral colour tones and use
matte textures with a hint of sheen and
gloss to lend elegance. SIMONE, the store,
is a unique fusion of the heritage world
with contemporary interiors.
What's the next big thing at SIMONE?
Project SIMONE is the most recent
expansion portfolio and concept product
added to my brand. We offer themed
mood boards in varied natural and neutral
colour schemes that include floor and
wall tiles, wall coverings, furnishings,
and carpets. We have deliberated and put
together colour stories to cater to various
tastes and requirements. We also plan to
take the 'SIMONE' Fine Fabric collection
international by participating at Maison
et Objet, Paris 2016. This line includes a
luxurious and exclusive line of fabrics.
Available at A01, Amarchand Mansion,
16 Madame Cama Road, Colaba,
Mumbai 400001; Email: sales@simone.
com; Website: simone.com,
Contact +91-22-71117700

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016 39

DIGITAL

HEY GOOD
LOOKIN!

A PORTRAIT
Quartz (J766F-03) fabric by Jane
Churchill (backdrop); Gastn y
Daniela. 1950s Danish table and
Swedish chairs; Verde Gabn. Crystal
horse bust by Lalique and crystal
clock by Daum; Daum & Lalique.
RE 16-megapixel digital cameras
with Bluetooth (blue and white); HTC.
Photograph by Andrea Santolaya
from the Prelude Series; Mondo
Galleria. Silver bowl; El 8. Lumix
GM5 compact camera (in bowl);
Panasonic. PowerShot G1X Mark
II 12.8-megapixel camera; Canon.
Tracery rug by Kelly Wearstler;
The Rug Company.

40

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

PRODUCERS: EDUARDO MERLO & CARLOTA PEYDRO; PHOTOGRAPHERS: AARN SERRANO & OLGA MORENO

Because technology should look as good as it feels...

DIGITAL CANVAS
Wooden centrepieces, marble globes
and white Buddha figurine; The
Interiorlist. Teapot by Ignacio del
Toro; Guille Garcia-Hoz. Photograph
by Man Ray (1945) in a lightbox;
Mondo Gallery. G Pad 10.1 tablet;
LG. Triangle bag (yellow); Loewe.
Ordinary Purposes clock; Espacio
Brut. Galaxy Tab S 10.5 tablet;
Samsung. Nexus 9 tablet; HTC.
Candil table lamp; Alvaro
Cataln de Ocn.

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016 41

ON THE MOVE
Marble table (top right) and table lamp; El 8. iPhone
6 Plus smartphone; Apple. One M8 smartphone;
HTC. Else coral vase; PCM Designs. Gold bracelet
by Silva/Bradshaw; Espacio Brut. 1960s German
table (bottom right); La Recova. Galaxy Alpha
smartphone; Samsung. G3 smartphone and G
Watch R smartwatch; LG. 1960s Italian table (bottom
left); El 8. Cast Mini Jack Copper paperweight;
Tom Dixon. 1950s tray (top left); La Recova. Z
purse; Loewe. Carpet; The Rug Company.

42

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

PICTURE IN PICTURE
Laredo and Phoenix fabrics (backdrop)
by Larsen; Gastn y Daniela. 65-inch
4K Ultra HD TV; LG. Tray with monkeys,
polar bear figurine, and table lamp;
The Interiorlist. Obelisks; El 8. 50-inch
Viera TX-50AX800 4K Ultra HD TV;
Panasonic. Console; Verde Gabn.
Table; El 8. Table clock; Odalisca. 65inch HU8500 Curved Smart 3D UHD
4K LED TV; Samsung. Palm acrylic
painting by Juan Escauriaza; Galeria
Jorge Alcolea. Carved marble sculpture
(on floor); Verde Gabn. Vase and
rat; Guille Garca-Hoz. Carpet; The
Rug Company. (On the screens, from
top): video art by Amparo Sard from
Espacio Lquido gallery; Juan Prez
Agirregoikoa from CarrerasMugica
gallery; and Philippe Decrauzat
from Parra & Romero gallery.

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016 45

AN ADVERTORIAL/PROMOTIONAL SECTION

PRESENTING INDIA'S

FINEST LUXURY HOMES

46

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

48

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

PHOTOGRAPHER: FABIEN CHARUAU; LOCATION COURTESY: SIMONE NATURALLY INSPIRED

THE NICHE

10

CRORE

ARCHITECTURAL and DESIGN

FORCES that pledge to envelop and exalt home
owners await you on the pages that follow.

INSPIRATION evolves into elements that

transcend from mere BLUEPRINTS to the details
that define LUXE LIVING.

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016 49

BANGALORE
EMBASSY
GROUP

FOUR SEASONS PRIVATE

RESIDENCES BANGALORE
AT EMBASSY ONE
Iconic branded homes that are a class apart

ndias garden city has been

edging out other markets when it
comes to premium realty projects
in the country. And, when youve
got one of the finest names in
the hospitality business bringing uberexclusive branded private residences, it is
only fitting to expect that these homes will
be nothing short of spectacular.
Come 2017, Embassy ONE, a high-end
luxury project by the Bangalore-based
Embassy Group, will see the debut of
South Indias first Four Seasons Private
Residences. These bespoke abodes have
been crafted keeping in mind every
conceivable luxury and comfort for the
discerning individual.
Three high-rise towers spread over 6.5
acres will house a 230-key Four Seasons
Hotel and 109 bespoke branded private
residences, around 1,75,000 sq. ft. of
commercial offices and some 55,000 sq. ft.
of fine dining, high-end retail stores, chic
cafes and glitzy bars. From architecture
to interior design, services and exclusive
residential amenities, youre sure to be
pampered, the Four Seasons way.
LIVE THE GOOD LIFE
Wake up to the legendary Four Seasons
hospitality in your own private residence.
Floor-to-ceiling windows offer sweeping
views of landscaped gardens. The
South tower houses spacious 1- and
2- bedroom residences, while the North

Structure: 30-storey twin towers

Units: South tower: 48 units
North tower: 61 units
Layouts: South tower: 1- or 2-BHK, North
tower: 3- or 4-BHK,
3-BHK duplexes and penthouses
Estimated handover: South tower Q3:
2017; North tower Q3: 2018
Developer: Embassy Group
Website: embassyone.in
Email: queries@embassyone.in
Contact: +91-8152022222

50

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

LIKES

Embassy ONE flawlessly integrates residential,

commercial, hospitality and retail within a single property.
Our partnership with the prodigious Four Seasons
ensures that residents and visitors enjoy the highest known
standards of hospitality and privacy. Jitu Virwani,
Chairman and Managing Director, Embassy Group
tower, houses 3- and 4- bedroom homes,
3- bedroom duplexes and lavish 15,000
sq. ft. onwards penthouses. Each home
comes equipped with a security system,
both electronic and manual. Stoneclad facades, exquisite furnishings and
top-end fixtures are featured across the
property and bespoke living spaces.
The developers have brought on board
world-renowned design consultancy,
Yabu Pushelberg from New York and
Toronto, along with design partners
HKS and Studio u+a, as the architects.

from the games room, wine chamber

or media room, to unwind after a long
day. If heading out isnt on the agenda,
choose the fine dining restaurant and bar
or the stylish lobby lounge to relax over
cocktails and entertainment.
Pamper your senses at the spa and
fitness centre, offering several massage
treatments and steam rooms, sauna,
an inviting plunge pool and an aerobic
and yoga studio. Squash courts and a
swimming pool complete the list of
high-end amenities.

A LA CARTE SERVICES
Your globe-trotting lifestyle may not
allow you the time and leisure to
get things done at the last minute.
Rest assured, Four Seasons' 24-hour
concierge and butler service is at hand
to take care of your every whim and
need. The property embodies exclusive
living with private access and dedicated
lobbies for residents. Take your pick

LOCATION
Located at Bellary Road, in upcoming
North Bangalore, Embassy ONE is about
30 kilometres away from the Bangalore
International Airport and about 6.5
kilometres away from the buzzing MG
Road. Embassy ONE not only offers
bespoke living spaces, but also some
of the citys high-end retail at Central
Plaza and commercial offerings at

The mix of opulent

residential, commercial
and retail spaces
housed in the same
project, coupled with
the legendary Four
Seasons service, makes
it an exclusive refuge for
those seeking privacy
and comfort

SWANK FACTOR

Four Seasons
residences

24-hour
concierge

Spacious
penthouses

Lush
landscaping

Pinnacle at Embassy ONE, making it a

comprehensive development.
THE GROUP
The Bangalore-based company has been
creating luxury developments for over 30
years now. And, their diverse portfolio
includes villas at Embassy Boulevard,
sky condominiums at Embassy Lake
Terraces and villaments at Embassy
Grove. The group focuses on offering
customers plush homes in excellent
locations across the city. Today, Embassy
Group has developed over 6 million sq.
ft. of residential spaces that redefine
sophisticated living.

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016 51

MUMBAI
RUNWAL
GROUP

THE RESERVE

A majestic structure standing tall in Mumbai's skyline

hen it comes to
opulent living, The
Runwal Group has a
legacy of redefining
luxury. Since 1978,
the company has been constructing
iconic projects, and, in keeping with this
tradition, they're building The Reserve
in Worli, Mumbai. Not only does this
property personify luxury, it ensures that
it's exclusive and private, too. Considering
that it's swank and segregated, you're
assured of having your space in a city that's
starved of it. You're in the city but it'll seem
like you're out of it. Additionally, the Four
Seasons Hotel is a mere walk away and
Palladium and St. Regis is a five-minute
drive away. The Reserve pampers you
with the best and makes sure you're wellconnected to the city as well.
THE RESERVE
Privacy takes on new meaning at The
Reserve, as you indulge your senses with
wide, open spaces and breathtaking
views overlooking the Arabian Sea and
Mahalaxmi Race Course. With 72 select
residences coupled with 72,000 sq. ft.
of open space, you will find yourself
enveloped in your own private island,
away from the din of the city. These
luxurious residences prioritize your
privacy and comfort.
The 26-storey, petal shaped residential
tower, split into three wings, has just
one apartment per floor. Enjoy stunning
views from your private sun deck that
wraps around each apartment, while
high-speed elevators whisk you to your
floor. There is no dearth of space with
the lavish 3-BHK and 4-BHK residences
that are Vastu compliant and built like a
private sanctuary. Taking luxury one step
further, all apartments include premium
furnishings, fittings, walk-in wardrobes
and more.

