CONTENTS

COVER STAR
SHAHID
KAPOOR

232 CAPTAIN COOL

It’s almost impossible
ON THE
for Shahid Kapoor to
COVER

stay out of the spotlight.

By Shikha Sethi
URBAN CULTURE
DECEMBER 2017

INDIA A desi
hip-hop
legend
is born
DECEMBER 2017 `150

WITH THIS ISSUE

A CONDE NAST INDIA PUBLICATION VOLUME 10 ISSUE 3

LUXE
ADDRESSES
2017

GQ INVESTIGATION

THE
EMPIRE OF
LEBRON
JAMES

FASHION

ID
SHAH INT
NIGHTS:
India’s
Greatest

ON PO Menswear
RNI.NO.: MAHENG/2008/27014
ISSN 0974-6595

JUMPER, TROUSERS; BOTH

BY DIOR HOMME. SHOES BY
CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN. WATCH
BY BREITLING
PHOTO: ERRIKOS ANDREOU

SUIT, SHIRT; BOTH

BY PAUL SMITH.
TIE BY THE TIE
HUB. TIE PIN BY
THE BRO CODE.
SHOES BY OLIVER
SWEENEY. WATCH
BY BREITLING
CONTENTS

250
GOLDEN GIRL
Radhika Apte’s had her fingers
in a lot of pies this year.
Photographed by Tarun Vishwa
SLIP DRESS BY LA
PERLA. NECKLACE BY
CORNELIA WEBB

14 — DECEMBER 2017
CONTENTS

290
MAKING THE CUT
The swishest eveningwear,
starring Kartik Aaryan.
Photographed by Tarun Vishwa
SUIT BY GUCCI. TOP COAT BY
PAUL SMITH. SCARF BY
HUGO BOSS. SHOES BY COACH.
WATCH BY BREGUET
S A B YA S A C H I
l'orient exotique

B E S P O K E M E N S W E A R . J E W E L RY
CONTENTS

282
ALL HAIL THE KING
LeBron James has
ON THE
a fascinating mind.
COVER

By Mark Anthony Green

COAT BY VERSACE.
SHORTS BY JOHN
ELLIOTT. WATCH BY
AUDEMARS PIGUET.
BRACELETS BY CARTIER.
BASKETBALL BY
LEATHER HEAD SPORTS

PHOTO: PARI DUKOVIC

24 — DECEMBER 2017
CONTENTS

40 Editor’s Letter
44 Contributors
52 GQ Access
76 GQ Digital
311 Where To Buy
316 Open Letter 274 The Gentlemen’s Club country’s menswear. Edited by Vijendra
We returned to Bengaluru for the darshinis, Bhardwaj & Shivangi Lolayekar
music scene and more. By Shikha Sethi
How to get party-ready; Christian Louboutin
FEATURES 300 Did We Adopt A Jihadist? loves Indian weddings; Fragrances for
98 Shanghai Fall The story of a family who didn’t know who New Year’s Eve; Simon Carter vows to kill
Exploring the teeming Chinese city from the they’d adopted. By Scott Sayare conservative menswear as he launches in
back of a vintage motorcycle. By Che Kurrien India; Meet Nic Galway, the brains behind
some of adidas’ recent iconic designs –
186 The Whisky Special GOOD LIFE 83 including the Yeezy Boosts
From the country’s best new whisky bars Where to party in India (that’s not Goa);
and the evolution of the whisky cocktail Holiday bartending tips; How to be a good
to American whiskey (yes, it’s a thing) and guest; All the luxury that matters this month TALK 207
the 12 finest malts out there right now, 207 Travel: A weekend in Sri Lanka with
everything you need to know about the water Everest summiter Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala.
of life VIBE 107 By Rehana Munir
Three massive music festivals, six can’t-miss 210 Safari: How to do it in style in 2017.
240 The New Urdu Cool acts; The December box-office picks; Do By Rahul Bose
It’s back, thanks to the internet and a group we need another U2 album?; Where 214 Books: An ode to Bombay’s artistes
of determined folks. By Annie Zaidi the world’s at on making Trekkie tech a of the Seventies and Eighties. By Kishore Singh
reality; The speaker for your Christmas
258 Pimp My Plane bash; Get the Romantic Gesture right in
If you don’t want to fly commercial, here are 2017; Cameras and the smartphones that DRIVE 216
your luxurious alternatives. By Ajay Awtaney are giving them a run for their money; The 2018 Audi A8 is the future of transportation;
What satire looks like in India; Acclaimed Jeremy Clarkson dishes on all things The Grand
ON THE260 The Real Deal photographer Bharat Sikka’s new book is Tour; Mercedes-Benz is classing up the crossover
23-year-old Delhi rapper Prabh Deep all about Kashmir
COVER
IMAGE: CHETAN MORAJKAR

is on the fast track to becoming The Next Big

Thing. By Bhanuj Kappal WATCH 227
STYLE 135 We got a peek inside the Panerai mother
266 Wearable Hardware 167 The 2017 Van Heusen +
ON THE ship; One of the greatest horological tributes
It’s time for buckles, snaps and clasps to GQ Fashion Nights to motorsport is the Chopard Mille Miglia
COVER

shine. Photographed by Sebastian Mader These nine designers are shaking up the GTS chronograph

28 — DECEMBER 2017
 EDITOR Che Kurrien PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Arjun Mehra
PUBLISHER Almona Bhatia
MANAGING EDITOR Maniza Bharucha ADVERTISING DIRECTORS Kapil Kapoor (New Delhi), Charu Adajania
ASSOCIATE ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Sneha Mahant Mehta
FASHION DIRECTOR Vijendra Bhardwaj SENIOR ADVERTISING MANAGER Sunny Sachdev
ART DIRECTOR Mihir Shah ADVERTISING MANAGER Dipti Uchil, Dipti Dani
ADVERTISING MANAGER (NEW DELHI) Medhavi Nain
PHOTO DIRECTOR Gizelle Cordo ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Ria Doshi
ITALY SALES REPRESENTATIVE Angelo Carredu
DEPUTY EDITOR Shikha Sethi US ADVERTISING MANAGER Alessandro Cremona
DIGITAL MONETIZATION DIRECTOR Rohit Gandhi
DEPUTY ART DIRECTOR Vivek Surve ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR – DIGITAL SALES Elstan Rebello
LIFESTYLE EDITOR Megha Shah SENIOR ADVERTISING MANAGER Niti Solanki
SENIOR MANAGER – DIGITAL SALES James Harris Williams
CULTURE EDITOR Nidhi Gupta MANAGER – DIGITAL SALES (NEW DELHI) Siddarth Paruthi

FASHION FEATURES EDITOR Shivangi Lolayekar ASSOCIATE MARKETING DIRECTOR Akshay Chowdhary
ASSISTANT MARKETING MANAGER Roshni Chandiramani
SENIOR COPY EDITOR Vritti Rashi Goel AGM – ADMIN & SUBSCRIPTIONS OPS Boniface D’Souza
AUTO & WATCH EDITOR Parth Charan MANAGER – PR Amrita Hom Ray

FASHION EDITOR Tanya Vohra HEAD – EVENTS Fritz Fernandes

JUNIOR FEATURES EDITOR Arshie Chevalwala
ASSISTANT COPY EDITOR Vidisha
FASHION STYLIST (LONDON) Ravneet
SYNDICATIONS MANAGER Michelle
SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Richa
FASHION BOOKINGS EDITOR
PHOTO ASSISTANT Fawzia
SYNDICATIONS COORDINATORS Giselle
FASHION ASSISTANT Desirée
FASHION COORDINATOR Shaeroy
DIGITAL EDITOR Abhishek
SENIOR WRITER (DIGITAL) Paloma
MANAGERS – EVENTS Trishala Jailwala, Khushnaz Daruwala
CREATIVE DIRECTOR – PRINT Dipti Soonderji Mongia
Srinivasan ASSOCIATE PROMOTIONS EDITOR Sherrie A Marker
SENIOR PROMOTIONS WRITER Kinjal Vora
Channa SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Malavika Atre, Karishma Gupta
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Varun Patil
Pereira COPY EDITOR & WRITER Amrita Katara
Khonde MANAGER – ALLIANCES Kosha Gala
ASSISTANT MANAGER – CIRCULATION OPERATIONS Jeeson Kollannur
Megha Mehta
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Khan FINANCIAL CONTROLLER Rakesh Shetty
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D’Mello, Dalreen Furtado ACCOUNTANTS Anthony Paulose, Nitin Chavan
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SENIOR PLANNING MANAGER Alisha Goriawala
Chinoy
HEAD – HUMAN RESOURCES Lopamudra Ghose
MANAGER – HUMAN RESOURCES Mohsin Ismail
Mande Bhot HR EXECUTIVE Ria Ganguly
Sharma DIGITAL DIRECTOR Gaurav Mishra

SOCIAL MEDIA ASSISTANT Reema Mukherjee DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR Kiran Suryanarayana
TECHNOLOGY PROJECT MANAGERS Amrita Sudheendran, Dipak Raghuwansi
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SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER (DIGITAL) Anita Dake DATA TECHNOLOGY MANAGER Dilip Patil
AD OPERATIONS MANAGER Sujit Jha
AD OPERATIONS EXECUTIVE Vartika Sohal
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Amit Navarange
AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Saurabh Garg
SENIOR PRODUCTION MANAGER Sunil Nayak SENIOR MANAGER – SUBSCRIPTIONS Vishal Modh
SEO MANAGER Sushmita Balasubramanian
COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION MANAGER Sudeep Pawar CRM MANAGER Akansha Sharma
DIGITAL BRAND SOLUTIONS DIRECTOR Salil Inamdar
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
ASSOCIATE BRAND SOLUTIONS DIRECTOR Abhishek Mehrotra
Anish Trivedi MANAGING EDITOR – DIGITAL BRANDED CONTENT Nisha Samson
MANAGER – DIGITAL BRAND SOLUTIONS Tanya Chopra, Nisha Chaudhary (New Delhi)
Iain Ball CONTENT STRATEGIST Shivani Krishan

Karan Johar HEAD – ENTERPRISE IT Prem Kumar Tewari

DIRECTOR – VIDEO Anita Horam
Rajeev Masand SENIOR CREATIVE PRODUCER Ishita Bahadur
Suhel Seth EA TO MANAGING DIRECTOR Andrea D’souza

MANAGING DIRECTOR Alex Kuruvilla

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32 — DECEMBER 2017
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URBAN CULTURE
DECEMBER 2017

INDIA A desi Germany: Vogue, GQ, AD, Glamour, GQ Style, Wired

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DECEMBER 2017 `150
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WITH THIS ISSUE
A CONDE NAST INDIA PUBLICATION VOLUME 10 ISSUE 3

LUXE
ADDRESSES
2017
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ID
SHAH INT
NIGHTS:
India’s
Greatest Published under Joint Venture

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OVERSEAS
A N I N V I TAT I O N
T O T R AV E L

OVERSEAS
CHRONOGRAPH
 Letter
from the
Editor

LOOKING AHEAD
 
T
here’s a nip in the air around Dubash House,
GQ’s Edwardian-era HQ located on a tree-
lined boulevard of Ballard Estate in Mumbai.
Soon Christmas ornaments will adorn the
office, moods will lighten and the frenzy of
2017 will taper off to a pause. With the issues
closed and shipped off to the printers, the planning for
Condé Nast’s annual holiday party will take centre stage –
a welcome relief from the relentless media cycle. It’s been
a busy year for GQ, our best yet: Digital growth has been
explosive, with our stories reaching an ever-expanding
number of readers eager to be part of our world. Our live
events are best in class, period – from the flagship Men of
the Year Awards to rarefied, intimate Gentlemen’s Club
gatherings in boom towns like Chandigarh, Ahmedabad
and Jaipur. Our on-ground experiences are innovative,
meticulously executed and diverse, borne out of the codes
and values intrinsic to the seductive GQ universe. And
the magazine – the mother ship, if you will – continues
to be the best window into the brand, drawing attention
for the excellence of its covers, photography and high-
quality journalism. In an era where content is universal
and ubiquitous, we take a step back once a month and

PHOTO: MA X HERMANS/THOMPSON PHOTO IMAGERY (CHE), NIDHI GUPTA (BALLARD ESTATE)

put out a compelling, well-edited, heavily researched
editorial package that’s coveted by discerning, affluent
readers – when we’re pitched stories, the first question
we’re asked is: “Is it going to run in print?”
This is no longer a zero-sum game – that was the old
media thinking. In reality, each platform, digital, print
and live, complements and strengthens the other. And as
GQ India kicks off its 10th anniversary year, be prepared
to be ever more dazzled, inspired and seduced. The
action starts now…

@chekurriengq

40 — DECEMBER 2017
CONTRIBUTORS

ANNIE ZAIDI
WHO: Writer and occasional film-
maker. Twitter @anniezaidi
WHAT: How to get in on the new, cool
Urdu community, page 240
ALWAYS AND FOREVER: “I understand
and speak Urdu everyday without even
knowing I do – just like most people.
And my favourite expression? ‘Bhaad
mein jaaye!’”
TARUN VISHWA
WHO: Photographer
WHAT: Captures the stunning Radhika Apte in “Golden Girl”, page 250
THE ARTIST: “Radhika’s like a chameleon. One minute she’s the girl next door;
the next, she’s transformed into a seasoned diva, getting into character like the
accomplished artist she is.”

ZEENAT KULAVOOR
WHO: Typographer, graphic designer,
Urdu calligrapher.
Instagram @zeekulavoor
WHAT: Brings “The New Urdu Cool” to
visual life, page 240
VETERAN: “For me, Urdu has always
been ‘cool’ – I’ve been researching
and working on it for the past 10 years.
To me, it’s more than a language or a
script; it’s an art form.”