THE RESERVE
Structure: 26-storey tower
Units: 72 select residences
Layouts: 3- to 4-BHK
Estimated handover: On enquiry
Website: runwal.com
Email: thereserve@runwal.com
Contact: +91-22-39528565

52

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

LIKES

"The Reserve has marked the foray of Runwal Group into

the uber-luxurious residential segment in South Mumbai.
The residential offering is for discerning connoisseurs
of luxury living. This project exudes exclusivity, privacy and
grandeur."- Shalini Dixit, Vice President Marketing

Cocooned in the
comfort of your own
private island, The
Reserve oers the luxury
of space in plenty and
lets you live life on a
grand scale

SWANK FACTOR
72
Apartments only

ELITE AMENITIES
Understanding the leisure needs of
their affluent residents, the property
has thoughtful inclusions and amenties
to keep one active a well-equipped
gymnasium, yoga room, jogging track,
outdoor fitness and gaming area, tennis
court and a luxurious swimming pool.
The clubhouse includes a cafe
and dining area. The highlight
of course, is basking in the propertys
never ending greens, away from the
noise of city life.
PLUSH PATIO
Fancy an intimate alfresco dining
set-up? The property offers plenty
of outdoor spaces including a pavilion,
a skylight area, a corridor and stone
garden, and a spacious lawn to
entertain guests.

Yoga room

Private sun-deck

Swimming pool

LOCATION
Mid-town Mumbai is the hottest new
address for luxury residential projects.
The Reserve blends in perfectly, with its
close proximity to buzzing commercial
buildings and trendy hotspots,
yet it's located in its own private cocoon,
next to the Four Seasons Hotel in
Worli. The stunning views overlooking
the Arabian sea complement this
private escapade.
LUXE ADDRESSES 2016 53

MUMBAI &
LONAVLA
S RAHEJA
REALTY

SAPPHIRE, NATRAJ
AND RAHEJA CASCADES
Premium apartments and villas designed for privacy and comfort

hen you live in a city

that boasts of some of
the most expensive real
estate in the country,
youd want to ensure
postcode envy. Complementing an elite
lifestyle are two new luxury developments
by S Raheja Realty. Cocooned in the leafy
environs of Khar and Santacruz (W), these
large, private abodes, are a short distance
from the many hot-spots that dot this
stretch. The company, which has been
a part of Mumbais changing skyline for
over six decades now, brings exclusive
living for discerning dwellers, looking for
a mix of modern architecture with discreet
luxury.
SAPPHIRE
When it comes to luxury, Sapphire is a
one-of-a-kind redevelopment project

54

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

by S Raheja. In a city where space is a

premium, this property offers spacious
apartments in 3- and 5-BHK variants,
while the top two floors house a 5,000
sq. ft. plush, elegant penthouse. Spaces
have been designed keeping privacy
and comfort in mind. Each apartment
is south-west facing and offers crossventilation with running balconies. In
fact, there are plenty of natural elements.
Heres what welcomes you an indoor
and outdoor gym, a conference room for
business meetings, a childrens play area,
three-level car parking and a 2,000 sq. ft.
rooftop lounge complete with a bar and
loungers, where you can choose to simply
unwind after a long day.
The 6-BHK penthouse is all about
sleek living with modern interiors and
an internal glass elevator within the
penthouse. Take in views of the city life

below from the 600 sq. ft. terrace; the

master bedroom with wide windows
offers panoramic views. Two massive
living rooms (formal and informal) as well
as a separate dining room make up the
rest of the home.
Stir up some cocktails at the indoor
and outdoor bars, or treat yourself to
a full-spread with the massive island
kitchen and breakfast table. Equipped
with top-end fixtures and fitted out with
imported Italian marble.
LOCATION
Situated on the corner of East and Main
Avenue in Santacruz (W) and just a short
distance away from Bandra in Mumbai,
Sapphire offers the best of both worlds
quiet, suburban bliss, surrounded by
trendy cafes and restaurants exclusive
living at its finest.

LIKES

NATRAJ
Located in the heart of Mumbai, Natraj
offers quaint views overlooking a park
thats just outside the property. Despite
being minutes away from one of the citys
buzzing shopping streets, the building
allows you complete privacy.
You have ample space and exclusivity;
with a single apartment on each floor.
Each apartment spoils you with a
cantilevered deck facing the park, a
common gym and meeting area and two
landscaped terrace lounges on the 6th
and 15th floor perfect for social soirees.
The lavish five-bedroom penthouse
comes with a 500 sq. ft. terrace, offering
unobstructed views of the park below.
The large formal and informal living
rooms make for perfect entertainment
options or intimate dinners. Branded
fixtures and imported Italian marble
used across the apartment make up the
rest of the aesthetic. The penthouse
is also fitted with state-of-the-art
home automation systems.

LOCATION
Natraj is located in the plush residential
area of Khar (W). Cafes and restaurants
surround the area and the property offers
convenient access to the international and
domestic airport in Mumbai.
RAHEJA CASCADES
That perfect holiday home need not
be miles away from the city. Situated
conveniently between the Mumbai-Pune
corridor, Raheja Cascades, is an all-villa
project, that embodies serene living.
Thirty-five boutique villas are parcelled
across six acres of land, with panoramic
views of the surrounding mountains.
These villas, available in variants of
3-BHK to 5-BHK, have been crafted
to perfection, with water being a key
architectural element. Stunning water
features make up the landscape with a
30 ft waterfall flowing down the facade
into the private swimming pool of each
villa, along with sunken seats. Lush green
spaces are aplenty here, with courtyards,

The stylishly
designed penthouses
with indoor and
outdoor bars are
perfect for those
social soirees. And the
landscaped villas with
cascading waterfalls
provide you an element
of nature within
arms reach

Structure: Sapphire and Natraj: Single

tower; Raheja Cascades: G+3
Units: Sapphire: 21 units including 1
penthouse; Natraj: 16 units including 1
penthouse; Raheja Cascades: 35 villas
Layout: Raheja Cascades: 3- to 5-BHK
villas; Sapphire: 3-BHK (1,230 sq. ft. carpet
area), 5-BHK (2,500 sq. ft. carpet area);
(5,000 sq. ft. penthouse on top 2 floors)
Natraj: 4-BHK (1,600 sq. ft. carpet area);
(3,400 sq. ft. penthouse on top 2 floors)
Estimated handover: Sapphire: January
2017; Natraj: March 2016;
Raheja Cascades: Mid 2017
Developers: S Raheja Realty
Website: sraheja.com
Email: sales@sraheja.com
Contact: +91-9773041000

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016 55

SWANK FACTOR

Conference room

Luxury penthouse

Rooftop lounge

Park view

Private pool

Clubhouse

a wooden deck, gardens and terraces at

various levels. If youre entertaining, the
provisions for a bar and barbecue grill on
the terrace make for a perfect addition.
For those looking to combine relaxation
with some activity, the property offers
a clubhouse and amphitheatre, while
indoor and outdoor spaces complete
the list of amenities, allowing you to be
one with nature within the comfort
of your home.
Each villa has been strategically
planned, ensuring ample privacy for
homeowners, and built incorporating
sustainable and eco-friendly elements.
Villas also come equipped with the latest
in home automation, security systems,
and a separate laundry room, while the
sleek, modular kitchens are furnished
with international fixtures.
LOCATION
Nestled in Lonavala, Raheja Cascades
is easily accessible from Mumbai (100
kilometres away) and Pune (70 kilometres
away), and just a few kilometres from the
Mumbai-Pune Expressway.
THE GROUP
S Raheja Realty has many an iconic
construction to its name, a recent
landmark being Hinduja Healthcare in
Khar, Mumbai. The company's vision is
now being shaped by the third generation
of the family, adapting to modern times,
while still maintaining the traditions
and ethics set forth by the co-founder
of the Raheja Brothers, late Girdaridas
Raheja his legacy that has made the
group uphold its tradition of excellence.
The groups primary focus has and
continues to be luxury development in
and around Mumbai. In recent years, the
group has diversified its portfolio and
ventured into affordable housing in minimetros and tier II towns across India.
56

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

Today, S Raheja continues to revolutionize

the real estate industry with a vision to
incorporate evolved architectural practices
and develop projects that are both
sustainable and secure.
Sapphire, Natraj and Raheja Cascades:
Design architects: S Raheja Associates Ram Raheja
BMC architects: YMS Consultants
Architectural consultant: SNG Associates
Structural consultants: J+W Consultants,
Sapphire: Pravin Gala Consultants
Landscape Architects: Raheja Cascades:
WAHO Landscape Architects
What was your vision for these projects?
Theres been a conscious effort to steer
our brand towards residential projects
that are architecturally driven. We believe
each property should be site-conscious
and its design sensibility and concept
should be defined by its location. So, at
Raheja Cascades you will find generous
use of waterfalls, such as a 30 ft waterfall
flowing along each villas facade and open
terraces at every level, merging indoor
and outdoor spaces. Similarly, Natraj,
located in Khar, is in close quarters to a
park and the buildings design aesthetic
capitalises on the open, green views it
offers. In the case of Sapphire, weve
been able to procure a prime spot in a
buzzing residential suburb, maximising

In conversation with

RAM
RAHEJA
Director & Head of
Arch. Dept.

There is great potential for redevelopment and luxury

housing in the years to come, what with higher
disposable incomes. Weve developed these projects to
suit peoples desire for better lifestyles and for those
discerning individuals seeking luxury and privacy,
without compromising on the quality and standards that
S Raheja Realty is known for. - Ram Raheja
amenity space such as a rooftop lounge,
a penthouse and three-level car parking.
Each flat is south-west facing, ensuring
that there is great cross ventilation.
Describe your design philosophy
I dont believe in following a particular
design philosophy. Its all about doing
what inspires you and more importantly,
what the requisites for a site are. You can
build the most amazing and expensive
project for potential buyers, but if its
not in context to its surrounding area,
then its a waste of time and investment.
Creating a landmark, yet fitting in with
the environment it is built in. Being an
architect, I believe that in the case of
design, everything lies in the details.
What sets these projects apart from
others in the city?
Definitely, the architectural design and
quality of construction of each property is
what sets them apart. And then of course,
beauty lies in the details, so we
let the projects speak for themselves.
What are the critical factors to
consider when it comes to purchasing
a luxury property?

The first rule is location. It has been and

always will be the most important factor
to keep in mind before purchasing any
property. This is followed by the quality
of construction and detailing. If youre
looking at a truly luxurious development,
its important not to compromise
on any of these factors.
Additionally, with technology moving
at the speed it is, tech-related amenities
and other fancy add-ons can become
outdated. New innovations are
always rolling out in the market.
Stick with the two factors mentioned
above, as these will never fail you.
How is the luxury real estate
market evolving?
The market for premium real estate is
constantly evolving and is also very
relative. This is because a city like
Mumbai has micro-markets that behave
differently. Therefore, purchases are often
sentiment-driven depending on where
you are looking to live. Having said that,
I can safely say that the aspiration levels
for premium lifestyles and luxury homes
is ever increasing.
LUXE ADDRESSES 2016 57

58

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

PHOTOGRAPHER: FABIEN CHARUAU; LOCATION COURTESY: SIMONE NATURALLY INSPIRED

THE NICHE

CRORE

ART, DESIGN and architectural breakthroughs

come together in form and function, within SPACES that
define MODERN-DAY LIVING. An amalgamation
of FINE TASTES and discerning predilections create
EXPERIENCES OF A LIFETIME.

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016 59

BANGALORE
BHARTIYA
CITY

LEELA RESIDENCES,
BHARTIYA CITY
Majestic structures cocooned in privacy

hen luxury is a way of

life, its only befitting
that your abode
matches your penchant
for all things exclusive.
Developed by the Bhartiya Group and
managed by the Leela, Leela Residences at
Bhartiya City, aim to be game changers in
the branded luxury residences segment.
This all-encompassing project resides in
the unspoilt precinct of North Bangalore,
promising to complement chic lifestyles
with elegant homes, contemporary decor
and top-notch facilities.
GRAND LIVING SPACES
From 1-BHK and studio condos to lavish
4-BHK residences, each home has been
created as a spacious haven for relaxation
and rejuvenation, embellished with pieces
of art, fine furniture and high-end fixtures.
Soothing tones in a neutral colour palette
make up the decor, influenced by classic
design sensibilities. Take in the expansive
views of the seven acre Central Park
from your very own private abode,
with a stylish walk-in wardrobe, et
al. A private deck lets you soak in
uninterrupted views of Bangalores
skyline and the landscaped gardens
just beyond. The 4-BHK residences spell
sheer opulence with elegantly done-up
rooms, a private sauna, two spacious
decks with soothing green views,

60

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

We envisioned Bhartiya City as a place of culture,

commerce and an exciting way of life a city of joy that
revolves around its people. The Leela Residences, will
offer a set of luxurious homes that are like nowhere else
in the world. Snehdeep Aggarwal, Founder and
Chairman, Bhartiya Group

THE LOT
LIKES

The Rococo style

residences exude
sophistication and
glamour, while oering
the best services and
plush amenities from
across the globe

Structure: 3 Towers
Units: 176
Layouts: 1-BHK to 4-BHK and
studio apartments
Estimated handover: 2018
Developer: Bhartiya City Developers
Website: leelaresidences.bhartiyacity.com
Email: leelaresidences@bharityacity.com
Contact: +91-8049326900

an area to live and work. The property,

located near Hebbal road, is about 23
kilometres away from the international
airport and offers connectivity to the
city through the Hebbal flyover and
Bellary Road.

SWANK FACTOR

Swimming pool
& spa

Private gym

Private theatre

delicate macarons, this exclusive amenity

is sure to delight. A dedicated butler
and concierge provides exceptional
service, from arranging tickets for an
event to whipping up that special Sunday
brunch to entertain guests. A chauffeur,
limousine and your very own personal
chef, botanist and fitness instructor are
just a call away.

Butler & Valet

service

LOCATION
Leela Residences is housed in the 125acre Bhartiya City in Bangalore. A mix of
residential, commercial, hospitality and
retail developments, each space has been
meticulously designed, doubling up as

and a host of 5-star services on call.

These limited edition apartments will
complement the grandeur of the 256room luxury Leela hotel being developed
next door. Those staying at the private
Leela Residences will have the benefit
of enjoying services offered by the
Leela brand, known for its legendary
Indian hospitality.
DISCREET SERVICES
In keeping with the lifestyles of its jetsetting residents, the property offers
every possible luxurious amenity an
intimate clubhouse lounge and bar thats
exclusive to residents, a temperaturecontrolled swimming pool, a private
theatre and game room and even a
chefs room for entertaining guests with
cuisines from around the world. Whether
you crave handmade Tuscan pasta or

THE GROUP
Founded in 1987, the Gurgaon-based
Bhartiya Group is a diversified lifestyle
organisation with interests in fashion
apparel as well as their real-estate
division Bhartiya Urban. Their landmark
project, Bhartiya City, a 20 million
sq. ft. intergrated urban township,
includes a seven acre Central Park, a
centre for performing arts, commercial
developments, among other amenities.
For the past 28 years, Leela Palaces,
Hotels and Resorts, have been keeping
the tradition of Indian hospitality alive
with their eclectic range of hotels and
resorts. The group has encapsulated this
concept with its private residences, as
well. Re-defining the standards of luxury
hospitality, it was only fitting that The
Leela brand be the perfect choice for
this collaboration with Bhartiya Group.
Some of The Leela's new properties under
development include Bangalore, Jaipur,
Agra, Lucknow and Kathmandu.

BANGALORE
SALARPURIA
SATTVA GROUP

KINGS DOMAIN AND

GINGER AT GREENAGE
Contemporary luxurious abodes in Bangalore

ith a consistent demand

for premium living
in a city thats home
to some of the best
entrepreneurial talent
in the country, Bangalores skyline is
one thats changing rapidly. Salarpuria
Sattva Group has been an integral part of
this transformation with their upcoming
projects Kings Domain and Ginger at
Greenage, located in the heart of the
city, yet, just a short distance away from
Bangalore's buzzing localities.
KINGS DOMAIN
Lush greenery and tranquil surroundings,
have made this a city of choice, not just
for a rising number of start-ups and IT
professionals but also those looking for
a quiet, stylish home in the confines
of solitude. Located in Rahat Bagh,
adjacent to the upmarket Indiranagar, is
Salarpuria Sattvas all-villa project
Kings Domain, offering limited edition,
super luxury villas.
Sleek, stylish and exclusive with just
eight villaments, this project promotes
large-format independent living for
those seeking something private and
exclusive, yet in close vicinity to offices
as well as some of Bangalore's best social
infrastructure. Framed by tall silver oak
trees, these ultra-modern villas, designed
by Kabir Hira Architects, are kitted out
with top-end amenities and fixtures and
imported marble flooring. Spacious and
stylishly designed, the spaces keep comfort
and safety in mind. These centrally-air
conditioned villas boast of premium
interior specifications, using advanced
engineering. The property also offers
top-end security and is now ready
for possession.
LOCATION
Just a short distance away from popular
retail outlets, restaurants, schools,
hospitals and some of the best golf
courses and clubs that the city has to
offer, Kings Domain makes for plush
living within a secure gated community.
It also offers quick connectivity to the
International Airport through Ring Road,
connecting residents to key IT parks
and offices, as well as easy access to
Baiyappanahalli Metro station.

62

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

GINGER AT GREENAGE
Spread over 21 acres of lush greenery,
Salarpuria Sattvas latest project,
Greenage, is in the heart of Bangalores
IT hub. The 4-BHK homes at Ginger, a
single luxury tower within the Greenage
complex, offers exclusive amenities.
Central to this swanky lifestyle is the
60,000 sq. ft. clubhouse, boasting of
some of the best-in-class features,
including a temperature-controlled
swimming pool, indoor and outdoor
sports amenities, salons, an outdoor
amphitheatre, as well as creches. ATM
and shopping facilities, make this a
truly self-sufficient development.
For those keen on aesthetics, open
spaces are aplenty, with well-manicured

SWANK FACTOR
Deck with a
private garden

Clubhouse

GINGER AT GREENAGE

Temperaturecontrolled pool

Amphitheatre

LIKES

We are in the business of transforming dreams to

reality. Quality, timely delivery and attending to our
customers are some of the key factors that have
ensured our buyer's confidence. We have earned this
trust with our sincerity for over three decades.

Bijay Agarwal, Managing Director

lawns and a variety of recreational
options to keep children engaged. The
complex also includes sitting areas,
a tea garden, jogging track and activity
spaces, catering to all age groups. Each
home is spaciously designed, airy and
comes with well-appointed guest rooms
and are available in different stages of
construction from ready to soon
to be completed.
Designed to provide you with the
ultimate in exclusive living, this is the
groups most awarded project to date,
and has been rated a 6-star project by
CRISIL. Envisioned by Zachariah and
HOK, a design firm based in the US,
it also caters to the environmentally
conscious. The project has a dedicated
water treatment plant, rainwater
harvesting system, sewage treatment

plant and fire detection systems in

each premium apartment.
LOCATION
Situated conveniently in the heart of
Bangalores IT hub and just a short
distance away from the upscale
Koramangala neighbourhood, the
Greenage complex is in close vicinity to
workspaces and plenty of shopping and
entertainment options, making it ideal for
high-flying executives or IT professionals
looking for privacy combined with
exclusive living.
THE GROUP
The Salarpuria Sattva Group has been
shaping the ever-changing skyline of
Bangalore since 1986, with more than 18
million sq. ft. of construction completed

King's Domain and

Ginger at Greenage,
present ultra-modern
residential homes, set
amidst natural green
spaces, and
coupled with worldclass amenities

THE LOT
Structure: Villas (Ground + 2 floors) at
Kings Domain; Single tower (Ground +
17 floors) at Ginger, Greenage
Units: 8 villas in Kings Domain;
64 apartments in Ginger, Greenage
Layouts: Kings Domain: 4-BHK villas;
Ginger, Greenage: 4-BHK apartments
Estimated handover: Kings Domain:
Ready for possession; Ginger, Greenage: 2016
Developers: Salarpuria Sattva Group
Website: sattvagroup.in
Email: enquiry@sattvagroup.in
Contact: 1800 1213344

to date. Over the years, the company

has garnered a highly reputable name
for itself in the world of real estate.
Besides developing prominent tech
parks and commercial and retail spaces,
the company now has approximately 21
residential projects under construction,
all across Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata,
Pune, Coimbatore, Vizag and Goa. Some
of their completed prominent residential
landmarks in Bangalore include, Gold
Summit and Luxuria.

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016 63

BANGALORE
ADARSH
DEVELOPERS

ADARSH PALM ACRES

High living in the midst of nature

ver found yourself coveting

one of those plush New York
homes overlooking Central
Park? Or waking up to
sweeping views of nothing
but verdant hills? Well, you can find one
closer to home in Bangalores Adarsh
Palm Acres, an all-villa project spread
over an expansive 76 acres, located just a
short distance away from the international
airport. Everything about this property
spells bliss. Spacious 4 BHK villas offer
stunning vistas, coupled with a host of
exclusive amenities for residents.
With a legacy of building beautiful villa
communities, Adarsh Developers, has
marked a presence for itself in Bangalore
as a leading real estate group. More
recently the group has been lauded for

designing the swanky Shangri-La Hotel in

the city, and its latest project, Palm Acres,
ticks all the boxes a contemporary villa
precinct in the pristine surroundings of
North Bangalore. Built as an exclusive
gated community, it offers around
500 luxurious, eco-conscious villas,
available in four variants that have been
designed by US-based architect firm
Callison, along with the groups in-house
design team.
GREEN LIVING
The grand attraction of course, is the
central garden inspired by New York
Citys iconic landmark, Central Park,
featuring a boulevard that feature
impressive green space with villas
built on either side.