MANISH MANSINH BHANUJ KAPPAL

WHO: Photographer. WHO: Writer, freelance culture
Instagram @manishmansinh vulture. Twitter @stonerjesus
WHAT: Candidly captures the 2017 WHAT: Discovers what makes desi
GQ Men Of The Year Awards, page 52 rapper Prabh Deep the Next Big
PAUSE PLAY: “When Aamir Khan Thing, page 260
walked into the room, everyone kind NOW LISTENING: “I really like
of freaked out – Ranveer Singh got Prabh’s track ‘G Maane’, because
up from his seat and came over to it’s this wonderfully dark and grimy
greet him like a host; Karan Johar banger, and the wordplay of the
was right there. It was like a chorus is just hilarious. Bonus points
party happening in the middle of for all the shots at the suit-wearing
the ceremony.” leeches in the Indian music industry.”

44 — DECEMBER 2017
 AB de Villiers and
the new TimeWalker
Chronograph
Inspired by performance and the spirit of
competition. The TimeWalker Chronograph.
montblanc.com/timewalker
Crafted for New Heights.

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 ACCESS
ACCESS
ACCESS
ACCESS

ACCESS
Hip-hop group Marathi Cypher
ACCESS
Sidharth Malhotra, Jacqueline Fernandez & Karan Johar ACCESS ACCESS ACCESS ACCESS
Aamir Khan & Poorna Malavath

ACCESS
ACCESS
ACCESS

Irrfan Khan
ACCESS

Anushka Sharma

Kalki Koechlin
Malaika Arora & Manish Malhotra
ACCESS
 Sridevi Hasan Minhaj Ranveer Singh
ACCESS ACCESS
ACCESS ACCESS ACCESS ACCESS ACCESS ACCESS

Esha Gupta

Catch all the action from the

#MostElectricParty Of 2017

Aamir Khan

EXCLUSIVE BROADCAST PARTNER

DECEMBER 2017 — 53
 Namita & Alex Kuruvilla Aamir Khan & Ranveer Singh Aditi Kothari Desai & Hemendra Kothari

ACCESS
ACCESS
Natasha & Siddhartha Lal

Zorawar & Dildeep Kalra

ACCESS
Antara Mali & Che Kurrien Sonam Wangchuk
ACCESS ACCESS ACCESS ACCESS ACCESS
ACCESS
ACCESS
ACCESS

The Chivas bar Konkona Sensharma

Sufi rock band Alif

Patralekha &
Rajkummar Rao
ACCESS
rare rab b it . in
#a f e w ra re me n
 Subodh Gupta
Michelle & Yohan Poonawalla Hasan Minhaj & Ranveer Singh
ACCESS ACCESS ACCESS ACCESS ACCESS
The American Express booth

I N A S S O C I AT I O N W I T H

Priti & Manoj Adlakha

Rahul Bose
ACCESS
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Kalyani Chawla & Kommal Sood

Irrfan Khan & Karan Johar
ACCESS

Bhaichung Bhutia
ACCESS

Pooja Hegde Amyra Dastur

ACC
 Rajkummar Rao & Sharad Agarwal

The Lamborghini Huracán Spyder

Prateik Babbar
CESS ACCESS ACCESS ACCESS ACCESS ACCESS ACCESS ACCES

Arjun Mehra, Almona

Bhatia & Pulkith Modi

in his element
Ranveer Singh Anushka
Sharma giving
her acceptance
speech
ACCESS

Saiyami Kher
ACCESS

Sanjeev Tandon, Elenora, Sunjae Sharma,

Shobhit Sawhney, Pratiti Rajpal, Rajiv Kaul & Neha Varyani

Boney Kapoor
ACCESS

Samir Suhag
ACCESS

Radhika Apte & Kalki Koechlin

Saqib Saleem

58 — DECEMBER 2017
ACCE
 HYBRID ERA OF LUXURY
There’s luxury. And then there’s Lexus luxury – where no idea is too bold and
no innovation too brave. Lexus doesn’t just create luxury vehicles; it brings its
inherent human touch to the forefront, passionately crafting to arrive at the next
big thing in the world of luxury vehicles – the Lexus Hybrid Electric Vehicle

A LEXUS STATE OF MIND
There’s something that comes
out of the Lexus atelier of
luxury that cannot be found
anywhere else. It never blends
in. It chases the “What Ifs” and
avoids the clichés. It delivers
experiences embodied with
Lexus’ human-oriented
approach that inspires a
luxurious way of life. And it
never puts the brakes on. With
innovation as its key driver,
Lexus crafts works of art,
keeping the future in mind,
and designs vehicles that
best match its indomitable
values of trust, quality, design,
innovation, technology,
corporate social responsibility
and the environment.
Continuously reinventing
the idea of automotive
luxury by bringing seemingly
incompatible concepts into
harmonious existence, Lexus
enthrals us once again. This
time, with the Lexus Hybrid
Electric Vehicles, combining
refined performance with
environmental consciousness.
Lexus is a pioneer of luxury
hybrid electric vehicles,
having celebrated the sale
of its millionth such vehicle
globally last year. With that,
Lexus has effectively put
more hybrid cars on the road
than all the other luxury
automotive brands combined.

Lexus performance hybrids perfectly blend fuel

efficiency and instantaneous power to deliver an
uncompromised drive experience; an ingenious
mechanism wrapped around intuitive driving. With the objective of
satisfying individual
happiness as well
as living up to the
high expectations for
social and ecological
responsibility, Lexus
delivers exhilarating
driving experiences
while attaining
excellent efficiency

MAKING AN IMPACT
Global warming is an incumbent
reality we all have to address.
With a temperature increase of
2 degrees Celsius by the year
2050, a total of 2.97 billion
people are expected to be
exposed to climate risk. Today,
we’re already noticing the direct
and harmful effects of global
warming with the detrimental
smog situation in Delhi. The
brand realises the responsibility
of the auto industry in addressing
these ecological issues, with
innovations that deliver as much
for the driver on performance as
they do on Lexus’ commitment
to sustainability. And while
luxury and high performance
have traditionally meant high
displacement and high power,
in the context of the current
environmental crisis, Lexus
questioned how automobiles
ought to function and what the
meaning of high performance
should really be. With the
objective of satisfying individual
happiness in terms of desire for
comfort, luxury and pleasure,
as well as living up to the high
expectations for social and
ecological responsibility, Lexus
delivers exhilarating driving
experiences while attaining
excellent efficiency. A win-win.
Thus came to life the
Lexus Hybrid Electric Vehicle
(HEV), delivering both high
performance and clean
operation. This brings us back
to what really distinguishes the
brand: a thoughtful engagement
and reimagining of technology,
enabling a brighter future for the
environment we live in. But it
doesn’t stop at just technology.
Lexus goes the extra mile with
its novel green initiative, aimed
at moving a step closer towards
neutralising the impact of its
carbon footprint in India. In
partnership with Grow-Trees.
com, the initiative entails
planting trees across certain
regions of India on behalf of
each Lexus guest for every car
sold in the country. The number
of trees planted are correlated to
the estimated carbon emissions
of the vehicle, helping drivers
achieve carbon neutrality. Couple
this with Lexus’ future-ready
hybrid vehicles, and you’ll see
Lexus’ vision of raising the bar
for safeguarding the world for
future generations.

Lexus has intelligently created a machine
that features the flexible combination of two
different power sources – the electric motor
and a petrol engine.
PERFORMANCE
LEXUS
QUIETNESS HYBRID
DRIVE
FUEL-EFFICIENT
GEN-NEXT LUXURY
As a purveyor of innovation,
Lexus inherently knows that
true luxury is in the details.
Lexus HEVs have been
eloquently pieced, detail
by detail, and are the very
pinnacle of what innovation has
to offer. It is not a continuation
of an existing technology, but
a completely new approach,
opening the doors to new levels
of efficiency like never before.
It’s intelligently created a
machine that features the
flexible combination of two
different power sources – the
electric motor and a petrol
engine. With Lexus on the
forefront of this technology, it
presents vehicles that pack in
both luxury and utility, with
these revolutionary strong
hybrid vehicles, which do not
even have to be charged.
Lexus has never done
anything without a determined
prowess, always in pursuit of
perfection. This time, it takes
things one step further and
offers a vehicle that will inspire
a consciousness for the world
we live in. Best suited for the
Indian energy scenario, the
NX 300h will change the way
you drive – luxuriously and
CLEAN
eco-consciously. Unparalleled
in its delivery, this Lexus HEV
features a conventional gas
engine which produces power
that is available up to high-
speed driving, an electric motor
which cleans and allows for
energy regeneration and a
hybrid battery which manages
power from each source.
Together, these components
are designed to work in a
masterful way to achieve
an environmentally friendly
performance, far ahead of
its class. It’s no surprise, as
Lexus isn’t known for doing
the ordinary. It’s always about
striving for the extraordinary.
And conquering it. As
it has before, and keeps
doing, relentlessly.
The NX 300h is
a blend of functional,
structural and
technological prowess
with the frills of luxe
details, delivering
an exhilarating and
refined experience,
while attaining
an impressive fuel
efficiency.
EXPERIENCE THE
PERFORMANCE
Typically, when driving a
vehicle, the engine usually
consumes the most gasoline
during acceleration when
starting. With the Lexus HEV,
it’s anything but typical.
When starting from a halt
stop condition, only the
electric motor is used for light
acceleration, resulting in a
seamlessly silent take-off. It’s
like music to your ears. As you
shift into a cruising mode, the
technology optimises output
from the electric motor and
gas engine by allocating power
to the wheels and electric
generator, ensuring mind-
blowing efficiency. And when
you really want to hit the
peddle and accelerate to high
speeds, the battery provides
the power to the electric
motor, giving you an
intelligently slick, smooth and
THE FUTURE IS HERE
Ultimately, the Lexus Hybrid
Electric Vehicle is a true
evolution in technology,
ensuring performance
that delivers in a clean,
green and luxe format. The
technology considerably
reduces greenhouse gas
emissions and, in turn, its
carbon footprint. Over and
above that, the intelligent
hybrid electric vehicle
recovers and recycles energy
that is lost in conventional
systems, thereby boosting
fuel efficiency. The quietness
in EV drive mode with the
engine totally stopped during
start-up and low-speed/low-
load cruising is particularly
silent drive. The experience
heightens even as you brake
– thanks to the technology’s
highly effective regenerative
braking system. And unlike
traditional gasoline engines
which consume fuel even
at standstill, the Lexus HEV
switches off the gas engine
when decelerating and at
stop, saving fuel, minimising
emissions and reducing its
carbon footprint, while the
electric motor remains ready
and available for an immediate
take-off – making it a hugely
impressive experience to drive.
Lexus performance hybrids
perfectly blend fuel efficiency
and instantaneous power to
deliver an uncompromised
drive experience; an ingenious
mechanism wrapped around
intuitive driving. This is one
of those quintessential ways
in which Lexus delivers on its
promise to amaze.
delightful. The machine of
the moment encompasses
all this. The NX 300h is a
blend of functional, structural
and technological prowess
with the frills of luxe details,
delivering an exhilarating
and refined experience, while
attaining an impressive fuel
efficiency. Like we said, it
takes innovation to the next
level, something Lexus always
does, and will continue to do.
 Sapna Pabbi

Akshay Oberoi

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Anish Trivedi &

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The Woolmark booth

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Bruna Abdullah

Shravan Reddy, Arti Gudal & Nachiket Barve

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GROWN IN AUSTRALIA, MADE IN INDIA

DISCOVER MORE ABOUT NATURE’S MIRACLE FIBRE AT WOOLMARK.COM

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Gaurav & Priti Mahajan with Nuno Oliveira & AD Singh Rij Eappen & Malini Agarwal
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Sanjiv Shanmugam
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The Azzaro booth

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Ujjwala Raut

Ashiesh Shah
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66 — DECEMBER 2017 Samir Kochhar

 Ashok & Reena Wadhwa

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EXCLUSIVE HOSTS: Akshay Oberoi, Ira Dubey and

Anish Trivedi
DELIVERABLES HOSTS: Bruna Abdullah and
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SCRIPT: Anish Trivedi
Rajiv & Neha Sheth PRESENTERS: Pooja Hegde, Bruna Abdullah,
Aadar Jain, Aanya Singh & Armaan Ralhan Elena Fernandes, Ujjwala Raut, Saiyami Kher, Nidhi
Sunil, Jacqueline Fernandez, Kalki Koechlin, Shravan
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Suhel Seth, Simone Singh, Mandira Bedi, Radhika
Apte, Esha Gupta, Jitish Kallat, Poorna Malavath
TV HOSTS: Prateik Babbar and Sapna Pabbi
ENTERTAINMENT: Alif, Soulmate, Marathi Cypher
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70 — DECEMBER 2017
YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN, WHERE WE HAD BEEN.
One more time at the Hong Kong Club.

Andaz Delhi, Aerocity, New Delhi.

Telephone: +91 11 4903 1234

/ TheHongKongClub | thehongkongclub.in
 FOR THE LATEST STYLE ADVICE, PRODUCT PICKS
AND BREAKING NEWS, FOLLOW THE TEAM ON...

WHAT’S HOT ON
INDIA ∙com
THE HOTTEST WOMEN
THE NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTIES
YOU NEED TO BE AT
OF 2017 WERE IN GQ

EVERY LONG WEEKEND IN 2018,

SO YOU CAN PLAN YOUR VACATIONS

PHOTO: BHANU RATHORE (SAPNA). IMAGE: GETTY IMAGES (CHAMPAGNE)

76 — DECEMBER 2017
COUTURE
www.
rohi
tbal
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 ST ORY,
TURE
KING HI
HE FU
MA
ING T
DRIV With a 100-year strong heritage in the fuel and
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Gulf Oil is a brand beyond the ordinary, always
embracing a fresh approach, going the extra
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categories, Gulf Oil has been the driving force

W
hether on the road or the field, as
an athlete, a businessman or a super behind legendary wins, and is the go-to brand
sports star, there’s no stopping the high for the GQ man
performing GQ man. What fuels his success?
Three words: Quality, endurance and passion, the
very ethos that Gulf Oil stands by. As a purveyor
of superior performance, Gulf Oil has been
making an indelible mark everywhere it goes.
It’s joined hands with one of the most celebrated
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two so far this year in the Premier League. In
the world of Motorsports, it has been associated
with the iconic Le Mans 24h race, and celebrates
its 50th year of participation there. From high-
octane sports to dapper style, Gulf Oil has come
a long, long way. In a strive to outperform the
world around them, Gulf Oil pulls no stops,
transforming lives and lifestyles with their
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watches, memorabilia furniture pieces to super
cool race car toys, Gulf Oil has been associated
with several brands that have been celebrated in
the market. Here’s a peek inside their awesome
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add to his prided collection…

DRIVING INTERIOR STYLE

Man cave, bedroom or your studio apartment, design your house
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Handmade and authentic, you can select from a range of chairs,
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FUELLING FASHION
Indistinguishable style, functional and trendy, Gulf Clothing
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From all-weather jackets and cover-ups to graphic tees with
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POWERING TIMEPIECES
For everyone who dotes on legendary timepieces, and has a
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French manufacturer’s skill.