Structure: Contemporary luxury villas

Units: 500 villas
Layout: 4-BHK premium villas
(3,150 sq. ft. to 5,400 sq. ft.)
Estimated handover: 2017
Developers: Adarsh Developers
Website: adarshpalmacres.com
Email: palmacres@adarshdevelopers.com
Contact: +91-9900100077

Thoughtfully designed to encourage

a healthy lifestyle as well as a relaxing
atmosphere for residents, the
landscaping, designed by Site Concepts,
a Singapore based firm, also features
a cricket pitch, playground and open
lawns. Other amenities include, a garden
plaza, amphitheatre, a bio pond, Zen
garden and an assortment of recreational
spaces to unwind or lounge around.
The park is also lined with walkways
and a promenade that lend easy access
to the villas.
Adding to the privileged life, is the
propertys world-class clubhouse, with a
multi-cuisine restaurant, banquet, library,
gaming areas and a swimming pool, that
leaves you spoilt for choice.
CONTEMPORARY COCOONS
The villas at Adarsh Palm Acres have
been envisioned keeping in mind clean
and contemporary aesthetics that are
attuned to the sensibilities of the urban
dweller. Every structure has a floorto-floor height of 11 ft with optimum
ventilation as well as natural light.
Warm colours and large fenestrations
help complement the surrounding
environment. Engineered wooden
flooring in the bedrooms exude warmth
and the imported marble flooring in the
living and family areas complete the
sophisticated setting for each villa.
Keeping the essence of sustainability in
mind, the eco-conscious accommodation
supports a rainwater harvesting system,
provides for solar water heating, a stateof-the-art water and sanitation system
and private gardens that truly personify
green living. Other provisions include
fire safety features, intruder alarms, gas
leak detectors and video door phones.

64

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

LIKES

"It has been our persistent

effort to build living spaces
around the philosophy
that it not only breathes
the lifestyle of the owners
but also reflects their
aspirations. The premium
villas at Palm Acres, with
its contemporary aesthetics
and international appeal,
have been crafted with
thoughtful features,
amenities and our
continued standard of
excellence, giving you
a wholesome lifestyle.
Welcome to Paradise..."
B.M. Jayeshankar, Chairman
and Managing Director

LOCATION
In close proximity to the Kempegowda
International airport, yet tucked away in
the pristine environs of this upcoming
part of the city that is witnessing an
infrastructural boom, Adarsh Palm
Acres makes for an ideal investment
for discerning NRIs, high net-worth
individuals and jet-setting executives,
looking for comfort and privacy in an
exclusive setting. Palm Acres is also
strategically located close to a key
commercial catchment which is currently
under development. It also offers dual
connectivity and accessibility via both
NH7 and Hennur Bagalur Road.
THE GROUP
Over the last 27 years, Adarsh Developers
has built for itself an admirable track
record in the real estate world. With
a focus on innovation and a model
of corporate governance that seeks
sustainable growth, the company has
around 18 million sq. ft. of completed
projects across the spectrum of
residential, commercial and hospitality
in Bangalore, along with an additional
10 million sq. ft. of projects under
construction. The company pioneered

Inspired by
New York's iconic
Central Park, the
sprawling garden
at the property,
includes a swanky
clubhouse, cricket pitch,
pool and other
unique facilities

SWANK FACTOR
Swimming pool

Central park

Restaurant
and banquet

Kid's play area

the concept of gated villa communities

with its project Palm Meadows, earning
accolades for the brand and setting a
benchmark in the industry for projects
of this kind. The brand has made a mark
within the luxury hospitality segment,
with the 5-star Palm Meadows Resort
in addition to the recently launched
Shangri-La Hotel. In the commercial
segment, the group has to its credit the
citys first built-to-suit facility, developed
for Manhattan Associates.

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016 65

MUMBAI
RAHEJA
UNIVERSAL

RAHEJA EXOTICA
SORENTO
Glamorous abodes set amidst nature

tanding tall in Mumbais

picturesque suburb, Madh Island,
Raheja Exotica Sorento embodies
seaside living in its truest form.
Commanding spectacular views
of the Arabian Sea and the glittering
Mumbai cityscape in the near distance,
this luxury development by the Raheja
Universal Pvt. Ltd, promises elegant
living spaces.
Raheja Exotica Sorentos advantageous
location makes it very appealing. Nestled
between palm groves and unspoilt
landscapes, with the soothing sound of the
sea in the background, it is an ideal abode
for those looking to reside away from the
hustle and bustle of the city.
SPACIOUS SET-UP
Built as a complete township over 30.6
acres, this gated community, surrounded

66

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

by the sun, sand and sea, is the epitome

of serene living. Despite being just within
city limits, youre wrapped up in the
confines of luxury and nature, with a host
of services at your beck and call.
Each amenity has been thoughtfully
included to ensure life here is nothing
short of bliss. A prompt and dedicated
concierge service will have you picked up
and dropped to the ferry wharf. To keep
up with your active lifestyle, the property
offers a generously proportioned
swimming pool, squash court, pavilion,
game rooms, table tennis section and
an expansive amphitheatre. After a long
day, you can unwind at Club Exotica, the
propertys swish clubhouse that doubles
up as a calm sanctuary.
Let your stress melt away with calming
treatments at the propertys in-house
spa. Gastronomes can indulge at the

Structure: Single tower, split into two wings

Units: 376
Layout: 2- to 4-BHK residences
Estimated handover: On Enquiry
Developer: Raheja Universal Pvt Ltd
Website: rahejaexoticasorento.com
Email: sales@rahejauniversal.com
Contact: +91-22-66414343

restaurant. The sophisticated, 2-,3- and

4-BHK residences come with a private
deck where you can view iridescent
sunsets over the Arabian Sea. Each
apartment has been fitted with premium
fixtures and furnishings, while the

LIKES

Private and
contemporary homes at
Raheja Exotica Sorento
make for perfect living
for those looking for
luxury in the lap
of nature

Raheja Exotica is a luxury masterpiece in Madh Island,

which redefines seaside living at affordable prices. With
amenities like a swimming pool, sun decks, a gymnasium
and more, we have taken luxury living to new heights. This
property is minutes away from Versova so one can stay
off city's busy life while staying within city limits. Anita

SWANK FACTOR

Swimming pool

Spa

Kataria, Sr. Vice President Sales

decor exudes warmth and finesse. The
construction also conforms with A-class
earthquake-resistant norms.
An additional feature at the property are
the owned service residences with services
that will enthral your mind and delight your
soul. From house maintenance and cleaning
to running errands, the concierge service is
always available for your assistance.
LOCATION
Set amidst breezy surroundings, Raheja
Exotica Sorento the posh township
on Madh Island, located next to Madh
church is just 10 minutes away from
Versova. Besides access by the ferry

wharf, the property is also accessible by

car. And, the proposed Versova-Madh
Island bridge, will reduce travel time
significantly between the two places.
THE GROUP
Set up in the year 1980, Raheja Universal
(Pvt) Ltd, has been providing consumers
with real-estate developments, that are
both architecturally and aesthetically
inclined. The company is steered by
chairman, Suresh Raheja and his sons
Rahul and Ashish Raheja to guide the
company towards creating high-value
assets and expanding pan-India. The
brand has to its name approximately

Squash court

Amphitheatre

over 6.05 million sq. ft. of completed real

estate in the Mumbai Metropolitan region,
spanning 46 projects, including premium
developments such as One, Altamount
Road, Raheja Anchorage, Raheja Empress
and Raheja Sunkist, among others.
Some of their prestigious commercial
developments include Raheja Titanium,
Raheja Chromium and Raheja Arcade, to
name a few.

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016 67

CHENNAI
& PANVEL
HIRANANDANI
COMMUNITIES

HIRANANDANI PARKS AND

HIRANANDANI FORTUNE CITY
Modern community living and global lifestyles set within lush landscapes

magine your own paradise,

surrounded by lush greens with a
host of plush and contemporary
amenities. Chennai in Tamil Nadu,
and Panvel, an upcoming Mumbai
suburb, will be home to two new townships
by Hiranandani Communities. Mr. Niranjan
Hiranandani, Indian real estate czar, is
credited with spearheading the concept
of community living. These are more just
homes, they're spaces that provide you
with a holistic life, built on the premise of
an engaged, interactive neighbourhood. It
will be being part of something larger a
community comprising residents of that
township who will share a very
special relationship with nature.
I co-relate community living
with being close to nature," said
Niranjan Hiranandani.
HIRANANDANI PARKS, ORAGADAM,
CHENNAI
This mega township on the outskirts of
Chennai, Hiranandani Parks, Oragadam,
speaks vibrant living, where old-world
tranquillity meets high-tech lifestyles.

Think tree-lined boulevards, shaded

greens and landscaped gardens that
ensure youre always in harmony with
nature. This open-plan, mixed-use
development project is a fitness lovers
dream come true, housing a large cricket
and football ground, badminton and
squash courts and a childrens play area.
The adjoining 12-hole golf course with
a 250 metre driving range is a haven for
golf enthusiasts.
Wide, open spaces characterise
the residences here, done up in the
groups signature neo-classical style of
architecture, while marble flooring tops
off the sophisticated finishes to each
home. Besides stylish, modern homes,
the communities will encourage rain
water harvesting and various other
environment-friendly practices. The
concept of community living encompasses
social infrastructure as well.
LOCATION
Located in the charming suburb of
Oragadam, is recognized as one of
South Asia's biggest commercial hubs,

HIRANANDANI PARKS, CHENNAI

Structure: Villas, Towers and Plots
Units: G+3; G+11 and G+27 (Towers)
Layouts 2-2.5-3 and 4-BHK homes
Estimated handover: 2016
Contact: +91-44-66949040
HIRANANDANI FORTUNE CITY, PANVEL
Structure: Towers
Units: G+11 and G+30
Layouts: 1- 2- and 3-BHK homes
Estimated handover: 2016
Developer: Hiranandani Communities
Website: hiranandanicommunities.com
Email: sales@hrealty.com
Contact: 91-22-61054340

housing renowned IT and automobile

companies. The Hiranandani Parks
township is designed to have schools,
parks, retail stores, healthcare facilities

LIKES

The epitome of green

communities, these
projects are a perfect
blend of impressive
designs and spectacular
views, creating
a world of their own

The verdant beauty that Hiranandani Parks, Chennai and

Hiranandani Fortune City, Panvel reflect, will be similar
to what we achieved earlier with Hiranandani Gardens,
Hiranandani Estate and Hiranandani Meadows. It will
be a testimony to our corporate philosophy that to create
better communities, it is first essential to create greener
communities. Niranjan Hiranandani, Managing Director
and entertainment options and multiple
sports facilities. This place strikes a
perfect balance between residential and
commercial spaces, and Hiranandani
Communities is tapping into one of the
fastest growing suburbs in Chennai.
HIRANANDANI FORTUNE CITY, PANVEL
Hiranandani Fortune City, Panvel,
offers two much desired features that
are difficult to find just out of Mumbai,
with convenient access in and out of the
city. This 600-acre mixed-use township
houses plush residences, offices, highstreet retail and entertainment hotspots, a
sports complex and lavish clubhouses to
take care of all your lifestyle needs.
All homes are intelligently planned and
crafted with precision. Keeping with
the concept of community living, this
township is being constructed with
futuristic technology, innovative design
and precision engineering. Benchmark
projects like Hiranandani Gardens, Powai
and Hiranandani Estate, Thane has

transformed quarry barren land into

thriving global communities and this
project will do the same here.
The signature Hiranandani neoclassical style 2- and 3-BHK apartments,
are opulent, classic and spacious,
overlooking plush, landscaped green
covers and the verdant hills beyond. Over
the next five to seven years, the company
expects the Hiranandani Fortune City
township to be twice the size of their
establishments in Powai and Thane.
LOCATION
The project is conveniently located
near the new International Airport, the
Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, JNPT and
the CST-Panvel rail corridor. Panvel is
set to be the next upcoming realty
hotspot of MMR, with its soothing
green views, making it an attractive
investment proposition.
HIRANANDANI BUSINESS PARK
Alongside residential spaces, the

SWANK FACTOR

Golf course

Play area

Healthcare centre

Lush landscaping

township will also house the Hiranandani

Business Park. The existing business
parks in Powai and Thane are home to
top notch BFSI & IT companies.
THE GROUP
Synonymous with quality and
commitment, Hiranandani Group
are pioneers of mixed use township
development with a pan-India and
international presence. Ever since its
inception in 1978, the Hiranandani Group
has believed in the philosophy that every
activity, be it in real estate
and infrastructure, education, healthcare,
hospitality, leisure or entertainment, be
focused on creating a better experience
and lifestyle for people.