ACTIONING FUN
Gulf takes fun to the next level, as it joins hands with Scalextric, one of the most
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For more information, please

visit gulfoilltd.com

THE
Rudy Wallang of blues rock band Soulmate
offers his tips on vibing in the cosmopolitan,
music-mad streets of his hometown
One of the first tabloids that captured the
imagination of the people of Shillong in the
Sixties and Seventies was JS magazine – it
predominantly covered the lives of local bands
and artistes, and advertised upcoming beat
contests. Even today, passion for Western music
runs wild amid its windy, twisty, maze-like lanes,
into the living rooms of the locals, where families
converse about rock over dinner. It’s an exciting
confluence of a charming small-town India and
IMAGE: NAMAN SARAIYA (WEEKENDER)
an inherently modern, Western culture. If you
take a walk, you might turn a corner and enter
Middle Earth; and suddenly, among rolling hills
and vanilla soufflé clouds, you might think that
global warming can’t really be a danger. Yet, not
far away, girls exit Sunday church in sky-high
heels and tangerine lips; in bars and clubs like
EDITED BY M E G H A SHAH
• FOOD • DRINK • TRAVEL • NIGHTLIFE
WHERE TO
PARTY IN INDIA
Cloud 9, Tango and Mikado Lounge, DJ nights
and gigs by local bands every weekend see
masses sip on rum and sway to “Bohemian
Rhapsody” and “Stairway To Heaven”.
The restaurants are vibe-y and clean (don’t
litter in Shillong, you might be fined `5,000, or
even jailed) and offer succulent pigs, tender
bovines and even a polite change in recipe for
the vegetarian. Little Chef and The Grub are
small cafés serving large flavours. Or, visit The
Eee Cee, which has been in operation since the
Seventies and makes a great prawn chow and
strong coffee. Stay at the Heritage Hotel (owned
by the prince of Tripura) or Aerodene Cottage for
something more quaint and quiet. You can walk to
just about everywhere, unless you’re lucky enough
to hear of a fête – local cultural festivals that were
the original platforms for band culture – in the
Jaintia hills (there’s one every month). In which
case, book a car and drive right up. Partying with
the nature-worshipping Khasis is just what you
need this New Year.
DECEMBER 2017 — 83
THE

This coastal city in the South

is quietly reverberating with a
hardcore underground scene,
finds Arshie Chevalwala
Alternating between sleepy contribute to the diversity. The cheery
coastal town and rural power- “Bonjour” you may receive from your auto
cut-loop nightmare, to an Deeply spiritual, yet boasting rickshaw driver adds to the charm.
unwitting tourist Mangalore eclectic new bars, restaurants and The most luxurious option to
is all Shiva temples and the stay here is La Villa, where vintage
boutiques, this is possibly the most
reminiscence of Tipu Sultan’s meets contemporary. New hangout
refined place in India to get drunk, The Storyteller’s Bar features
reign. But to seasoned
according to Megha Shah everything from book readings to jazz
partygoers, it offers the perfect
balance of untapped secluded A beachy paradise that looks like an performances to poetry open-mics and
beaches and, essentially, elegant French country town that’s been film festivals. The Pub Zipper has an
regulation-free privacy because transported to the Bay of Bengal is an open-air bar and great cocktails, while
of how far spread out and remote exciting premise to begin with. Add to that L’Aqua on the rock beach serves up fresh
the shores are. an underrated nightlife that’s recently breeze along with local beer. The Bay
Get a buzz going at Liquid found its groove and a tax exemption of Buddha, a rooftop chill spot in the
Lounge (with the holy trinity of on liquor, and this seems like a more Promenade Hotel, is perfect for a few
potent cocktails, greasy food and grown-up, cosmopolitan option to drinks and a bite. If you want a moment
plush sofas) or Froth on Top (for being jostled on the beaches of Vagator. of quiet before your night begins, Goyo is
Keema Rice with a side T) in the Almost everything you do here, whether a silent restaurant that serves authentic
city centre. Then, as you do, head grabbing a drink or partying on the beach Korean food. For lobsters and jazz, head
12km south to Ullal beach (for or hiring a yacht or buying cheese, feels to Le Dupleix hotel. For something more
EDM surfers) or 20km north to vastly more cultured. Expats, people heavy duty, The Asian House bangs out
Sasihithlu (for a mellow trip-hop drawn by the ideology of Sri Aurobindo loud beats on weekends. And if you can’t
scene). The beach periphery, and the Mother, French citizens, old make up your mind, find a beach, grab a
fuelled by party organisers Pondicherrians, new settlers – all few drinks and watch the sun go down.
(Summer Sands on Ullal is where
it’s at this New Year’s Eve), is
drawing crowds from all over
the country – and away from
Goa, including the best happy
dust money can buy via port
Uttara Kannada.
If you’re savvy enough to
bring party favours, chances are
you’ll get invited to a Berghain-
style, no-holds-barred farmstay
rager, bonfire and all, hosted
far away from civilisation, past
narrow dirt roads punctuated
by cashew fields. To host
one yourself: Access luxe
properties via Airbnb (look in
the Bolar, Bunder or Kuloor
areas). Otherwise, stay at The
Gateway hotel if you’re keen
on room service. And even if
you have touristy inclinations,
the Sultan’s Bathery is a great
spot for peace, quiet and soul-
searching via hallucinogenics.

84 — DECEMBER 2017
THE

HOW TO BE A
HOLIDAY BOOZETENDER
should have equal numbers of
virgin and alcoholic options: an
opened bottle of red, an opened
This time of year, you end up meeting your extended family significantly more bottle of white on ice, maybe
often than the first 11 months. Be it a Christmas dinner or a pre-wedding bash. a bottle of good whisky and
Throwing a party for friends is simple. But family is a whole other matter. another of gin, batch cocktails
Especially when it comes to the booze. It has to taste delicious and yet not inspire (see below), all your best
Gupta Uncle to put a whisky bottle on his head and dance to “Laila O Laila” cocktail glasses, a supply of
ice and plenty of juices, water,

 A 1MAKE IT SELF-SERVE
tonic and soda.
fter years of plying family with

tasty beverages during the holidays, Guests don’t always want
I’ve developed four principles that to get tanked right away, but
should keep everyone happy enough they do want something in
they’ll want to do this again next year. their hands right away. So
once shoes have been piled
up by the door, point everyone
to all the options you’ve made
available in some corner of
your party space. The table
2 BATCH
THREE
COCKTAILS
If your relatives are a bunch
of lightweights (or angry
drunks), make what we call
the Happy Family: vodka,
triple sec, cranberry juice
and freshly squeezed or
sweetened lime juice. You
can go a little harder with the
Merry Uncle, a punch of rum,
freshly squeezed OJ, apple
cider and clove-and-cinnamon
simple syrup. And for true
boozehounds, make a Santa’s
Little Helper (like a Manhattan,
but with crowd-pleasing
crème de menthe instead of
vermouth). To serve, funnel all
three concoctions back into the

WORDS: ROSS MCCAMMON. PHOTO: LEVI BROWN. FOOD STYLIST: ED GABRIELS/HALLEY RESOURCES. PROP STYLIST: SOPHIA LOCH/HALLEY RESOURCES
scrubbed-clean liquor bottles
you emptied to make them.

3 TOAST THE
COLLECTIVE –
NOT INDIVIDUALS
The point of drinking
together is to lubricate a
social situation for everyone
involved. So refrain from
naming names – you’ll
offend as many people as
you honour. And do not use
the word “lubricate” at any
point during your toast.

4 LEAVE ROOM FOR

ONE MORE
You’ll have some leftovers.
Put together some red wine
with lime soda, throw it in a
tall glass with a rock or two
and an orange twist. This
well-deserved drink will make
you feel just as comforted
as you’ve made people all
evening long. Here’s to
lubricating yourself! No, wait…

88 — DECEMBER 2017
THE
HOW TO BE A SERIAL PARTY ATTENDER
And always score a second invite
Always RSVP – and reasonably
in advance.
Even if you weren’t asked to. No
matter how popular or chilled out
the host is, they’re fretting about
the guest list till the last minute.
Give them one less reason.
Arrive at the sweet spot of time.
Too early, and you’re a bother. If
the invitation says 8pm, it’s safe to
assume the host is still doing last-
minute things at 8:20pm. Too late
and you’re just rude – and the
party’s in full swing, and everyone
already introduced. Get there by
8:45pm, no later, especially
if it’s a dinner party. Fashionably
late was definitely not a term
coined by someone who threw a lot
of parties.
Bring a good bottle – but
not wine.
A bottle of red or sparkly is a
perfectly acceptable present to
bring your host. But chances are
the other guests also think
that. If your host is a gourmand,
90 — DECEMBER 2017
bring him top-of-the-shelf olive oil
(extra virgin). With a health junkie,
a bottle of kombucha or flavoured
kefir will get whisked away from the
general-bottles-area to a shelf in the
kitchen, to be enjoyed later.
Or, bring a dish for the party.
Think a fresh batch of guacamole or
a platter of cheese to lay out before
the main course. But remember, it
can only be something like a dip
(enough for the number of guests
present) or a cheesecake that can be
seamlessly added to everything your
host has probably planned. It can’t be
something elaborate that’ll derail the
planned courses or steal the show.
If you need the attention...
... Take over the bar. Your host will
probably appreciate not having to
refill every glass while he tries to fix
that conked-out oven. The moment
you’re handling the drinks, you
become significantly more charming.
Of course, you’ll also need to have
some amount of cocktail-making skill.
If you don’t have it, don’t offer.
Have stuff to say.
No one likes inviting that guy who
offers blank stares to anyone he’s
introduced to. Keep your mind
alert, notice things – the pen in
his pocket that says he enjoys the
good life, the lady hovering around
the buffet looking uncertain, who
might be a vegetarian. Share your
interests (“I like to party” doesn’t
count). Have warm hands and a
decisive handshake. Brush up on
the cultural happenings around
you. Flip through this magazine,
you’ll find a topic or two. Keep
them handy.
Make yourself useful.
Ask if you can help with anything
before you leave.
WORDS: MEGHA SHAH. IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK
But, don’t be formal.
Above all, the host is measuring the
success of his party with how much
fun everyone is having. So don’t
be so chastened, so careful and so
respectful that it looks like you’re
not having any. Let loose. It’s the
best compliment you can pay.
THE

THE POP-UP

BJORN SHEN
X GRESHAM
FERNANDES
Mumbai
This month, Mumbai’s
happy hour mainstay
Social has collaborated
with Singaporean
“dudestronomy” chef
Bjorn Shen to present
the gastronomic
underbelly of the Island
City (a major upgrade
from chilli crabs). At
his two restaurants
back in Singapore,
Bird Bird (slang for
penis) and Artichoke,
the food is ambitious
and courageous (Milk
Braised Pork that
comes with milk sauce
and a doughnut) and,
sometimes, straight up
crazy town (chicken skin
ice cream). Alongside
chef Gresham Fernandes’
penchant for modern

TASTE
twists, expect dishes like
Truffled Potato Pani Puri
and Palm Sugar Granitas.
Available at Social outposts
across Mumbai until
December 8; socialoffline.in
ALL THAT MATTERS THIS MONTH

THE BAR

LIVE AT THE QUARTER,

ROYAL OPERA HOUSE | Mumbai
The newly reopened iconic Royal Opera House just
got more desirable, with the addition of a chic jazz
bar that’s rapidly promising to become the city’s
most exciting music space. A collaboration between
musicians Ashutosh Phatak (co-founder of the now-
shuttered Blue Frog) and Ranjit Barot, restaurateur
Nico Goghavala and businessman and investor
Nakul Toshniwal, The Quarter features a live music
club, an all-day café, a mozzarella and wine bar
and a Louisiana-inspired restaurant. Launched last
month, the robust programme has so far included
WORDS: MEGHA SHAH, ARSHIE CHEVALWALA

performances by indie duo Parekh & Singh and

the Grammy award-winning band from Mali,
Tinariwen, and will host live performances five
nights a week and 100 shows at the Royal Opera
House. There aren’t many other places in the city
where you can listen to music with a cocktail,
sitting close to the musician, eyes closed, letting the
rhythm take over. thequarter.in

94 — DECEMBER 2017
CHEERS TO
THE GOOD LIFE
Mr Cool-as-a-cucumber has been sipping on
something interesting these days. Gentlemen,
you might want to make a note of this. It’s Aquafina
Vitamin Splash

H
is idea of the ideal Sunday afternoon is teeing
off at a lush golf course. He’s a dreamer with
a penchant for words. You often find him
strolling through the beachfront humming a song
or basking in the sun. Whether it is indulging in a
hearty meal or tanking up on the right nutrition, he
does what feels right and enjoys it too. If you’ve been
wondering how he’s always up for all this and more,
let us break it to you – his glass is always full… with
positivity and Aquafina Vitamin Splash. Just a punch
of the fruit-flavoured water loaded with vitamins and
minerals does the trick. While the Kiwi Lime flavour
boosts his immunity, he often opts for the Raspberry
Mint flavour that brims with anti-oxidants. And if
there is one thing he believes in – it’s the power of
hydration. No points for guessing it's what keeps him
feeling alive and kicking. All the time.
THE