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016 69

MAN CAVE

,
GENTLEMAN S
LAIR

PARTY CENTRAL
This padded red-and-brown alcove,
reminiscent of a 1970's nightclub, is
where the parties begin at Ashish
Rahejas house.

70

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

WORDS: DEEPTI UNNI; PHOTOGRAPHER: GAELLE LE BOULICAUT; STYLED BY: PETE BERMEJO

A minimalist space with modernist accents the clean lines of

Ashish Rahejas Mumbai home direct the eye to the stunning
view of the chaotic city beneath

PHOTO: ASHISH SAHI

COMFORT SPREAD
The living room is dominated
by solid muted shades. A cube
table featuring eclectic vignettes
from New York is amongst one
of the few patterned elements.

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016 71

PHOTO: ASHISH SAHI

LOUNGE PAD
A frosted-glass walkway
connects the study to the
entertainment space and
the terrace beyond.

72

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

PHOTO: ASHISH SAHI

COLLECTOR'S ITEMS
Tempered glass stairs lead to the
second storey; in an alcove under
the stairs, Raheja keeps his sports
memorabilia, including Vijender Singhs
bronze-winning boxing gloves and
Abhinav Bindras rifle from the Olympics.

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016 73

ucked into a leafy lane, seconds

away from the bustle of Hill
Road in Bandra, Ashish
Rahejas 15th-storey penthouse
is luxury redefined, an eyrie
of calm drawn out of bedlam. Keeping with
his reputation as one of the citys most eligible
bachelors, youre forgiven for expecting
a louche bachelor pad, all low lighting and
plush leather. It definitely started out as
a bachelor pad, laughs Raheja, But as Ive
grown, the space evolved too. Minimalism
is the overriding theme here; the house and
its furnishings take a back seat to the star of
the show the view.
BACHELOR FAD
When they began constructing Raheja Sunkist
in Bandra in the early 2000's, he worked with
architect Santosh Wadekar to design the
internal space of the apartment. The first was
the space planning. I didnt want any clutter.
I just had one thing in mind glass, white
and steel to maximize the space and the view.
So we took out all the pillars on this level and
put affixed glass in the windows.
Raheja admits that the living room was the
one he paid the least attention to. It was
where I occasionally entertained, but at that
point of time it was too stark. So I asked my
sister-in-law Ekta, who is an interior designer
as well, to make this bachelor pad a proper
home. His brief to Ekta was to bring in a
subtle feminine touch but one that resonated
with his persona; without making the space
too eclectic, and to keep it simple; with only
geometric shapes and motifs running through
the decor. Ekta added a touch of colour to
the original brief muted browns and greys
in the carpet and loungers that sparsely dot
the living room. The final product was to his
specification; masculine but elegant, minimal
but warm. His personal spaces, though, are
a throwback to the earlier stark decor of the
apartment. His bedroom is all-white, save for
the wooden bed, as is his glassed bathroom.
BOYS NIGHT OUT
But most of the action happens on the other
end of the glass walkway that connects to his
"entertaining space". Incidentally, the
walkway looks over the living area, which,
backed by the colourful LED wall, is the space
youd associate with the colourful 1980's
Bollywood era. Adding to the drama is an
alcove padded with red and brown velvet.
This, of course, is a little ridiculous. Its a little
like a 1970's party room but thats exactly
what its supposed to be. A La-Z-boy that
looks out at a massive plasma TV set and a
rugby-ball-shaped bar completes the ultimate
bachelor fantasy space.
But the pice de rsistance is the terrace
that runs along the upper level. The view is
magnificent with the best of Mumbai laid out
in all its glory. This is where I usually have
my breakfast and of course, when I have
company, its everyones favourite place to
hang out, says the real estate scion.

74

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

OUTSIDE IN
The absence of a roof in the living
room ensures that the skylight lets
in natural light.

The first was

the space
planning. I
didnt want any
clutter. I just
had one thing
in mind glass,
white and steel
to maximize
the space and
the view. So we
took out all the
pillars on this
level and put
affixed glass in
the windows.

INTERNATIONAL
REAL ESTATE EXPO
2015
The one-stop show for luxury real estate
launches in India
The growing breed of self-made millionaires, entrepreneurs and
high net-worth individuals in India, has increased the demand
for luxury real estate. After all, what better way to show youve
arrived than owning a piece of prime property coveted by one
and all. The International Real Estate Expo (IREX) 2015, makes
its debut in India showcasing investment opportunities across
the spectrum of premium residential and commercial real estate,
hotel and leisure properties in India and across the globe.

"This show is being held in line with prestigious global realty

exhibitions around the world. IREX 2015 offers
a perfect platform for premium Indian and international real
estate companies looking to tap this market.
Vimal Anand, Director, IREX

Curated from 4-6 December, 2015, New Delhi will see leading
Indian developers and international real estate companies like
Sothebys, DAMAC Properties, Trafalgar, Ellington, Herald, Aristo
and Ray White, to name a few, exhibit an array of high-end
luxury projects. Prominent artist Paresh Maitys art installation
'Mystic Abode' will be showcased at the expo. Additionally,
prominent interior designers such as Gauri Khan, Raseel Gujral
and Meera & Muzaffar Alis House of Kotwara, will display customdesigned interior spaces for viewers. You will also see branded
developments in collaboration with iconic fashion houses such
as Versace, FENDI, Bugatti, and luxury hotel apartments.

The 2016 edition will be held from

14-16 October in New Delhi.
For further information, visit irexindia.com or
contact +91-9818880538

Today, the globe-trotting Indian lives in a

boundary-free world, and its only tting that
they have high-quality residences to match
this lifestyle. I warmly welcome the First
edition of IREX. The one platform to discover
high quality residences around the world.
- Gauri Khan, Founder, Gauri Khan Designs

Indian real estate buyers

are increasingly looking for
a second home to invest
in or plush holiday homes
located overseas. The rise in
globalisation and comparable
valuations overseas are just
some of the factors driving
these investments.

- Shishir Baijal, Chairman

and Managing Director,
Knight Frank India

TRIBUTE

ODE TO

PHOTO: PRASAD NAIK

AN ICON

Architect Abha Narain Lambah recalls the life and legacy

of the late Charles Correa, Indias most influential architect

76

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

THE GENIUS
In an era when architectural practices are
increasingly becoming more corporate and
less personality-driven, Correa represented
perhaps the last of the great masters. His
architecture while firmly rooted in its
Indian identity was a game changer within
the urban Indian landscape, underpinned by
strong conceptual thought and symbolism.
The hallmark of his buildings was a
celebration of pure, unflinching geometry, not
bothering with small frills, but characterized
by bold strokes, reflective of his persona. His
designs were uncompromising, much like the
ideals for which he stood.
Correas architectural genius dominated the
urban landscape from his early forays into
low-cost housing in the 1960's, to seminal
institutional architecture in the 1980's and '90s
such as the Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya,
Ahmedabad; Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur;
Vidhan Bhavan, Bhopal; and in New Delhi, the
National Crafts Museum, Surya Kund and the

CHARLES CORREA ASSOCIATES/EXHIBITED AT THE ROYAL

INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS IN 2013

grew up hero-worshipping Charles Correa

from the heady days of the 1980's, witness
to raging debates at the School of Planning
and Architecture, New Delhi, over his Life
Insurance Corporation building that was being
constructed at the heart of Connaught Place. It
was a massive red sandstone-clad structure
that bravely held its own within Lutyens Delhi,
and yet, was unapologetically contemporary.
He was the embodiment of Howard Roark that
one imagined while reading The Fountainhead,
a bible for every student of architecture.
With his six-foot frame, silver hair, thick
spectacles and magnetic personality, he was
the tallest among his peers head and
shoulders above the architects around him,
physically and intellectually. He reinvented
Indian modernism; his buildings stand proud
as iconic architectural edifices in step with
the changing world, and yet, quintessentially
Indian in spirit. Correa remained original and
pioneering, truly among the greats, the iconic
master architect of the post-Corbusian period.

British Council building. Through his works,

he explored cutting-edge design and
maintained an underlying symbolism, be it the
reinvention of the mandala or the recurring
leitmotif of the Indian courtyard.
Charles was truly Indias ambassador to the
West when it came to architectural brilliance.
He was awarded a Royal Gold Medal in 1984
by the Royal Institute of British Architects and
a UIA Gold Medal in 1990 by the International
Union of Architects. Few could have imagined
that, once well into his 80s, he would design
the stunning Champalimaud Centre in Lisbon
and the cutting-edge Brain and Cognitive
Sciences Complex at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology in Boston.
His commitment to exploring architectural
prototypes in India led to him adopting
low-cost housing techniques from the Tube
House in Ahmedabad in the early 1960's, to
designing apartment housing models like Tara
Apartments in New Delhi in the 1970's, as well
as the seminal Kanchanjunga high-rise in
Mumbai, and his home in Sonmarg
Apartments where he lived till his last days.

THE VISIONARY
To me, Charles Correas genius lay in his deep
intellectual vision for the nation. His was the
lone voice that raised issues about urbanism
in the decades when India was suffering from
comatose urban planning that eventually led
3

PHOTO: ROSA REIS

THE MASTER'S PIECES

1. Charles Correa in his oice in Opera House,
Mumbai, in 2010. 2. A detailed drawing of
the double-height balconies in Correas
Kanchanjunga apartment building. 3. The
Champalimaud Centre in Lisbon is one of
Correas most recent works. 4. A sketch of
Kanchanjunga, on Peddar Road, Mumbai.

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016 77

78

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

ART AT WORK
1. The Jawahar Kala Kendra
in Jaipur, completed in 1992.
2. The British Council in
New Delhi, which features
the work of English painter
Howard Hodgkin.