WHERE GQ’S
THE RETREAT
BEEN EATING
AURA GOA | Goa THIS MONTH
There’s a new boutique property
on a quiet street in North Goa’s
Mandrem neighbourhood to help
you escape the rave party circuit
and detox this holiday season. A
90-minute drive from Dabolim
airport, and a mere kilometre from
the beach, there are no TVs here
and no bar. But, there’s a pool, spa,
restaurant (where you’ll get a great
breakfast of moong dal waffles or TOWN HALL,
poached eggs served on Goan poi GURUGRAM
bread with avocado spread) and a After the popular Khan market
couple yogashalas where you can restaurant, there’s a new
find yourself again. auragoa.com octagon-shaped Gurugram
outpost in a large, beautifully
designed space. Get the signature

TASTE
sushi and find that hours pass by
here in a blink. town-hall.in
ALL THAT MATTERS THIS MONTH
THE WEEKEND BREAK

THE SOURCE AT SULA at Sula, situated on a historic site, offers 23

Nashik
Spending a weekend in the countryside sipping
wine has never been part of our cultural fabric,
but Sula wants to change that, with the launch
of a heritage winery resort in the heart of the
country’s wine region, Nashik. The Source
rooms, including tree houses and a tower suite.
There’s also a swimming pool, tennis court,
spa, gym and restaurant, along with wine tours
and tasting sessions with winemakers. It’s the
closest thing to that Tuscan sojourn you’ve been
dreaming of. sulawines.com

O PEDRO, MUMBAI
A Goa-themed restaurant tinged
with romantic nostalgia from
the people behind The Bombay
Canteen. Whether for lunch (get
the Kalchi Kodi devilled eggs) or
a few Vasco Sours, you’re going
to be charmed.
opedromumbai.com

DARZI BAR &

KITCHEN, DELHI
A curious tailor shop-themed
space that’s more reminiscent
WORDS: MEGHA SHAH

of Savile Row than your

local darzi. Don’t forget to
order cocktails with dinner.
011-4564 4700

96 — DECEMBER 2017
 Shanghai Fall

From a historic trading port at the centre of colonial enterprise to a towering

testament to the world’s most dynamic economy – Shanghai has always been a
boom town. But what lies under the glitzy hood of this teeming megacity?

WRITTEN & PHOTOGRAPHED BY CHE KURRIEN

98 – DECEMBER 2017
 “It's impossible to
find a wife," says Li
with a wry smile.
“Before they consider
you, girls insist
you have your own

T
apartment. I'm 30 and
still living with
my parents in the flat
I grew up in. House
prices here are insane"
he best way to embrace Shanghai is from the
back of a throaty vintage motorcycle. In a city
filled with scooters and luxury limos, these burly
two-wheelers have real presence, with the ability to power
through the gleaming freeways; but are also deft enough
to navigate the seamy gullies whitewashed from the tourist
trails. In these bylanes, we roar past toothless men in straw
hats playing cards on sullied pavements. In the background,
vats of chicken stock come to a boil, the aroma wafting into
the tenements above. Exposed electrical wires and drying
laundry wrap around these crumbling buildings – a world
away from the glistening towers and spotless avenues just
moments away.
I’m riding pillion behind Li, a celebrated local tattoo
artist, and a remarkably outspoken individual given the risks
around talking openly about society and life in China. But
then, the Shanghainese have always had a distinct identity
from the rest of the mainland – an unabashed globalist
outlook borne out of the port city’s lucrative history as a
colonial-era trading behemoth, with the British, French
and Americans forming a strong business and cultural
presence starting in the 1840s. “Lots of expats live in this
city,” says Li, cruising past the mansions that line the leafy
boulevards of the old-world French concession, now some
of the most prime real estate in the world. “Today these
houses are occupied by the top people in our government
and their families.” While the city’s early fortune was built Dubai has seen a comparable construction explosion – there
on the tea, silk and opium trade, present-day Shanghai is the have been fallouts of living in a boom town teeming with
commercial centre of the world’s most dynamic economy – 25 million residents: “It’s impossible to find a wife,” says
and, for overseas companies, increasingly the “Gateway to Li with a wry smile. “Before they even consider you, girls
China”, a pivotal role traditionally played and capitalised on insist boys have their own apartment, and the prices of
by Hong Kong. houses are insane. I’m 30 and still living with my parents
While most Shanghainese are proud of the imperious, in the small flat I grew up in.” China’s one-child policy has
relentless recasting of the city into modern form – only resulted in a skewed gender demographic, with single

DECEMBER 2017 – 99
men far outnumbering single women. As a result, girls are
coveted and can pick from an array of suitors. Li tells me
about a large park in the centre of town where the parents
of prospective brides and grooms meet every Sunday to
exchange paper sheets filled with the vital statistics of
their progeny, including net worth, real estate ownership,
employment status and likely inheritance. “It’s a market, and
no one makes any bones about it,” laments Li.
Li’s motorcycle tour of Shanghai is arranged by the
Andaz, an upscale lifestyle hotel brand that focuses on giving
seasoned travellers access to the local culture through a
series of textured experiences, delivering meaning to curious
guests seeking more than a comfortable bed and 24-hour
room service. Most first-time tourists to Shanghai head
straight to bustling Nanjing Road – akin to New York’s Times
Square – as well as the iconic Bund area, whose design is
reminiscent of a European capital set against the water.
The Andaz is located in Xintiandi, a bustling entertainment
and shopping district that still retains the antique walls,
tiles and façade of traditional houses of old Shanghai while
also housing luxury fashion brands and trendy restaurants.
This cool, cultural mix of the past and present ensures that
the wood-panelled lobby is buzzing at sundown with a hip
local crowd, mostly a well-heeled creative class sipping craft
cocktails. The design-focused, elegant high-rise hotel is also
a stone’s throw from the 16th-century Yu Garden, a bucolic
oasis of permanence in an ambitious city otherwise in a
constant state of regeneration and flux.
Despite my reservations about hyper-touristy spots, I do
make it to the beguiling Bund for dinner. The mercantilist
Shanghainese, long used to enjoying the fruits of their labour,
are gourmands, and wealthy local families celebrate special
occasions with elaborate feasts: These culinary rituals are
spread out over several hours with at least 20 courses on the
cards, and a penchant for pork in all its forms – glazed, diced
and deep-fried. The zenith of my dining experience in this
most maximum of cities was at a dimly lit private dining room
at the Xindalu China Kitchen, located within the Hyatt on the
Bund, where master chefs excitedly rustle up delicacies like
braised pork shaped like a pyramid – pure bliss on a plate –
as well as a whole roasted duck, the skin brought to a crisp in
a wood-fired oven. Around me businessmen talk decisively,
brokering big deals, as their bored-looking, perfectly coiffed
girlfriends play with their phones – while also digging into
the most decadent honey-soaked spare ribs. This, for me,
sums up Shanghai perfectly.

The
Shanghainese
love feasts:
Culinary
rituals here
are spread out
over several
hours with
at least 20
courses on the
cards, and a
penchant for
pork in all
its forms –
glazed, diced
and deep-fried

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 ∙ MUSIC
∙ FILMS
∙ TECH
∙ TV
∙ ART
∙ COMEDY
EDITED BY NIDHI GUPTA EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO GET IN ON THIS MONTH

THEBIG SIX
LIVEWIRE

December arrives with three massive music festivals, each

boasting a superlative line-up. But since being in more than
one place at a time is not possible for another decade or so,
here’s a helpful guide to making wise choices about which gigs
to attend – and faking your way out of the Shitty Fan BaseTM

WIZ KHALIFA
TIME OUT 72, VAGATOR
DECEMBER 27-29
Who: Cameron Jibril Thomaz, aka
one of the hottest living rappers in
the world RN. The king of YouTube.
The one who was married to Amber
Rose. The one Yeezy apologised to.
Why you should care: Apart
from delivering the most astute
observations in fine verse, he also
dresses spectacularly well.
What to expect: Paeans to grass
on a beach in front of an audience
that’s been sniffed up, down and
WORDS: NIDHI GUPTA. IMAGE: REX FEATURES

sideways because #notolerance.

The douchey banter: “Joey Bada$$,
Earl Sweatshirt, Chief Keef – they
just keep getting younger…”
Swig if you hear: “… Collab
with Badshah...”
Don’t bother if: All you want is
Start-ups 101 and a selfie.

DECEMBER 2017 — 107

 FOUR TET
MAGNETIC FIELDS FESTIVAL, ALSISAR
DECEMBER 15-17
Who: Kieran Hebden, prolific British
electronic musician and DJ.
Why you should care: He’s one of
the UK’s biggest artists right now,
building a reputation for smooth
jazz-infused electronica that can set
clubs on fire.
What to expect: Trust-fund hipsters
and yuccies losing their chill and
owning their square metre of the
dance floor.
The douchey banter: “I saw him
spinning in Amsterdam once, think
his mother was in the booth?”
Swig if you hear: “I had New Energy
on heavy rotation”; “Those Lata
samples, maaaannn…”
Don’t bother if: You’re into
“folktronica” (whatever that means).

MARKY RAMONE
BACARDI NH7 WEEKENDER, PUNE
DECEMBER 8-10
Who: Legendary American
drummer, once part of the band
that birthed punk rock.
Why you should care: He’s among
the last of the rock ’n’ roll greats to
be alive and kicking – despite the
alcoholism and Johnny’s hubris.
What to expect: Endless
crowd requests for “I Wanna
Be Sedated”.
The douchey banter: “Punk
Rock Blitzkrieg is quite the tell-
all – and who really wants long
philosophical speeches from a
rockstar’s memoir?”
Swig if you hear: “Y’know,
Sheena here…”
Don’t bother if: Your idea of great
punk rock is Green Day.
JASON DERULO
TIME OUT 72, VAGATOR
DECEMBER 27-29
Who: American singer,
songwriter, dancer, owner of a
funky fashion line, achiever of
11 Platinum singles.
Why you should care: If you
need to ask, go head-bang to
CIGARETTES AFTER SEX Martin Garrix.
BACARDI NH7 WEEKENDER, PUNE
DECEMBER 8-10 What to expect: Young women
twerking (it’s still cool in north
Who: Texan ambient pop band peddling
moody modern love songs with shades Goa) and young men moon-
walking. Also, “Swalla” one too
of noir.
many times.
Why you should care: Greg Gonzalez’s
voice on their self-titled album was the The douchey banter: “Yeah, I
think Latin music’s time has
internet sensation of the year.
come too.”
What to expect: A sit-down affair, ergo a
corner dotted with tween Tinder couples Swig if you hear: “After-after-
party at Curlies?”
rapturously crooning “the patron saint
of sucking cock” as if they really mean Don’t bother if: You’re only

WORDS: NIDHI GUPTA. IMAGE: GETTY IMAGES (DERULO, FOUR TET, RAMONE), WILL BANKHEAD (BEN UFO)
“you fill up my senses”. going with the hope that Nicki
The douchey banter: “Doesn’t the whole Minaj shows.
album sound like one long sexy song?”
Swig if you hear: “It’s manipulative music,
man; nostalgia’s practically coded in.”
Don’t bother if: You’re an anti-
sentimentalist. Please return to the
comedy tent.

BEN UFO What to expect: Stoned kids spot-shuffling,

MAGNETIC FIELDS FESTIVAL, ALSISAR
DECEMBER 15-17
Who: Ben Thomson, British DJ and scene-
pusher as founder of prominent underground
label Hessle Audio.
Why you should care: So that you never utter
the words “crate digger” again. And because all
the cool kids do.
occasionally peeping to see if the photog’s in
the vicinity.
The douchey banter: “Sucks, what happened
with Fabric…”
Swig if you hear: “Ben, bro, can you play
‘Swalla’ – it’s my girlfriend’s birthday…”
Don’t bother if: You’re that^ guy. You’re at the
wrong party.

108 — DECEMBER 2017

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FILMS
OM NOM NOM
On the cusp of awards season, Hollywood releases get more cerebral, prosaic and
ambitious. Watch these so you can talk the talk when February comes around
THE DISASTER ARTIST
DIRECTED BY JAMES FRANCO
What: A biographical comedy-drama
about Tommy Wiseau’s 2003 cult
film The Room, otherwise known as
the best bad movie ever made.
Why you should care: His Highness
I, TONYA
DIRECTED BY CRAIG GILLESPIE
What: A biographical black
comedy about one of the
greatest scandals in the
history of the Olympic
112 — DECEMBER 2017
D
James Franco directs himself as a
film-maker making shlock. This is not
just meta, it’s peak James Franco.
#CriticSpeak: Drop words like
“nihilist”, “Dicknose in Paris” and
“art house”. In your best Lindsay
Lohan voice.
STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI
DIRECTED BY RIAN JOHNSON
What: Your annual dose of Star
Wars, picking up from where we
left Rey and Luke Skywalker:
Stranded on an island in a galaxy
far, far away.
Games, that led to the end
of Tonya Harding’s figure
skating career.
Why you should care: Two
words – Margot. Robbie.
#CriticSpeak: “Who knew?”
MUSIC
WISE MEN SAY
U2 are ready to drop another album. Do we need it?
emocracy is but a blip in history,” Bono
told Rolling Stone recently, “and it
requires a lot of focus and concentration
to keep it intact.” Of course Bono, frontman
of U2 and keeper of humanity’s conscience,
is worried by The State Of Things. Enough,
he says, to rework their three-years-in-the-
making LP, Songs Of Experience, into a “lyrical
response” to this political churn. Taking their
cue from William Blake, this album was
initially conceived as a sequel to 2014’s Songs
Of Innocence, a couple gigs of malware in
more ways than one. But then the world
changed; enough, perhaps, to shake Bono out
of his robotic stupor, think beyond the market
value of ageing rock stars and rage against
war and inequality like he did in the Eighties.
Maybe there’ll be an anthem, a “Sunday
Bloody Sunday” to soundtrack this decade –
and to keep rock music firmly on the radar.
Songs Of Experience is available to stream on iTunes
Why you should care: To watch
Adam Driver, the posterboy of
millennial angst, adulting behind the
mask of Kylo Ren.
#CriticSpeak:“It’s like all of us on
the time-space axis, looking for our
place in all this madness.”
WORDS: NIDHI GUPTA. IMAGE: DANNY NORTH (U2)
UP, CLOSE
AND
ORIGINAL
India’s premier adidas Originals
‘Fashion Destination Door’ has cut
the ribbon in Mumbai – strengthening
the cult of sneaker-heads and
Originals fans in the country

B
ring on the neons, sport
some high-octane hip hop
fashion and indulge in
comfort – because it’s time for
streetwear to take over. And all the
credit for this goes to the launch
of India’s first adidas Originals
‘Fashion Destination Door’ in
Mumbai – putting the pioneering
sportswear brand on the top of
the leaderboard. And if there is
one person who personifies the
quirky brilliance of this brand it’s
Ranveer Singh – the official brand
ambassador of adidas Originals.
Sprawled across a massive
1,550sqft, the Fashion Destination
Door is all about iconic styles,
innovative product stories and
of course, its unabashed youthful
vibe. From Kanye West’s limited
edition Yeezy’s to Pharrell
Williams Hu, each collection has
the spunk that appeals to a true-
blue Originals fan. What’s more,
these statement collections are
available exclusively at the Linking
Road store in India.
From exclusive events to
innovative encounters, the brand
is ushering in an electrifying
experience for all those who walk
in. So when the store launched, the
excitement hit the roof (expectedly
so). And in came the pop stars, the
musicians, the glitteratis followed
by the paparazzis and more. That’s
when we got in conversation with Ranveer
the streetwear hounds and trend Singh
cadets in the store’s well-furnished The official
brand
lounge area. And there was ambassador
something Original about what of adidas
they had to say. Originals
 ANAND IMAAD HARSHVARDHAN
AHUJA SHAH KAPOOR
What do you love What’s an adidas What inspires
about adidas Originals fashion you about the
Originals right now? trend that can never all-new adidas
The heritage is great. let you down? Originals Fashion
And they are really I think not following Destination Door?
exciting right now. a trend is a trend It’s like a
They’re innovating a that’ll never let you combination of
lot. With Kanye, Wang down. So if you don’t different styles. It’s
and Pharrell – they follow what anyone very unique and
have so many things else is doing and the first of many.
going on. So that come up with your For example, today
excitement carries own stuff, it ties in the store, we
over when you enter into the same thing. have musicians,
the store. And with adidas Originals actors and other
athletic clothes the is pushing a lot of creative people
fit and comfort is different art forms. coming together
always there. So you It’s forward thinking, and vibing. So
feel comfortable and bright, of-the- it’s more like an
fresh too. moment and current. experience.

Sporting: Sporting: Sporting:

The new Hu by The Frozen
Anand adidas Pharrell Yellow
Ahuja crazy-8 Williams Yeezys

Saiyami Kher

SAIYAMI KAVYA
KHER TREHAN
What is your There were some
definition of crazy looks at the
Original? launch of the store
Harshvardhan
Be yourself. I love today. Which one Kapoor
experimenting was your favourite?
Imaad Shah
with menswear. There was this
Even today I am guy who was
wearing a crop top wearing tights
from the adidas under his shorts
women’s collection and he had this
and I have matched crazy cool hoodie
it with these by Alexander
comfortable pants Wang. It was
from their men’s androgenous and
collection. This that’s what I really
works very well liked about one of
for me. It’s my own the looks in
original style. today’s show.

Kavya
Eyeing: Trehan
Eyeing: The adidas
The men’s Originals
collection Alexander Wang
collection
TREKKIE
FUTURES

TECHIE
The sci behind the fi in the Star Trek universe

W e always wanted one of those Star

Trek PADD tablets or a magical
wireless communicator – hello,
iPhone! (Replicators that conjure up martinis,
however, remain woefully unrealised.) Now,
with Star Trek: Discovery on air, the first TV
series to boldly go in 12 years, astrophysicist
Ethan Siegel’s book, Treknology, explores the
original show’s most iconic inventions and the
real-world equivalents that have materialised.
According to the author, even warp speed
could someday become reality. Make it so.

TRANSPORTERS SYNTHEHOL PHASERS WARP DRIVE TRICORDERS CYBERNETIC

STATUS: FAR, STATUS: NEAR FUTURE STATUS: NEAR FUTURE STATUS: FAR, FAR FUTURE STATUS: ALREADY HERE IMPLANTS
FAR FUTURE STATUS: ALREADY HERE
You don’t have to be Federation alien-zappers In 1994, physicist Miguel Many of the necessary
Chinese scientists a Ferengi to want are typically set to stun. Alcubierre proved it’s capabilities for a medical Borg nanoprobes are
recently applied hangover-free booze. The US military has mathematically possible to tricorder, such as remote terrifying. But doctors
quantum entanglement Siegel sees promise developed weapons that simultaneously compress pulse tracking, exist are using implants for
to “teleport” a photon in Bretazenil, a fire high-energy pulses and expand space, enabling now. Qualcomm recently good: Last year, Dutch
from the ground to drug that partially of light, creating charged faster-than-light travel. awarded millions of dollars surgeons successfully
a satellite orbiting simulates GABA particles. Additional But that would require to teams that developed wired electrodes into the

WORDS: CAITLIN HARRINGTON (TREKKIE TECHIE), NIDHI GUPTA (SURROUND SOUND). IMAGE: REX FEATURES (STAR TREK)
300 miles away. receptors, triggering light pulses quickly heat the equivalent of 20,000 handheld devices capable brain and a transmitter
But humans won’t that first-drink rush up the particles, forming megatons of TNT, plus of diagnosing 13 health into the chest cavity
get beamed up of sociability without a shock wave that speculative concepts such as conditions. Siegel further of a paralysed woman,
anytime soon. the painful aftermath. takes out unfortunate negative energy. Siegel says expects strides in the allowing her to select
human targets. we’re still light years away. next decade. letters with her mind.

GEAR

SURROUND SOUND
The BeoLab50 is the thumper you need for your year-end blowout

A
re loudspeakers in living rooms cool again? Danish aural-tech wizard Bang & Olufsen’s
latest floor speaker has quite the pitch for amping it up at home, Nineties style. The
BeoLab50 (an “affordable” derivative of the brand’s 90th-anniversary offering, the
BeoLab 90) is a luxurious, minimalist soundsystem: A body of oak and aluminium houses 2,100
watts of pure power, blasting through seven drivers at its core. It incorporates B&O’s slick
new Active Room Compensation tech that uses an external lens to moderate its sound delivery
according to its surroundings. Another feature, the Acoustic Lens, which rises out of the top
of the gadget, offers two settings – wide and narrow – to disperse sound according to mood.
Translation: You might want to warn the neighbours.
`27 lakh; beoworld.org

116 — DECEMBER 2017


MANSKILLS
SWEET NOTHINGS
Whatever happened to the romantic gesture?
I
n The Notebook, Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams have
a fight, and he writes her a letter every day for a year.
This summer, a guy I was dating showed up at a bar with
another woman, and all I got was a text message the next
morning. It seemed sincere, with proper punctuation and
everything, but the offending dude didn’t know who he was
dealing with. I was raised in the school of grand romantic
gestures. I saw Say Anything and The Graduate at a very
formative age. I love grand gestures so much that I actually get
a little giddy when I’ve been slighted, anticipating the flowers
that will follow.
But the flowers never come. Not even carnations.
It’s easier than ever to be aloof about dating: The volumes
of beautiful people on dating apps have made everyone seem
expendable, ghostable. That makes grand gestures, geysers
of sincerity that they are, even more refreshing to women.
They take planning and earnestness and, often, money – all the
things that impress us. All the things that impress anyone.
I do understand the paralysis around romantic displays.
When the classic grand gestures of the past are weighed
118 — DECEMBER 2017
against today’s code of conduct, they don’t hold up. (Say
Anything’s Lloyd, blasting Peter Gabriel outside Diane’s
house after she dumps him, verges on stalkery.) In this
woker era, we’ve learned not to attempt a grand gesture
when someone has expressed disinterest in you. Even when
you’re sure the feelings are mutual, you still have to consider
the line between romantic and creepy. On top of that there’s
the other line, the one between romantic and cheesy. It’s
stressful, and you might embarrass yourself, but stress and
embarrassment are the pillars of rhhhhomance.
If you think marriage proposals are the only occasions
for big flourishes, you’re probably single. The best time
for a grand gesture is actually a month or two into dating
someone. When a relationship is in beta, bae and her
friends are poring over your behaviour for clues that
you’re a psychopath. Your tiny fuck-ups are blown out of
proportion – but so are your good deeds. The points you’ll
earn with a well-timed grand gesture will carry you through
years of blunders down the line. If you’re not sure how to
proceed grandly, consider these guidelines.
• IT’S HER BIRTHDAY
DO: Make a reservation at a nice restaurant and call ahead
to tell the host it’s a birthday. Ask them to bring out a
piece of cake with a candle.
DON’T: Commandeer the day by sending her on an epic
scavenger hunt leading to the place where you had your
first date.
• SHE’S SICK
DO: Use iTunes to gift Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. All you need
is her e-mail.
DON’T: Show up at her house with a Tupperware of
chicken-noodle soup, even though she’s never told you
where she lives.
• YOU HAVEN’T TEXTED HER BACK FOR TWO WEEKS
DO: Send the same excuse you were going to text her
(“I’ve just been so busy at work!”) on a card attached to
some flowers.
DON’T: Panic-propose.
• YOU RAN INTO HER AT A BAR WHILE YOU WERE ON A
DATE WITH ANOTHER WOMAN
DO: Discreetly pick up the tab for her and her friends.
DON’T: Attempt to pass off your date as a “business meeting”
(it’s midnight on a Friday). Leave the bar with said date. Then
wait a day to send a lengthy, self-pitying apology text. Idiot.
I see the double standard in all of this. As a lady, I just
get to sit in my ivory one-bedroom being aloof and waiting
for men to bring me presents. But it’s not just laziness on
my part. Women are actively discouraged from making
WORDS: LAUREN LARSON. IMAGE: REX FEATURES
grand gestures (exception: blow jobs). A bold show of
interest from a woman is read as “too thirsty” or “too Fatal
Attraction”. That’s a shame, because women are experts at
this stuff. We’ve been studying them, via rom-coms, since
childhood. We’re the Van Goghs of grand gestures. (Van
Gogh, incidentally, is the Van Gogh of bad grand gestures:
Never give your severed ear to a woman.) For you, it’s
only an opportunity. So hoist your tiny boom box, shout
“ELAAAAAAAINE!” or just do whatever Ryan Gosling
would do in your situation.
ONE FOOT IN
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A vibrAnt
display
there’s a virtual world out there
– full of modern technology and
advanced designs. but thanks to
OnePlus 5t – it’s gotten better. And
it’s waiting for you to experience it
“We love nothing
more than offering our
community the latest
and greatest
technology and a user
experience to beat
expectations. Once
again, we’ve worked
hard to refine every
last detail.”
—pete lau, Oneplus
Founder and CEO

the word tech makes you tick. it

empowers you with its efficiency
and engages you with its features.
it gives you the ability to immerse
yourself in a parallel world, thrilling
you with an electrifying experience
every time you enter it. One look
at the OnePlus 5t and you’ll agree.
the brilliance of the six-inch Full
Optic AMOLED Display captures your
mind and opens up an awe-inspiring
world – one that is refined, clear and
majestic. it allows you to seep into the
movie you’re watching, or the book
that you’re reading. it’s unreal how
every photograph looks so real on
this screen. the superior secondary
lens in the dual camera comes with a
large f/1.7 aperture that allows you to
reduce noise and increase clarity even
in low-light environments. With upto
8Gb of rAM and the energy efficient
Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 835, this
phone ensures that you never have to
think twice about lag time.

All in all, the OnePlus

5t doesn’t just let you
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the window into the
past, the door to the
future and a mirror to
this age of technology:
altogether in one screen.