PHOTO: MAHENDRA SINH

THE INDIVIDUAL
Over the years, I had known and admired
Charles for the amazing human being that he
was. With a quick wit and a storehouse of
anecdotes, he was always ready with a
disarming smile and could draw from his
formidable love of cinema history to pull out
a Hollywood film analogy for any issue.
I remember, many years ago, when a radio
show hosted by Milind Deora, appointed
Charles and me to a panel, along with the
then Secretary of Urban Development. This
was the time when the debate on the mill
lands was raging. His report recommending
an equitable distribution of this land to create
urban greens was being overruled by the
government under pressure from the real
estate lobby. Just as the debate was about to
begin, Charles remarked, When the gypsies
are ready to fight it out to death and the music
begins, dont be surprised when someone
suggests, Lets dance first! That was his
fantastic sense of humour, commenting on
our rather ironic debate when we knew as
citizens fighting for public open space, we
were battling the governments stand, a
futile effort as it eventually turned out to be.
Mumbai, by ignoring the legend's vision,
lost its greatest opportunity to reinvent itself,
losing out hundreds of acres of land that
could have been developed into urban
greens and connected pedestrian zones,
opting instead for vertical slums of concrete
towers and gated communities isolated from
the urban setting.

IMAGE: CHARLES CORREA ASSOCIATES

to the urban chaos we see today. As

chairman of the first National Commission
on Urbanization in 1985, he foretold many
of the issues that we were to face with
imploding cities and rapid urbanization in
India. Navi Mumbai was his brainchild; and
to his last years, Charles spoke passionately
about how water transportation for a city
such as Mumbai was a long neglected aspect
of its infrastructure.
He praised Le Corbusiers works through
his writings, but was objectively critical
about his city planning in the Indian context,
making the very insightful observation:
Each sector lives in sad isolation. Still,
post-Independence Indian city planning
has been stuck in a time warp following
these very ideas for decades or completely
going the Gurgaon way, something that
Charles would talk passionately about.
In the 1980's, he gave Mumbai its archetype
for a residential high-rise: Kanchanjunga,
a monolithic tower that rose above the dense
urban fabric in a pioneering form a pure
cuboid punctuated by skilfully calibrated
voids and double-height balconies. To this
day, it remains a city icon. Many years later,
while working on the review of heritage
buildings in the city, I had proposed to the
government that this work should be listed
among the modern heritage structures.
In this too, Correa was perhaps ahead
of his time.

PHOTO: GARY OTTE

BODY AND SOUL

1. The Ismaili Centre Toronto,
designed by Correa, was
completed in 2014. 2. The
Brain and Cognitive Sciences
Complex at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, Boston.

PHOTO: PETER VANDERWARKER

Through the years, he became a mentor and

guide, helping me work on design alternatives
for the Crawford Market redevelopment in a
battle against the political lobby who wanted
the market to be given away to a builder. He
gave generously of his time, even dashing off
to the crowded market with my architects and
his wife Monika in tow, to debate on how we
could save the central open space in the
market. In February this year, when I went to
meet him in his studio with a young architect
from my firm, he patiently listened to her

explain the revised design scheme, nodding

his head in agreement and enthusiastically
sketching his inputs on the design of stalls.
For the young architects from my office, to
visit his studio was like being a kid in a candy
store for the first time. They would shyly ask
for his autograph or a photograph with him,
just to prove to their friends that they actually
got to meet their hero!
Perhaps this premier architect was so
amazing in his sheer breadth of design
repertoire because he never gave up on his

childlike innocence and curiosity through his

life. Each decade, he surprised his critics and
admirers with the innovation and creativity
he brought to each of his projects. He wrote
once, I think I became an architect because
of toy trains.
The last time I met Charles was over a
wonderful lunch at his house with the most
delicious moussaka prepared by Monika. They
were wonderful hosts warm, generous and
one of those wonderful couples that seem
perfectly in sync with each other. He was
generous to a fault, plying me with food and
wine. His once booming voice was now raspy
fighting against cancer but his spirit was
strong. We discussed many of his favourite
topics, from declining urban aesthetics to the
political situation. He also showed me the web
portal that he had just finished working on,
a repository of his lifes work sketches,
architectural renderings, photographs
this was his last gift to students, to be made
available at the Sir JJ College of Architecture
and for the architectural community.
We salute this great man, mentor and
guide, a magnetic personality, full of life
one whom generations of architects look
up to as an inspiration and role model.
In his life, he worked tirelessly, creating
timeless architecture, and in his death, he
leaves behind an architectural legacy that
shall remain the greatest body of work
by a modern Indian architect.
LUXE ADDRESSES 2016 79

AMBIENCE

FINETASTE

Beyond star chefs and exotic ingredients, what sets a culinary experience
apart is the character and aesthetic appeal of the space youre served in.
Step into these restaurants, bars and cafes design gems across India,
to satiate your appetite for design, among other things

JAIPUR BAR PALLADIO

ar Palladio is where Venice meets Jaipur, rendering a

blue and white tableau of design elements, which
resoundingly echoes both cities. There are stories
hidden in every niche, alcove and arch of this watering hole at
the Narain Niwas Palace hotel, owned by Barbara Miolini and
designed by Marie-Anne Oudejans the Dutch designer
behind fashion label Tocca. Bar Palladio is a throwback to
gentlemens clubs of the '60s, combined with European
furniture, Mughal art, block prints, colours and a strong Jaipuri
aesthetic. The innately 'fusion' decor has a sinuous flow, with
Mughal motifs painted in white on blue walls, scallops meeting

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Rajasthani arches on bay windows and furniture that is

understated and subtly European. A Jaipur artist has painted
frescoes of local birdlife in the innermost area of the bar, while
the bar itself has lions carved in marble, reminiscent of
early-20th century Venetian cafes. Oudejans partnered with
both, Marie Lusa of the eponymous Zurich based Studio as
well as Jaipur artisans to create Bar Palladios visual identity,
graphics and painted motifs. The spaces are well-suited
for leisurely conversation over an Italian menu and classic
cocktails, including what is arguably Jaipurs best Long Island
Iced Tea.

WORDS: MITA KAPUR; PHOTO: MANAV PARHAWK

NARAIN SINGH CIRCLE

WORDS: SUPRIYA DRAVID; PHOTO COURTESY: THE HUNGRY MONKEY

WORDS: TANYA ABRAHAM; PHOTO: AJAI VADAKKATH

KOCHI KASHI ART CAFE

FORT KOCHI

ocated in one of Fort Kochis quaint

alleys, Kashi Art Cafe carries
old-world charm blended with
elegance. Owned by Edgar Pinto, Kashi Art
Cafe is one of Kochis most popular cafes and
also houses an art gallery. Pinto was clear
about what he wanted, and used the help of
architect Karl Damschen to bring forth a
contemporary space in a 200-year-old Dutch
colonial house. The brass and cement coffee
bar, a recent addition, harmonizes with the
brass lampshades and red oxide ceiling. The
walls carry art from previous exhibitions,
though some are from the owners private
collection. The indoor garden and wooden
furniture at the tail end of the cafe remove
any hints of monotony.

NEW DELHI THE HUNGRY MONKEY SAFDARJUNG ENCLAVE

he Hungry Monkey combines a cool California vibe with the ber-urbanism of a New
York City industrial loft with exposed red brick walls, Tolix chairs, Edison light
fixtures and typography on walls.The proprietors roped in Varrun Motihar, of the
architectural firm MOVA1, to create the broad structural concept of the floor and design. The
second phase of the project was spearheaded by Vritima Wadhwa, who was responsible for the
overall aesthetic, including the colourful light fixtures and practical Scandinavian-style furniture
designed by Motihar. Wadhwa also roped in Karan Bakshi of Artfeat Designs to create finishing
touches such as the candle stands, door handles and the foot rail at the bar which are all made
of plumbing pipes and the metal detailing with rivets on the mirror and the benches. The
artworks and the illustrations on the partitions were created by Turmeric Design Studio.

BANGALORE
THE LANTERN
RESTAURANT & BAR

his glass annexe graces the driveway

porch at the Ritz-Carlton in
Bangalore the perfect marriage
between fine dining and an edgy night lounge.
Envisioned by internationally acclaimed
avant-garde design firm Super Potato, this
space, as its name suggests, draws inspiration
from a Chinese lantern. Mostly comprised of
rich hardwoods and stark granites, there are
exotic textiles and porcelain vessels along the
walls that provide a welcoming contrast at
intervals. The al fresco dining area is
surrounded by lush greenery, complementing
the city's weather. Dim, gradient lighting sets
the mood for an intimate evening, with
world-class cocktails and a delectable Asian
fare the dim sum range especially, is as
praiseworthy as the service.

WORDS: SANCHITA WAHI; PHOTO COURTESY: THE RITZ-CARLTON BENGALURU

RESIDENCY ROAD

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016 81

WORDS: SANCHITA WAHI; PHOTO: CATE VICTORIA WILSON

WORDS: CHRYSELLE DSILVA DIAS; PHOTO COURTESY: THE BLACK SHEEP BISTRO

PANAJI THE BLACK SHEEP BISTRO

BANGALORE OM MADE CAFE

SWAMI VIVEKANAND ROAD

KORAMANGALA

rue to its name, The Black Sheep Bistro stands out from the
motley crew of restaurants in Goa. Owners Sabreen and
Prahlad Sukhtankar designed the space themselves. Having
worked in some of the best hotels internationally, the couple had a fair
idea of what their bistro in Goa should look like. The Bistros 100-yearold colonial facade belies its interiors chic, contemporary and very
New York decorated in moody hues of walnut and black, with vanilla
walls for a spot of brightness. The outdoor seating area merges fashion
and food with racks of wispy clothing from next-door neighbour
Sachas Shop. Prahlad, an ace sommelier, curates a phenomenal wine
list to pair with a variety of locally sourced fish delicacies.

ith its roots in Anjuna Beach Goa, Om Made Cafe

mightve left the Arabian Sea for a Bangalore rooftop,
but Sara Tilche the architectural mastermind behind
this eatery has managed to retain the Goan aesthetic. The most
striking feature of this quaint cafe is that it offers a view of a very
different skyline one comprised of tree canopies below, creating
the illusion that the cafe is perched on the treetops themselves. The
distressed, white and blue, wooden outdoor furniture is accented at
intervals with a surprise burst of canary yellow cane, and chairs that
have been curated from a childrens nursery. The decor and views
create the perfect setting for a lazy evening.

MUMBAI YUUKA

uuka offers Chef Ting Yens interpretation of modern Japanese food on its
plates, and owner Gayatri Ruias sense
of contemporary, but unfussy Japanese design
around them. A long sushi bar at the far end of
the 55-seater room has wood bark and bamboo reed from Gujarat as a backdrop, offering
contrast to the clean, structured lines and textures
of the rest of the space. Origami sculptures in
dark niches look over the restaurant that boasts
a view of the city from the 37th floor. The chairs
have clean lines and angles akin to the Japanese
paper craft. Large slabs of black slate make up
the tables; the herringbone weave on the wooden
floor was cut and placed on site. The food arrives
on either monochrome plates printed with cherry
blossom branches, or on textured glass plates.