Available on Amazon.in
and Oneplusstore.in
SHOOT
TECH

#vid
iPhone X

AT SIGHT
There’s always one
compelling reason
to buy an iPhone:
its slick camera.
Never mind the
MP count on the
Here are GQ’s favourite camera systems RN – iPhone X (12 and
and some of them are so much more than that dual lens, if you
must know), the
image quality just
#pro
keeps getting
Nikon D850 better. Plus, now
Full-frame DSLR with a
there’s the Portrait
45.7MP image sensor, a
Lighting suite on
tilting LCD touchscreen
the front camera
display at the back (a rarity
(7MP), and even
on DSLRs), 4K video and
better Optical
focus stacking (sort of like
Image Stabilisation
HDR) ability, a 153-point
– ie, you probably
autofocus system and a
don’t need to be
silent shooting mode – an
Michel Gondry to
absolute beast for the
#CinémaVérité off a
heavy lifters. `2,99,950
smartphone.
From `89,999
#enthusiast
Fuji X-E3
The mirrorless
camera, they say,
is the future of
the full-frame
sensor camera.
And Fujifilm’s
early adoption of
the compact SLR
space has meant
that the Fuji
X-E3, sporting a
24.3MP X-Trans
III sensor,
touchscreen,
Bluetooth LE and
4K video, all in
an ever smaller,
lighter body, is
at the pinnacle
of the industry’s
admittedly
meagre offerings.
`70,999 (body only)
#instafame
Google Pixel 2 XL
DxOMark, the French company that’s considered the
final word in camera ratings, has been thoroughly
impressed with the Pixel’s camera since the
WORDS: NIDHI GUPTA

beginning; but with the Pixel 2, it announced new

records set, particularly floored by its autofocus
PHOTOGRAPHED BY capabilities. Ergo, this is the point-and-shoot you need
JIGNESH JHAVERI to faithfully document your honeymoon. From `73,000

122 — DECEMBER 2017

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 “#165: Solidarity” – a webcomic
from Royal Existentials

THEN AS FARCE
HUMOUR Hindutva. According to the meme,
Gosling was born in the heart of north
India. The doctor who delivered him
“shot himself in the head because he
didn’t want to deliver inferior babies
after me”, and even though his UP-
The world’s going crazy and there’s not much you can do about it – except laugh in bred father thought that “La La Land
commiseration with a growing tribe of satirists storming the internet with thinly veiled is fucking overrated made for white
barbs at The Powers That Be. The question is: Are you in on the joke?
WORDS: NIDHI GUPTA. IMAGE: ROYAL EXISTENTIALS

people to remove the black roots of

I 
n May, a picture of Ryan Gosling
– not a particularly flattering one
– went viral on Facebook for no
apparent reason. That notorious
moment at the Oscars was long over,
Bladerunner 2049 was still months
away, and it wasn’t even his birthday.
It came with a peculiar caption: “My
parents,” it went, “were short, dark-
skinned, and had a low IQ and a poor
educational background (sic). Which
is why everyone was surprised when
I turned out the way I have.”
It was, of course, a meme being
frantically reshared from a still-growing
Facebook page called Humans Of
jazz”, it was okay because, thanks to
eugenics, he ruled Hollywood.
News of a far-right political party’s
customised babies “project” (ie,
made-to-order progeny that would
grow into fair, tall humans with
high IQs) had just popped up on
screens everywhere – and you could
almost hear the internet slurp. The
skewers were out, the barbecue had

124 — DECEMBER 2017


“THAT’S THE THING
ABOUT SATIRE. THERE’S
NO LAUGHTER TRACK, NO
CUE. YOU EITHER GET IT
OR YOU DON’T”
!X$&*
commenced; and Ryan Gosling was an
unwitting participant.
HoH, an all-too-obvious imitation
of the all-too-sweet Humans Of New
York, built to parody the Indian right-
wing, found 10,000 followers in the
day after that post. Six months on, the
Gosling meme has been shared almost
3,000 times. “It really cracked me up
when somebody wrote in a comment,
‘Don’t lie. Ryan Gosling didn’t grow up
in Meerut’,” the admin, resolute about
staying anonymous despite having
over a lakh followers, tells me over
Messenger. “That’s the thing about
satire. There’s no laughter track, like in
Friends. You either get it or you don’t.”
Satire isn’t a new phenomenon, of
course. We’ve had MAD magazine and
The Onion, Stephen Colbert and John
Stewart and Saturday Night Live, RK
Laxman cartoons and rage comics all
fuming on our behalf for decades. Sure,
it’s at its most astute in a well-done
novel, like Shovon Chowdhury’s The
Competent Authority, about life in a near-
future India with an Orwellian tyrant
at its helm. But satire’s also somehow
more democratic. “The internet’s made
comedians out of all of us,” as HoH’s
admin puts it. On social media, the
offensive stretches over memes and GIFs
from accounts like @RealHistoryPic on
Twitter; bullshit reportage on websites
126 — DECEMBER 2017
Sanjay Rajoura, Rahul Ram and
Varun Grover as Aisi Taisi Democracy
Rajkummar
Rao in Newton
like Faking News (spot the irony there?);
Piyush Trivedi’s uber-popular “Adarsh
Balak” posters (that now appear on
music album covers); and webcomics
like Royal Existentials and Inedible India
that use Mughal miniature and Amar
Chitra Katha art with speech bubble
chatter befitting this post-truth, self-
conscious world of ours.
“You don’t have to try very hard to
make a joke these days,” says Delhi-
based social satirist Sanjay Rajoura.
With writer/comedian Varun Grover and
Indian Ocean bassist/vocalist Rahul Ram,
Rajoura is part of the music-comedy
project Aisi Taisi Democracy, where the
jokes – simple observational humour
about, say, young Indian engineers off
to their first posting abroad, expecting
“goris” the moment they land – are
savage, delivered in colloquial Hindi,
with a smattering of appropriately
placed cusswords for effect. “We’re anti-
establishment,” Rajoura says, quickly
adding, “and that means we’re anti-
whoever is in power.” Sometimes their
punches land too close to the mark and
they get death threats. But Rajoura feels
compelled to keep ranting because, “the
personal is also political.”
The line brings to mind the idealistic
Nutan Kumar of Newton, Amit
Masurkar’s sharp-as-nails satire and
India’s entry to the 2018 Oscars. Early
on in the film, Newton’s mentor asks,
“Do you know what your problem is?”
“My honesty?” our idealistic officer
ventures. “No,” says his mentor, “the
arrogance of it.”
Newton, a story about how
democracy functions at the heart of our
country, also does that self-referential
thing by tearing into our own naiveté,
should we still harbour any. “Sincerity
has gone out of fashion,” says Mayank
Tewari, Newton’s screenplay and
dialogue writer. “If you can say what you
have to with a degree of lightness, you’ll
have more people paying attention.”
Tewari, a journalist by trade, now
spends his days reading philosophical
treatises by Foucault and Heidegger,
and weighing his options in Bollywood.
I ask him about the general response
to Newton, and he tells me to look up a
speech by the great American novelist
David Foster Wallace on why Franz
Kafka’s books don’t seem funny to
college kids. With signature candour,
Wallace spoke at the PEN American
Center in 1998 about a culture that has
trained us “to see jokes as entertainment
and entertainment as reassurance”. In
Kafka novels, “comedy is also always
tragedy, and this tragedy always also an
immense and reverent joy.”
Tewari, all for irreverence and finding
humour in dark places, says, “If you’ve
made something everybody likes,
you’ve made a fascist product.” Which
is to say: You may not be able to see or
breathe in the capital at the moment,
but you can smirk at a cartoon about it.
And when reality turns more dubious
WORDS: NIDHI GUPTA
than fiction, a second HoH meme about
Bob Dylan as a designer baby from
Haryana sounds about right – Poe’s Law
be damned.
Watch the film at
pepejeans.com
 A timeless classic,
renowned for style,
substance and exclusivity,
Chivas Regal is the
world’s first luxury blend
from Scotland. And
through the story of how
it came into being, we
unravel the nuances of its
different expressions
F
rom humble beginnings in North-
East Scotland to global fame,
the story of Chivas Regal is an
inspiring one. It began when brothers
James and John Chivas decided to
give up their farm life and move to
Aberdeen. Finding themselves in the
thick of the Industrial Revolution, John
joined a wholesale firm, while James
began working in a grocery store
owned by Charles Stewart, who James
soon came to partner.
During his early years at the store,
James mastered the craft of tea
blending. He didn’t know then as to
how far this skill would take him. The
store soon gained the reputation of a
one-stop-shop for gourmet provisions,
Chivas Brothers Emporium, Aberdeen
A BOUQUET
OF BLENDS
quality wines, exotic teas and
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extended from Scotland to Queen
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Charles the first of many royal
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John joined his brother at the
shop, and together they renamed
it “Chivas Brothers Emporium.”
With time the brothers identified
a growing desire among their
customers for a smoother dram.
So, armed with his tea-mixing
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Portrait of John
handpicked the ageing casks andJames Chivas
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Max Warner, Chivas Regal
Global Brand Ambassador
blending matured spirits with grains
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Chivas Regal. This legacy was passed
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CHIVAS 12
As the names of James and John
Chivas find pride of place on the bottle,
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Matured for 12 years, it is an aromatic
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CHIVAS REGAL 18 YEAR OLD CHIVAS REGAL 25
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of sweet, mellow smokiness and
warmth that stays with you. For more information, visit chivas.com
PHOTOGRAPHY

THE HILLS
ARE ALIVE
Bharat Sikka’s Where The Flowers Still Grow sees Kashmir
between the lines

B
harat Sikka’s association
with Kashmir began in
2013, on a holiday with his
family. When the fashion
photographer encountered Mirza
Waheed’s smashing debut of a novel
The Collaborator, he decided to return,
multiple times, to document that one
thing most often overlooked when
people talk about Kashmir: its people.
At the core of Where The Flowers Still
Grow (which started as a travelling
exhibit from Nature Morte, Delhi and
is now a photobook) is a collection of
austere solo portraits of pheran-clad
Kashmiri men. A young man holding
freshly chopped wood; another on
horseback; an old man in the middle
of a field of poplar trees – all poise and
quietude, the “mute witnesses to the
convulsions of history”. And there’s
all the ordinary stuff that accumulates
with time – Urdu newspapers, a toy
shikara, a stack of music cassettes,
axes, carved wood – and acquires a
shade of sentimentalism set against
the wilderness of the region’s
“unspoiled” naturescapes. Sikka stays
away from the hyperbole that follows
any conversation around Kashmir.
And there are no clichés in sight.
Where The Flowers Still Grow is available at
loosejoints.biz for approx `2,600
WORDS: NIDHI GUPTA. IMAGE: BHARAT SIKKA

AT THE CORE OF THIS COLLECTION

ARE AUSTERE, SOLO PORTRAITS OF
PHERAN-CLAD KASHMIRI MEN
130 — DECEMBER 2017
 EDITED BY VIJENDRA BHARDWAJ
& SHIVANGI LOLAYEKAR

PARTY
THE GUIDE

READY
The fashion heavyweights to pull out
when your social calendar’s buzzing

P H O T O G R A P H E D B Y P R A B H AT S H E T T Y
STYLED BY DESIRÉE FERNANDES
FASHION ASSISTANT: SHAEROY CHINOY. HAIR & MAKE-UP: MONA ANAND/BBLUNT. MODEL: SAMI TAHA/TFM INDIA

CHECK
MATE
You should’ve already
experimented with
basic suits and become
comfortable with
printed ones. Now turn
it up with a checked DB.

SUIT BY GIORGIO ARMANI,

PRICE ON REQUEST. SHIRT
BY HUGO BOSS, `16,000.
POCKET SQUARE BY VAN
HEUSEN, `700. CUFFLINKS
BY THE BRO CODE, `1,000

DECEMBER 2017 — 135

 DROP

FASHION ASSISTANT: SHAEROY CHINOY. HAIR & MAKE-UP: MONA ANAND/BBLUNT. MODEL: SAMI TAHA/TFM INDIA
THE
BOMB
If there’s one
piece to flaunt this
season, it’s a sexy
PRESS PRINT
There’s a fine line between cool T-shirts and tacky
bomber. One that printed ones. Rock band AC/DC is cool. Jon Bon
goes with every Jovi, not so much. If you’re not confident about
tee you own and what’s culturally sound, stick to a basic black, navy
keeps you warm or white tee.
while you’re at it.
BOMBER JACKET BY EMPORIO ARMANI, `55,000. T-SHIRT BY GUCCI,
BOMBER JACKET BY `46,700. JEANS BY ARMANI JEANS, `16,000. SHOES BY JIMMY CHOO,
BURBERRY, `80,000. `40,000. WATCH BY MICHAEL KORS, `20,000
T-SHIRT BY VATALY,
`700. TROUSERS
BY DIESEL, `27,000.
SHOES BY CHRISTIAN
LOUBOUTIN, `96,000.
WATCH BY MICHAEL
KORS, `20,000.
NECKLACE BY
BEBAJRANG, `4,000

136 — DECEMBER 2017

 LET IT
SHINE
You have a party to
attend, where everyone
and their Facebook
friend’s present. What
do you wear? Pull out
the big guns in the form
of a swagger-inducing
printed suit.

SUIT BY VIKRAM BAJAJ,

`36,000. SHIRT BY HUGO BOSS,
`16,000. CUFFLINKS BY THE
BRO CODE, `1,000

FASHION ASSISTANT: SHAEROY CHINOY. HAIR & MAKE-UP: MONA ANAND/BBLUNT. MODEL: SAMI TAHA/TFM INDIA

138 — DECEMBER 2017

 DANCE OFF
Don’t think you can pull off
fancy designer slippers? Sure
you can. Try them with a pair
of basic black jeans and then
2 – once you realise that they’re
the life of the party – work your
way up to a tuxedo.

3 PHOTOGRAPHED BY LEVI BROWN

1

PROP STYLIST: JOHN OLSON FOR HALLEY RESOURCES

1. TOMAS MAIER, `32,000 8

2. JIMMY CHOO, `97,400
3. GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI,
`93,000
4. CHRISTIAN STYLE TIP
LOUBOUTIN, `90,220 You’re doing it
5. TALLIA ORANGE, `9,780 right when your
6. DEL TORO, `22,800 pattern looks like
7. GUCCI, `42,340 a wallpaper print
8. STEVE MADDEN, `9,120

140 — DECEMBER 2017

 MAXIMUM CITY, MAX STYLE
Style is not only reserved for the catwalks, people. It pulls some serious weight
on the streets too. Max Fashion is back with an arsenal of smart-as-hell
styles to shake up the sartorial state of things on your city streets. Men, it’s time
to #Maxyourlook and take to the streets in style

GET YOUR LONG ON

Heading out for an artsy
event? Women love men
who appreciate art. Max
Fashion has got the look
for you, to walk around
BIKER STRIKER
town, gallery to gallery,
The biker jacket is
high octane event to the
something that will
next. It may seem long,
never go out of fashion.
but long is the new cool.
And Max Fashion’s black
We suggest the brand’s
number is seriously
long cameo cape over a
cool. It’ll give you the
long white tee and some
license to ride the streets
splatter jeans cuffed at
in effortless style. The
the bottom, paired with
brand goes the extra
keds. Throw in a pair of
mile and adds some
retro sunnies and boom,
edge to the look with its
you’re golden.
skinny leg patch denim.
The onlookers will look.
Take it as a compliment.

SKATER BOY
STYLE
Boys love to have
fun, especially
when there are no
strings attached. By
that we mean, skate
GANGSTA ON THE GO
boarding around
For the guy on the go, it’s
town, just for the
always a good idea to be
heck of it. You get
prepared for anything. That
a good workout, and
means to look good at all
get to show off your
times. You may start off at
skills (the women
the park walking your dog
are always watching).
when you bump into your
We suggest make an
buddies and they take you
impression without
for a drink. Max Fashion
trying too hard in a pair
has your back. Wear its
of ripped denims teamed
super cool slogan sweat tee
with a graphic, laid-back
and pair it with an equally
hoodie and white keds.
cool distressed denim. And
Ride it.
just in case the temperature
goes down, wear a trendy
shirt underneath to ball it.

Shop online at
 TOP SHOT
At this point, you’ve exhausted all your tees
and fancy suits; switch it up with a dress shirt
with jeans or trousers. It’ll show off your
versatility, and that vast wardrobe.

SHIRT BY PAUL SMITH, `20,000. TROUSERS BY HUGO BOSS, `20,000

FASHION ASSISTANT: SHAEROY CHINOY. HAIR & MAKE-UP: MONA ANAND/BBLUNT. MODEL: SAMI TAHA/TFM INDIA

NECK TO NECK
Turtlenecks may not always be the easiest to
pull off, especially if you’re not used to wearing
anything around your neck. So, first, check the
weather outside. If it’s nippy enough, throw on
a turtleneck that fits snugly under your suit.
Then, forget you’re wearing it.

BLAZER BY THE MAROON SUIT, `40,000. TURTLENECK

BY PAUL SMITH, `18,500. T-SHIRT BY TED BAKER AT THE
COLLECTIVE, `8,500. TROUSERS BY BALMAIN, PRICE ON
REQUEST. SHOES BY JIMMY CHOO, `60,000

142 — DECEMBER 2017

 EYE SPY
Eyewear is a great way to
accessorise your look – even if
1
you don’t have a prescription. Just
make sure you’re wearing cool
frames and not something you
picked up on Colaba Causeway.
2

PHOTOGRAPHED BY
JIGNESH JHAVERI

1. RAY-BAN, `7,000
2. BURBERRY, `16,000
10
3. DOLCE & GABBANA, `24,000
4. TOMMY HILFIGER, `8,000
5. PRADA, `20,500
6. OAKLEY, `5,300
STYLE TIP
7. SALVATORE FERRAGAMO,
Clear acetate `16,000
frames are easier
8. DIOR, `9,120
to wear than
tortoiseshell ones 9. GIVENCHY, `19,500
10. HUGO BOSS, `12,000

144 — DECEMBER 2017

RED HOT
THE COLLAB

Christian Louboutin hates being social, but he’ll never pass up the chance to attend an Indian wedding

S
 
hoe maestro Christian
Louboutin’s been busy.
The third edition of
his collaboration with
Sabyasachi is out and his
Wedding Suite, which
sits in the Mumbai flagship, has been
buzzing. Who wouldn’t want floral
embroidered slippers to wear with
their sherwani? We catch up with the
designer on the right shoes to wear for
a wedding, and whether there’s such a
thing as going OTT.

Men’s shoes are really having

a moment.
If you look at red carpet, black tie
events, men are really expressing
themselves. It’s a sign of them having
their own identity, letting their
madness and desires show. It’s an
exciting phenomenon.
longevity, but I don’t have this mentality LOUBOUTIN REVISITED
– thinking that my shoes have to go to ICONIC STYLES: THE
my son in 45 years. I was probably born DANDELION LOAFER AND
to be barefoot because I can’t stand to
LOUIS JUNIOR RECEIVED
INTERVIEW: SHIVANGI LOLAYEKAR

have shoes on for too long. I separate

What are your shoe-purchasing
habits like?
Being French, initially I had this idea
of men wearing very traditional shoes.
Ones you are proud to own and keep
for 20 years. Men get so obsessed about
them into categories, new and old. I’m THE SABYASACHI
fascinated with new shoes. After the MAGIC TOUCH WITH
first scratch, my obsession stops.
EMBROIDERY, MOTIFS
What are your other obsessions? AND BRIGHT COLOURS
I am very detail-oriented, but I’m

148 — DECEMBER 2017

Eternity Lifestyles Pvt. Ltd.
info@eternitylifestyles.com
not looking for perfection. I don’t
understand why everything has to be
perfect and it’s a crazy idea because
nothing is really perfect. I love objects
and I love sculptures, more than
paintings and photography.
What prompted you to start the
Wedding Suite here?
Every time I’m launching a store,
I want it to have a story linked to
the place, to the city. India has a big
relationship with weddings, so it
made sense to do it. Plus, I’ve been to
a lot of Indian weddings and really
enjoy the spirit.
Are you social?
You know, I am not such a social
person. I’ll spend time with very close
friends but I have a phobia of doing a
long weekend with too many people.
What do you like most about
Indian weddings?
First, the visuals, of course. And all
the traditions and adrenaline. Then
there’s the music and the fact that all
you people are drinking.
What kind of pair would you recommend
to a guy for his wedding day?
Some people express themselves
150 — DECEMBER 2017
SABYASACHI X subtly. Some are more outrageous.
I’d recommend two possibilities.
CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN One, which is an embroidered
3 pairs to consider for your big day roller boat shoe, because you can
match the colours and weaves to
your outfit. I’d also recommend
open sandals.
Sex appeal and glamour are codes
people are familiar with when
it comes to Christian Louboutin.
What are some of the lesser-known
aspects?
I would say freedom. I remember
this song called “Louboutin” that
Jennifer Lopez did, which never
ended up coming out, but it speaks
of a girl who leaves her boyfriend
and she is going on her Louboutins.
Even when dumping your
boyfriend, you keep your shoes.
Do you believe the bolder, the better?
I wouldn’t say anything is
outrageous, because I think
outrageous is good. Not everyone
wants to be the centre of attention
all the time. I love the idea that on
a day as important as a wedding,
men here are able to express
themselves in the wildest
way, and they’re not thinking of
little limitations.
The Wedding Suite at the Mumbai flagship
INTERVIEW: SHIVANGI LOLAYEKAR
 SCENT OF
SEDUCTION
Unleash the untamed appeal of raw
masculinity and individuality as leading
perfume brand Paco Rabanne introduces
Pure XS – a fresh and fiery fragrance that’s
all about excess in its purest form

There is something extremely alluring about a man who

understands the nuances of luxury and incorporates it into his
every expression. And this includes the fragrance he chooses.
Paco Rabanne is a name that conjures up luxury and lure.
With a penchant for provocation, the brand has a reputation
of being iconoclastic, irreverent and unexpected. It embodies
the strong credo: “Why conform when you can stand out?”
This was encapsulated in the 1993 launch of XS, which thanks
to its revolutionary philosophy, was extremely successful.
In a later edition, Paco Rabbane pushed the limits of
convention with a rock-star fantasy fragrance called Black
XS. And now, in 2017 its bringing sexy back with an all-new
edition – Pure XS. It’s a heady mix of real and risqué.
 MEET THE PURE XS MAN SULTRY NOTES
A chiselled body, raw physicality, a razor- FOR ALL
sharp mind, irresistible wit and a lifestyle YOUR SENSES
that most people only dream of, this new- Decadent by name,
age Adonis has it all—and has it in excess. the fragrance aims to
A man of vice, virtue and dreamy capture a ‘smouldering
romanticism, he is portrayed brilliantly in shiver’. Perfumers
print and on film by the steamy, 21-year- Anne Flipo and
old Francisco Henriques. He wears his Caroline Dumur at IFF
youthful, noble looks lightly over a darker, collaborated to create
broodier sensuality, which is rounded off an explosive olfactory
with a je ne sais quoi attitude that makes experience that engages
women weak at the knees. all the senses. Pure
XS offers a magnetic
and fresh oriental
sensation. Freshness is
its foreplay and with
an almost icy ginger
hit, it draws you in. The
second, spicier tone
comes from a delicious
blend of cinnamon
and ultra-masculine
thyme. These conflicting
yet complementary
bouquets brush against
each other in the lightest,
most magnetic way. And
finally, you are left with
a surge of deep, vanilla-
infused musk that
climaxes into a sigh of
myrrh-dusted sweetness.
So, indulge with caution.

BOTTLED DESIRE
The perfume’s animal
sensuality is reflected and
expressed with a strong
and solid bottle. From
deep ebony and midnight
blue to an icy aqua,
the bottle's masculine
gradient reflects the
scent and its wearer. The
gilded name stands boldly
against the exquisite
glass. A smooth, black
lacquered cap gives with
a sharp, snap to release
the fiery scent. It is a
true blue-blooded flacon.
Extreme. Erotic. Exalted.
And XS.
 GROOVY
1
GROOMING

2
NOTES For that boozy Christmas
brunch or that wild NYE
rager – these are the best
mood-setting fragrances
to splurge on right now
3

PHOTOGRAPHED BY
JIGNESH JHAVERI

1. ROBERTO CAVALLI
UOMO SILVER ESSENCE
For a hint of rock ’n’ roll, this spicy
number will complement your
leather jacket perfectly.
`6,950 for 100ml

4
2. PACO RABANNE PURE XS
For a man of excesses, this
5 Oriental mix brings back every
hedonistic memory: It’s Gatsby
captured in a glass vial.
`5,600 for 100ml

3. DUNHILL DESIRE EXTREME

With leather and citrus, it’s just the
mild evening scent you want that
doesn’t crank it up to 10.
`5,990 for 100ml

4. GENTLEMAN GIVENCHY
Custom-made for modern dandies,
this one’s restrained (black vanilla)
yet expressive (floral).
`7,150 for 100ml
WORDS: ARSHIE CHEVALWALA

5. AZZARO WANTED
A sweet escape. This woody spice
will see you through the night on
the dance floor.
`6,300 for 100ml

154 — DECEMBER 2017

6. SALVATORE
FERRAGAMO UOMO
Saccharine tiramisu with a
smooth bergamot that cuts
through. To reach for on
nights when you could use a
little extra help. 6
7
`5,900 for 100ml

7. LANVIN
ECLAT D’ARPÈGE
A layered fusion of two
all-time favourites – citrus
and musk – this one’s for
the gentlemen who show
up at the club looking and
smelling #fresh.
`4,800 for 100ml

8. DAVIDOFF
AMBER BLEND
Backroom brawlers can start
their night already smelling
like rum and spice; this one’s
an all-grown-up cider.
`7,550 for 100ml 8

9. AJMAL AMBER WOOD

Perfect for royalty – this
Oriental scent is sweet and
spice, and all things nice.
`16,500 for 100ml

10. JIMMY CHOO

MAN INTENSE
Serial bar hoppers, here’s
your pick: an uplifting citrus
9 10
that evolves into a deep musk
– so every entry you make,
all in the same night, is still a
memorable one.
`6,000 for 100ml

WORDS: ARSHIE CHEVALWALA

156 — DECEMBER 2017

 THE SARTORIAL SWITCH
The cult following of Tailorman – a leading Bengaluru-based, made-
to-measure label – reveals that Indian men are leaning more towards
well-tailored, sleek clothing, crafted to meet their personal style

Perched right at the top of the made-to-measure club and understanding how a suit should actually fit is vital to the DNA of
Tailorman. That’s why this Bengaluru-based company has been credited with reinventing the wardrobe of men everywhere.
High quality fabric, clean soft construction for comfort, and lots of attention to detail — customers can select from a range
of fabrics by Zegna, Loro Piana, Vitale Barberis Canonico, all woven in Italy. The range includes Mohair, 16.5 Micron, Alpaca,
cashmere, wool/silk and super 150s wool and all garments are crafted in state-of-the-art production lines.
Besides their nine stores, clients can also be measured in their homes or at their offices by one of the in-house made-to-
measure specialists or re-order by going online. This seamless shopping experience is revolutionary.
Tailorman has quietly made a name for itself as a place where convenience, quality, and price come together. It is where
one can reliably get a great suit in a trendy cut. The cult following of Tailorman indicates that Indian men were waiting for
quality products that are fun and unorthodox.

“Tailorman’s made-to-measure
suits are a luxury, for a party or
for a wedding, but I wear them
every day”
– Mr Srinivas Bommidala,
Chairman of Airports Business,
GMR Airports
“As the CEO of a growing
fintech company, I’m on the
road non-stop - selling to
execs, recruiting top talent
and fundraising. No matter
how much us techies want
to show up in jeans and a
t-shirt, business in Asia and
in financial services happens
in professional attire. For me,
Tailorman’s customized clothes
fit my personality, are stylish,
and help me win business!”
– Abhijit Bose, Co-founder &
CEO, Ezetap, CNBC Disruptor
2016, 2017
“Creative world is coming
together everywhere. Process
of designing clothes is similar
to the way chefs work. It’s so
important to start with great
raw materials and fabrics and
great ingredients. You want to
highlight those materials, not
mask them.”
– Manu Chandra, Chef
and Restaurateur
“As a professional tennis
player, I believe there are
no shortcuts to achieve your
goals, Tailorman leaves no
stone unturned to get the
perfect fit and style!”
– Rohan Bopanna, Grand
Slam Tennis Champion

BANGALORE I CHENNAI I HYDERABAD I KOLKATA I

www.tailorman.com

THE DUKE OF DANDY
NEWS
British designer Simon Carter
comes to India with the promise
to kill conservative menswear
How did you start your label in 1985?
I was studying immunology in
London, which I didn’t enjoy very
much. It was also at a time, the
Eighties, when fashion was really
exciting and the New Romantics
were trending. I worked part time at
a vintage clothing store and people
would bring things in to sell. I picked
up a brooch from the Thirties and
wore it everywhere. I had a hundred of
them made in a little factory, knocked
on every door and tried to sell them.
Today you design every category
of menswear.
I quit my day job and started taking
fashion more seriously. I moved into
designing accessories. I started with
cufflinks – it was a niche back then
– and I really blew it up. The move
into apparel came in the Nineties,
when I began doing ties, shirts and,
eventually, suits.
158 — DECEMBER 2017
What inspires you?
A question I get asked a lot is:
“How much does vintage inspire
you?” The truth is that it’s closely
woven into my DNA. But when it
comes to shirts, those are a very
visible part of my label, it’s about
designing things that I like. It could
be something as simple as hot air
balloons. Or it might be mythical,
like crazy butterflies and beasts
from a Victorian explorer’s diary
I’d found. You’d think I’m smoking
opium, but the colours were
beautiful and lent themselves to a
really strong shirt design. In India,
the bestselling shirt has been one
with mushrooms printed on it.
How would you like to see people
reacting to your clothes?
People smile when they see them,
they smile when they put them on
and then their friends smile when
they see them. To me, that’s way
more important than how I got my
jacket length exactly the same as
a brand on a runway show. Is it in
fashion? You’re definitely going to
look good wearing it now but I still
want you to wear it in five or 10
years’ time.
What does luxury mean in the context
of menswear today?
Luxury could mean working with
a beautiful Italian mill to come up
with a gorgeous fabric that has
breathable jacquard weaves in it.
My clothes may be affordable but
there’s a degree of aspiration to
them. Luxury should be something
that lasts, gives you great pleasure
and makes you feel special. Today
it’s overused. I’m not convinced,
when other products label
themselves as luxury, that they
really embody all of it.
“I’M NOT CONVINCED,
WHEN OTHER How do you think Indian men will take
to your label?
PRODUCTS LABEL I have always passionately believed
THEMSELVES AS LUXURY, in India because my brand is
all about vibrancy and colour.
THAT THEY REALLY
INTERVIEW: SHIVANGI LOLAYEKAR
It’s dynamic, bold and full of
EMBODY ALL OF IT” personality. However, there is a
paradox: Indian men dress very
conservatively. But I’ve always felt
that there is this dandy, in each
of them, waiting to come out, and
I want to aid that process.