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LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

WORDS: ROSHNI BAJAJ SANGHVI; PHOTO COURTESY: THE ST. REGIS MUMBAI

LOWER PAREL

TRAVEL

WIEDEN VIENNA, AUSTRIA

COMING
HOME

all over the Alpine

country, some with
20 rooms, a library,
underfloor heating
and a swimming pool
that is really a natural
pond. Also the Beim
Stephansplatz
residences in Vienna,
offers free wi-fi and
a cot for babies. Built
in 1772 and located
in the city centre, it
is close to a number
of supermarkets,
restaurants and the
underground station.
(www.interhome.in;
from 382 or `29,100)
CHILD FRIENDLY

WORDS: AYESHA ALEEM

For business or pleasure, theres

never been a better time to ditch
your regular hotel chain for one
of these plush serviced residences
across Europe

entrally
located, the
residence
offers free wi-fi and
has room to store
bicycles. It is one of
the many housing
options available on
Interhome, a service
that helps you find
great holiday homes
across Europe and
with the Austrian
hills being alive with
The Sound of Music
in 2015, the 50th
anniversary of the
film, now is a great
time to head here.
There are properties

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LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

GROSVENOR HOUSE APARTMENTS LONDON, UK

Jumeirah isnt a familiar
name for luxury only in the
Middle East; the hospitality
group operates high-end
residences overlooking Hyde
Park at Londons upmarket
address of Mayfair as
well. Combining hotel and
apartment conveniences,
Grosvenor offers guests spa
treatments and round-theclock concierge services. If
you check in for seven nights,
you only have to pay for five,
with complimentary buffet

breakfast and wi-fi. Younger

guests get Busy Bee packs that
promise entertainment with
fun activities and can opt for
a special kids food menu. The
seven-storey Atrium allows you
to feel like youre enjoying the
outdoors, while still giving you
some privacy. The Grosvenor
Penthouse, the largest suite,
comes with a balcony, butler
and bar as well as a media room
and a bottle of Dom Perignon
on arrival. (www.jumeirah.com;
from 464 or `45,000) CHILD FRIENDLY

NO 46
PRAGUE
PRAGUE,
CZECH REPUBLIC
The owners, an
interior designer and a
photographer, restored
this private 19th-century
apartment located a
short walk away from
Wenceslas Square, over
two years. Reflective of
their travels, the decor
includes a Parisian
chandelier and an Aztecprint rug. The bathrooms
have LOCCITANE
toiletries. A selection
of wine and beer is
provided; what you drink
is deducted from your
security deposit. (www.
no46prague.com; from
180 or `14,000) GOOD VALUE

LA RESERVE PARIS, FRANCE

No one does chic luxury like the French,
and these 10 exclusive apartments in Place
du Trocadro, with spectacular views of the
Eiffel Tower, are proof. Interior designer
Remi Tessier has worked his magic at this
gorgeous stay. Smaller versions of the
candle chandelier seen in Istanbuls Blue
Mosque hang over a dining table and a
wide collection of books and music that
guests can choose from add a sense of
comfort. This homely vibe is coupled with
features like massages and a chef who will
cook meals based on your preferences.
One of the apartments comes with its own
garden. (www.lareserve-paris.com; from
1,900 or `1,50,000 per night. Minimum
three-night stay required) VISUAL DELIGHT
LUXE ADDRESSES 2016 85

RIVA LOFTS FLORENCE, ITALY

What is it about lofts that instantly
makes us feel at home? Maybe its a
subconscious association with childhood
memories reading about horses and
warm hay-lined stables, climbing into a
bunk bed, playing hide-and-seek. This
hideaway of nine studios lets you leave
the citys bustle behind and climb into a
sanctuary of 1950's French-style decor.
With the Arno River flowing along the
property, this is a great place to soak up
the Tuscan landscape. Located opposite
the beautiful park, Parco delle Cascine,
the property is a mere 2km from the city
centre. The tram that goes to the main
station of Santa Maria Novella, is just
200m away; conveniently, you can buy
tickets at Rivas reception. Inside, floorto-ceiling windows ensure you dont
miss the outdoors, and in good weather,
you can sprawl on one of the hammocks
or lounge beds. Pets are allowed at an
additional cost, cots are provided at no
extra charge for children up to four years
old and a babysitter can be arranged
with two days notice. The tariff also
includes buffet breakfast and the use
of vintage bicycles. (www.rivalofts.com;
from 225 or `17,500) CHILD FRIENDLY

CITADINES HOLBORN COVENT GARDEN

LONDON, UK
Located just a short stroll
away from Covent Garden, is
the stylish Citadines Holborn
Covent Garden ApartHotel,
a part of The Ascott Limiteds
collection of serviced residences
around the world. This property
offers sumptuous living with
a taste of Londons historic
culture. Choose from one of
their many studios and onebedroom apartments that
are spacious, elegant and
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LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

contemporary, combining
premium facilities with services
personalised according to
your budget and needs. The
hotel has a total of 191 suites
and rooms. Some of the other
nearby attractions include the
Royal Opera House and the
British Museum, among others.
(www.citadines.com; from 180
or `17,900 for a studio; 251
or `25,000 for an apartment)
GOOD VALUE

LINNEN BERLIN, GERMANY

With branches in the boroughs of Prenzlauer Berg and Mitte, these
apartments are close to tourist spots like the Berlin Wall Memorial.
Perfect for a party of up to six, Linnen exudes a refreshingly
welcome lived-in feel. Minimal furnishing, wooden floors, fluffy
duvets, custom-made cotton bedding from Portugal and headboard
lighting give the rooms a luxe, unpretentious feel. The bathrooms
have organic hand soap, towels and a hairdryer. Although the
kitchen is well equipped, the Linnen cafe is great for when youre
feeling a bit lazy. Breakfast starts at 9am and the fabulous variety
on offer spoil you for choice. (www.linnenberlin.com; from 80 or
`6,100 per night. Minimum two-night stay required) GOOD VALUE

REVEL IN LUXURY AT
VEERAS STRAND PARK, GOA
Laid-back elegance meets bold design at this trendsetting residential complex

When it comes to a holiday home in close proximity to the

most coveted spots in Goa, Veeras Strand Park makes for
a compelling choice. A luxury residential project, located
in the heart of North Goa, exemplies a perfect escapade
designer serviced residences amidst leafy environs and
lush surroundings, yet merely a stones throw away from
Goas hottest beaches and bistros.
Having established a name for itself with their residential
as well as commercial projects. The Veera Developers
Group (established in 1981) is now marking its presence
within this dreamy destination, following the same highquality standards that theyve been associated with.
Each tastefully done-up apartment comes with chic
furnishing, stylish ooring, a fully equipped modular
kitchen, modern tableware, at-screen TV, luxury bathroom
ttings and breathtaking pieces of art and artefacts.
Besides offering some of the best-in class amenities,
including a dedicated concierge service; the interiors have
been designed to incorporate strong natural elements.
Spacious and comfortable, the private balcony in each
boudoir opens up to inviting vistas and fresh air. A secure,
gated community, the property, now ready for possession,
also boasts of an outdoor swimming pool, a well-equipped
gymnasium, automatic lifts and lush landscaped areas,
making it perfect for families looking for a home-awayfrom-home experience.

Just a short walk from the popular Candolim beach,

lends Veeras Strand Park an enviable location, allowing
you to choose from the many cafes, bistros and lazy beach
shacks, that dot this stretch. Limited options of luxury
residences in this popular area makes this property an
excellent investment.
An added convenience is that there are no separate
maintenance charges when it comes to buying a home at
Strand Park your security deposit takes care of this.
If you decide to arrive impromptu, rest assured the
capable and well-trained concierge service will ensure
that your apartment is ready and inviting.
For further information, email gauravjain@veeragroup.com or
contact +91-9818300827; +91-9922757993; +91-11-26183234/5/6

BAIXA HOUSE LISBON, PORTUGAL

The refurbished 18th-century
building in downtown Lisbon
has 13 comfortable apartments,
the largest of which can
accommodate up to seven
guests. The interiors are bright
and airy, thanks to the natural
light that comes in. The original
wooden floors, tiles, windows
and ceilings are complemented
by accents such as a canary
yellow lamp, cushions that
match the ocean and violet or

orange flowers. Breakfast basics

like tea and coffee, muesli,
yoghurt, fresh fruit and juice
are topped up every day, while
fresh bread gets delivered to
your door. Pets are allowed as
long as you inform them at the
time of booking, and babysitting
services are available, too.
(www.baixahouse.com; from
290 or `22,500 for two nights.
Minimum two-night stay
required) CHILD FRIENDLY

DESTINATION
BCN
BARCELONA,
SPAIN

PHOTO: FREDERIK VERCRUYSSE

The USP at this set of

15 apartments is the
high-end sleep system:
a scientifically designed
mattress with goose
down duvets and a pillow
menu. The room decor
varies from exposed brick
to modern white walls
and light wooden floors.
The Tengujo & Naoko
penthouse, which are two
separate apartments, can
be combined on request.
It sleeps six and comes
with rain showers in two
bathrooms and a bathtub
in the third. And when
you wish to head out,
Plaa de Catalunya, the
city's busiest square, is a
short walk away. (www.
destinationbcn.com; from
155 or `12,000) GOOD VALUE

SHELTER 7 GHENT, BELGIUM

Be greeted by vast spaces and glass facades,
along with a bottle of vintage wine when
you check in. The stairs look like theyve
been folded out of cardboard and skylights
welcome the morning sun. Youll get free
wi-fi, fresh towels and toiletries, along with
a hairdryer and an iron. Private but close to
tourist attractions like St. Bavos Cathedral,
Shelter 7 is perfect to explore the city.
(www.shelter7.be; from 140 or `10,700 per
night. Minimum two-night stay required on
weekends) GOOD VALUE
88

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

EXCLUSIVE

A HOME FOR

$500
PHOTO: KEVIN COOLEY

On a hilltop in Bel Air, a 100,000 sq. ft. gigamansion is under

construction, for no one in particular. The asking price would shatter
records but the intrepid developer, Nile Niami, might just get it
because as ridiculous as it sounds, in L.A.s unbridled real estate bubble,
Christopher Bagley finds that this house could be billed a bargain

90

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

When its finished, in 2017, the

home photographed here
via a drone, looking west will
have, among other amenities,
an outdoor yoga platform (the
semicircle, far right).

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016 91

1. About half of the tennis court had to be built

on pilings to account for the lands contours. It
will have a covered viewing area and a fire pit.
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LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

2. The inviting infinity pool for the

guesthouse, which, when built, will be
5,000 sq. ft. itself.

3. The motor court and the main houses

entrance hall; a fire display will greet
guests as they step inside.

4. The gigamansions main guard gate

(there will be a separate area, with monitors,
for keeping an eye on the whole estate).

5. The property will be surrounded on three

sides by a moat and other water features, to
give it a floating appearance.

6. The sky deck, as Niami refers to it, will

have a putting green, a bar, a lounge area
and covered loggias.
LUXE ADDRESSES 2016 93

igh above Bel Air, Nile Niami

is looking down on the tiny
mansions of mere millionaires
as he stands on a plywood
platform that will soon be the roof deck of
the house hes selling for $500 million. When
you expect a half billion dollars, everything
has to scale up, including the views, and
from this hilltop, they span 360 degrees
encompassing the San Gabriel Mountains
and the Pacific Ocean. The 47-year-old
developer explains why he believes the
property is not really so expensive when
you think about it.
The home itself, when its finished in 2017,
will have five swimming pools, a casino, a
nightclub with a VIP area, a lounge with
jellyfish tanks in lieu of walls and ceilings and
various other amenities that might seem
excessive at the Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi. It
will be more than 1,00,000 sq. ft., twice the
size of the White House.
Brusque, blunt, and palpably cologned,
Niami isnt one to make apologies about his
new projects size or price tag. To be able to
say that the biggest and the most expensive
house in the world is here, that will be really
good for L.A., he says.
The main thing to understand about L.A.s
growing crop of no-expense-spared spec
living spaces is that they are not actually
homes, in the usual sense of the word. Most
buyers live on other continents and visit these
properties for only a week or two each year,
using them mainly as places to park their
wealth. After all, in an era where a Czanne
painting can fetch $250 million, a massive

The living and dining areas

will open onto a courtyard
with palm trees.

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LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

trophy estate in Bel Air might seem like a

perfectly sensible investment to a billionaire
sheikh or oligarch whos looking to keep his
money safe from a grabby despot back home.
And sure enough, for these clients, bigger
and better are generally synonymous.
No one can accuse Niami of ignoring the
go big or go home ethos with the Bel Air
property. As Drew Fenton, the real-estate
broker who has the listing, says, It is by far
the most important estate project in Los
Angeles over the last 25 years and will raise
the bar for all other estates built in the city.
One entire temperature-controlled room will
be dedicated to storing fresh flowers.
Marketing materials refer to the property
simply as The One and in lieu of a standard
virtual tour, Fenton has put together a slickly
produced film, with dozens of real-life,
green-screened models populating a lifelike
digital rendering. It shows the urbane man of
the manse pulling up to the front door in his
red Ferrari LaFerrari and moving through
expanses of marble and glass, from cigar
lounge to billiards room to spa, while
yoga-toned women swim in clear-walled
swimming pools, cavort on the indooroutdoor dance floor, and share laughs against
a backdrop of neon-blue jellyfish. Part of
the goal is to present L.A. as a seductive
alternative to more typical billionaire havens
like London, Monaco or Dubai.
Around 2008, Niami met Fenton, who clued
him in on the burgeoning market of spec
homes priced at $10 million to $15 million a
range that sounded astronomical at the time.
I said, Who buys a house for that? Niami

recalls. He soon found out: Cash-rich

foreigners and entrepreneurs whose wealth is
immune to such little-people problems as
subprime-mortgage crises and stock-market
swings. For the $5 million houses, the buyers
still needed loans, he says. But when you
moved up to $10 or $15 million, it was guys
who didnt have to rely on the bank.
At one point, Niami was building four
houses in the tiny neighbourhood of the Birds
Streets the hilly enclave above the Sunset
Strip thats been home to celebs like Leonardo
DiCaprio and Halle Berry. We were buying
land for $9 million, doing a remodel, and
selling for, like, $39 million, he recalls. But
soon Beverly Hills hot Trousdale Estates
section beckoned. Exact sales figures for the
latest spec homes can be hard to pin down,
since most are off-market pocket listings
and non-disclosure agreements are routine.
But in Trousdale late last year, the fashion
tycoon turned developer Bruce Makowsky
sold a new 23,000 sq. ft. place to Markus
Persson, the creator of Minecraft, for $70
million, setting a record for the area. Niami,
who is building a property next door, has
raised its price accordingly.
Id figured mine was going to sell for about
40, he says. But that one went for 70, so
were going to ask 90. When Niami takes me
to that site, he points out the future Cristal
room, whose black lacquer shelves will
feature a geometric display of champagne
bottles of varying sizes, and the basementlevel wellness suite which will include a hair
salon with mirrors that double as TV screens.
Niami has a different off-market property in

Trousdale with another apparent must-have:

a spinning car turntable, similar to those in
auto showrooms, thats visible from the living
room. So, while youre watching TV, you can
see your $3 million car, he explains. This
place is comparatively small, at 14,000 sq. ft.,
but Nile is convinced it will fetch $45 million.
The creator's chief architect, a wry Irishman
named Paul McClean, acknowledges that
prices have become divorced from reality.
The numbers right now are crazy, no matter
how you look at them, he says. But for most
people who buy these kinds of houses, its not
a decision that they calculate based on price
per sq. ft. Its more about the emotional draw.
With Nile, were trying to sell a lifestyle, a
sense of how people imagine they would live.
Thats one reason Niami always sells his
houses fully furnished and decorated, down to
the Junior Mints in the screening room.
For as much bravado as Niami has about
this project, what he cant or wont say is
equally intriguing. He doesnt know who sold
him the massive Bel Air plot, which originally
included a decrepit home that he promptly
tore down. The secret transaction took place
through a bank trust, and the owner remained
anonymous (Niami declines to say what he
paid). What he does know is that he managed
to find room for almost every luxury amenity
he could dream up except a gun range.
During our visit to the site in midsummer, the
place is still a maze of steel beams and cement
trucks, though its already easy to see that the
finished building will dwarf Hearst Castle.
After showing me where the 40-seat
screening room will be, Niami walks me

through the master suite, which alone is 6,000

sq. ft. but when youre in it, it doesnt look
that large, because everything else is so big,
he says. Next, we explore the main level; the
glass-walled library will have a double-height
ceiling and be surrounded on three sides by
water. Dont bother looking for first editions,
however. Nobody really reads books, Niami
says, so Im just going to fill the shelves with
white books, for looks. Stepping past the
nightclubs outdoor lounge area where
circular banquettes will seem to float next to a
two-story waterfall, he says: I really think that
this house is going to do a lot for L.A.
Anybody who lives in the area is going to be
proud to be near it.
Actually, a number of them will be lobbying
to prevent anything like it from ever being
built again. Last year, longtime Bel Air
resident Fredric D Rosen, the former honcho
at Ticketmaster, co-founded a homeowners
alliance and quickly raised more than $750,000
from neighbors to help enact stricter limits on
oversize homes. What level of sanity would
allow a house this big to be built, with a huge
discotheque? Rosen asks. Anything over
20,000 sq. ft. should be considered a
commercial project. Even though Niami
complied with locals requests for tighter
controls flagmen to ease traffic flow,
reduced hauling hours, etc Rosen and other
critics contend that current building
regulations are outdated and haphazardly
enforced. (In some parts of the city, for
example, there are height restrictions on new
construction but nothing to limit excavation.)
Were not some crazy anti-development

group telling you that your house should be

gray or purple, Rosen says. What this is
about is, you cant put a size-eight foot in a
size-five shoe.
But you can try. From Versailles to Hearst
Castle, big-house builders have always
relished barreling over or veering around
any speed bumps that came between them
and their Xanadu. This spring, thanks in part
to pressure from Rosens group, L.A.s city
council issued a temporary ordinance to limit
hauling and reduce construction traffic while
the planning board considers permanent,
citywide restrictions. In Beverly Hills,
meanwhile, Nile says, there are so many
ridiculous rules that they put into place, and
thats why Im not building in Trousdale
anymore. As for the social and moral issues
raised by the spread of resort-size, mostly
unoccupied residences at a time of rampant
inequality, Niami deflects the question,
preferring to focus on the hundreds of local
jobs that his projects have created.
Niami might just take his dump trucks and
go play elsewhere. Lately, hes convinced that
the very spec boom he helped spawn has
caused land in L.A. to become ridiculously
overpriced. And once he has his behemoth
built, hes considering bringing his formula to
Miami, Napa Valley and San Francisco, where
hes looked at property in Presidio Heights.
In the Bay Area, the buyers will be tech titans
likely to use the space as their main homes.
Would it make Niami feel better to know if the
owners of his masterworks will actually be
living in them? It doesnt matter as long as
they pay the money, he concludes.

Niami surveys the vistas

from one of the outdoor
seating areas, which will
appear to float on water
o the nightclub.

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016 95

GLOSSARY
Alcove
A recess or indentation in the
wall of a room thats usually
segregated by pillars or drapery.

Atrium
A large open roofed hall or
central court thats located
inside a building. It usually rises
through several floors and has
a glass or glazed roof.

Avant-garde
Unique, experimental and
innovative ideas that push
boundaries, break stereotype
and establish a new way forward
in terms of design sensibilities.

Banquette
A long, upholstered circular
bench thats set against a wall.

Cuboid
Buildings, space or objects
that are cubic in shape.

Deck
A timber platform or terrace
attached to a house or
another building.

Double-height ceiling
A high ceiling thats twice the
height of a regular ceiling.

Duplex, triplex,
quadraplex
The number of units contained
in a multi-family building. A
duplex consists of two units per
building; a triplex, three units
per building; and a quadraplex,
four units per building.

Eaves
The horizontal exterior
roof overhang.

Facade
Fresco
A type of mural painting thats
done on wet lime plaster.

Institutional architecture
Architecture thats related
to specific government
buildings, organisations and/or
establishments.

Lattice
An open framework of crisscrossed wood or metal strips that
form regular, patterned spaces.

Leitmotif
A dominant recurring theme
in design.

Mandala
A Hindu or Buddhist graphic
symbol of the universe a
circle that encloses a square
and it usually has a deity on
each side.
96

LUXE ADDRESSES 2016

Origami

Rain shower head

A Japanese form of art that

involves folding paper into
creative shapes.

An overhead perforated nozzle

about 8-14 inches wide that
prompts steady fall of water.

Piling

Scallop

Refers to the support that all

buildings, homes and structures
need. Large amounts of steel,
concrete or wood are inserted
into the ground; this process
ensures that your building or
home has a structured base.

Originating from gothic and

medieval architecture, scallops
or scalloping are used as
decorations under a cornice.

Pocket listing
Properties where the broker
holds exclusive selling rights.
These properties are never listed
or advertised and the broker
holds an Exclusive Right to
Sell agreement.

Skylight
A more or less horizontal
window located on the roof of
a building or bungalow.

Spec home
A tailor-made house constructed
by the builder on land owned
by them.

Trims
The finish materials in a building,

such as mouldings applied

around openings or at the floor
and ceiling of rooms.

Trophy estate
Properties that are built in some
of the most exclusive pincodes,
have spectacular views, built
on high-amenity land. They are
often recreational or second and
third homes for most owners.

Underfloor heating
Central heating that controls
temperatures in houses
using radiation, conduction
and convection.

Villament
An amalgamation of a modern
villa and an apartment, studded
with luxurious amenities.

PHOTOGRAPHER: FABIEN CHARUAU; LOCATION COURTESY: SIMONE NATURALLY INSPIRED

The main exterior or elevation

of a house or building.