I
f you’re on a quest for the perfect
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Ardmore Legacy is drawn from a natural
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Knochandy Hill. Its environment is its
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The light golden-hued liquid has a
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Known as the ‘rising star in the
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is truly memorable.

POWER
T H E TA S T E M A K E R
PLAYER
N
Meet the man responsible for designing
adidas’ Yeezy Boosts. And it’s not Kanye
ic Galway may not be the fi rst
to come to mind when you
think of cult designers riding
the wave of mainstream
fashion right now. But the VP
of global design for adidas has
taken his creative vision into every discernible
celebrity, sneakerhead and athleisure-
loving millennial’s wardrobe. Galway is the
162 — DECEMBER 2017
Ranveer Singh and Nic Galway at the adidas HQ in Herzogenaurach, Germany
“NMD is designed for
those who are driven by
experiences, and are
constantly on the move.
The NMD’s midsole is
constructed with adidas
BOOST technology,
creating a durable and
responsive sole.”
mastermind behind adidas’ biggest sneakers.
The NMDs. The Tubulars. The reissue of
iconic models like the Superstars and Gazelle.
And let’s not forget Kanye West’s wildly
popular Yeezy Boost 350 and 750. During
his 18-year tenure, Galway has turned the
athletic juggernaut into the “it” sneaker label,
with a clever strategy: to keep challenging
the status quo.
Describe your role at adidas.
I oversee all creative aspects for adidas
Originals and Style. In essence, my role is to
connect the brand with the next generation
through creativity, always challenging the
status quo and using the resources we have
to make a difference.
Which generation or period in time inspires you
the most?
WORDS: SHIVANGI LOLAYEKAR
There’s no one particular period. I’m always
interested in creativity, design that becomes
timeless. Often, designers who have the
courage to challenge the establishment
create objects that go on to defi ne an era.
I’m also really interested in how each new
generation references past cultures and makes
it their own.
What’s your design background?
I studied to be an automotive designer. At the
same time, I was very interested in climbing,
and started making technical equipment
and backpacks in my free time. I worked
as a design consultant on a wide variety of
automotive and product design projects but I
always missed that hands-on approach, which
led me to seek out a role at adidas. Shortly after
that I was introduced to Yohji Yamamoto, to
design a collection for him, and that’s when
everything changed.
What’s the best collab you’ve worked on?
They’ve all been amazing experiences and I’m
very humbled to have worked with so many
great designers. If I have to pick one, then it’d
still be the one with Yohji – he saw something in
my work when I was a young designer, and gave
me the platform to change my path as a creative.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned?
That I don’t have all of the answers, and it’s
okay to make mistakes, especially when they
lead to creative dialogue. Working with our
“Tubulars were
inspired by a
series of design
prototypes from
the adidas running
archives. The idea
of the tyre-like
tube sole was a
compelling concept
and we continue
to modernise and
expand it today.”
164 — DECEMBER 2017
“I DON’T HAVE ALL OF THE
ANSWERS, AND IT’S OKAY
TO MAKE MISTAKES, ESPECIALLY
WHEN THEY LEAD TO
CREATIVE DIALOGUE”
collaborators has shown me that sometimes
things don’t turn out as expected, but it’s this
uncertainty that can lead to something even
better than what we expected.
adidas’ Human Race What drives your creative process?
New York Tennis I’m always looking at different products
sneakers in collab with
Pharrell Williams and industries and how they use materials
and textures. I like to make things. I’m
always looking to see how one product
was developed for one purpose, and then
thinking about how I can translate it into a
different situation. Sometimes when you take
something familiar into a new situation, that’s
where you can really surprise and challenge.
Which are some of your favourite launches from
the past five years?
The Stan Smith: It’s my all-time favourite
adidas shoe. The Y-3 Qasa: It was the first of
the new generation of sneakers that defined
our approach to design. The NMD: If the Qasa
defined our new look, the NMD established it
The OG
Stan Smiths
with a wider sneaker community and brought
innovation and technology together in a
new way. The Human Race: The Hu was a
great project and allowed us to look at adidas
Originals through Pharrell Williams’ vision.
The Yeezy Boost 350: Having the opportunity
to work with Kanye has been amazing, to
see how he works; his level of drive and
energy is incredible.
WORDS: SHIVANGI LOLAYEKAR
 There’s been a major shift in the fashion world. Street style is now at par with couture.
Rappers and sneakerheads aren’t just the inspiration, they’re the brain trust. And designers
are operating at unprecedented levels of energy and innovating with boldness.
These nine creative engines – from established icons to the next generation – lead the charge
at the third edition of the country’s premier menswear showcase
EDITED BY VIJENDRA BHARDWAJ & SHIVANGI LOLAYEKAR
IMAGE: SAGAR AHUJA
 RAJESH PRATAP SINGH’S TRIBESMEN

RAJESH
PRATAP SINGH
INDIGO
The early master of modern
tailoring is still one of the coolest,
most cutting-edge designers in the
country. Singh can take a concept
as pure as indigo, use indigenous
textiles and turn it into a high-
fashion collection that would be at
home anywhere in the world.

GQ

The details: a web of

indigo yarn all over
the face

168 — DECEMBER 2017

ARJUN SKULL & BONE
S BIKER BOYS
STUDS
L E AT H E R
KHANNA
MAN UP
Everything Khanna makes is on
steroids: on-point tailoring
loaded with skull and crossbones,
leather fringes and shiny lapels.
His suits are alpha and meant
for rock stars, showmen –
and you, if you can match the
testosterone they carry.

DECEMBER 2017 — 169

 The details:
Septum rings,
necklaces,
anklets

MILLENNIALS TRIBES ANDROGYNY

SHANTANU & NIKHIL

THAR: THE LAND OF
SHIFTING SAND DUNES
There are two kinds of designers:
One comforts and provides a sense
of familiarity. The other introduces
authenticity and freshness with each
collection. Shantanu & Nikhil have the rare
ability to do both. Inspired by the tribes of
Rajasthan and looking towards hyper-
connected millennials, the brothers played
up their distinctive silhouettes to the
current codes of alternative style.

172 — DECEMBER 2017

VAN HEUSEN
FESTIVE
From floral bandhgalas and razor-sharp
sherwanis to bold tuxedos, Van Heusen
presented a power-packed collection that
set the tone for festive dressing this season. SHARP FLORALS
M E TA L L I C EVENINGWEAR
GREEN
Nothing against the holy menswear trinity
of black, grey and navy, but green is every bit
as versatile and a whole lot more surprising.
So, the next time you find yourself reaching
for a black jacket, remember this moment.

GQ

Wear your suit

mismatched.
The Italians call it
sprezzatura
 DHRUV
KAPOOR
100% POWER PROTEIN
If you don’t know Dhruv Kapoor,
you’re missing out on a whole new THE MOOD
Inspire, delight,
definition of luxury streetwear –
provoke, engage,
one that includes glossy bombers, enrage – there’s no
floral overcoats and painstakingly stopping you
put-together layering to wear
from Milan to Mumbai.

A NEW ARMY OF DREAMERS IN FULL BLOOM

174 — DECEMBER 2017

ANTAR-AGNI
MEN OF METAL
You can go the flamboyant route,
make Instagram friends and
attend every fashion party. Or you
can do what Ujjawal Dubey does,
and astutely climb the ladder of
Indian menswear with a strong
point of view: niftily cut kurtas, NOMADS
slim trousers and drapes for days. INDIE
ECLECTI
C FLUID

DECEMBER 2017 — 175

 PURPLE PANTS AND BEADED COATS

RAGHAVENDRA
RATHORE
MODERN HERITAGE
His arrival into fashion over 20
years ago made three wedding
staples – the bandhgala, sherwani
and jodhpurs – cool for everything
outside the wedding. Now,
Rathore’s having a good time
fusing his beloved silhouettes with
LSD-happy colours.

Real men
wear pink!
SAHIL ANEJA
HIBEARNATION
We’ve entered a maximal moment in
menswear where rules are meant to be
broken and fashion’s a canvas to play up
your kinks. In Aneja’s case, this means
polar bear motifs stamped on puffer
jackets and “HIBEARNATION” splashed BEARS HOODIES LAYERING T Y P O - B E LT S
everywhere. If you want to make a
powerful statement, this is how you do it.

DECEMBER 2017 — 177

 The sky
(and style)
have
no limit
GALACTIC LINES AND SHINY STARS

GAURAV GUPTA
DIAMOND DEMONS
Few designers bring the
kind of spectacle and
magic to the runway that
Gupta does. Which means,
for his debut menswear
line, progressive tuxedos
that were high on detail,
topped with capes and
served with finesse. Just
ask Shahid; he totally
owned it.

PHOTO: MANISH MANSINH,

CHETAN MORAJKAR,
CHOU CHIANG, SAGAR AHUJA,
KEDAR & TEAM
INDIA’S NEW
WHISKY BARS
There’s a new kind of whisky drinker, and he needs a new kind of
watering hole. Whether it’s for a post-work drink or weekend
debauchery, Aatish Nath tells you where to grab a dram – or a
cocktail – at some of the country’s newest and sexiest whisky meccas
L
eather chairs, wood-panelled rooms and a haze of smoke
used to be synonymous with drinking whisky. All that
has changed though, and today drinking a dram isn’t the
stuffy, old money, old man’s pursuit. Whisky has captured
the popular imagination, and is being shaken together
with house-made shrubs, co-opted by your girlfriend (and her best
friends) and served at restaurants that court a serious bar crowd.
186 — DECEMBER 2017
KODE
MUMBAI
It claims to have the biggest whisky
selection in the country, and the menu
that’s laid down in front of you is
testament, but that’s just one of many
reasons to visit Kode. The bartenders
behind the massive square bar turn out
three-course cocktails in an interior
designed by cult Japanese firm Super
Potato.
THE SPIRIT: The Islay single malt
Kilchoman Machir Bay is an excellent
introduction to a peaty dram with a
lingering finish.
PHOTO: JIGNESH JHAVERI
THE COCKTAIL: The Old Fashioned might
consist of just three ingredients, but as
with almost everything at this restaurant,
there’s more to it than meets the eye.
 JAZZ AND GRILLS
GOA
At the recently opened Le Méridien Goa is this rare gem. A far cry from
the Kings-on-the-beach vibe, Jazz and Grills includes a large selection of
whiskies and single malts, accompanied by live music and delicious grilled
seafood, meats and more. For an evening that combines a little bit of the jazz
age with Goa’s laid-back charm, there’s no better bar to keep coming back to.
THE SPIRIT: It seems only appropriate to try the Paul John Single Malt – it’s
distilled in Goa, and is making waves all over the world.
THE COCKTAIL: Order a John Collins, made with bourbon, fresh lemon,
sugar and topped with soda. It’s the perfect drink to order on a holiday,
when you intend to keep going all night.

WHISKY SAMBA
GURUGRAM
The bar looks more like a
library than anything else,
and at Whisky Samba that
translates to an array of options
for both the uninitiated and
the serious. The whisky trails
offer 30ml tasters of similarly
flavoured tipples for those
looking to train their palate.
To top it off, it’s one of the few
restaurants in the country that
will sell you an entire bottle of
booze. Which means the next
time you’re picking up the tab,
look no further.
THE SPIRIT: Togouchi Japanese
Whisky imports malt whisky
from Canada and Scotland, then
ages them and blends the result.
It’s a truly globe-trotting drink
for the experimental drinker.
THE COCKTAIL: Get the Mr Spice
and Nice, which combines
Johnnie Walker Black Label with
vermouth, a spicy port with plum
bitters and a plum reduction.

THE SMOKE CO
BENGALURU
If you’re a carnivore, India’s first Texas-style barbecue smoker
should be on your list of eateries to visit. As a bonus, it has a selection
of tipples that span Scottish favourites, Asian upstarts and American
bourbons. Try each with a house-cured meat board, or opt for a dram
PHOTO: ADIL HASAN (WHISKY SAMBA)

while taking in the sights through the massive glass walls.

THE SPIRIT: Maker’s Mark, an American bourbon that pairs well with
one of The Smoke Co’s signature dishes, the smoked bone marrow.
THE COCKTAIL: The mango shrub in the Mac Jagger is house-made.
It’s stirred together with whisky (or bourbon, the choice is yours) and
ginger juice.

188 — DECEMBER 2017

 T H E

EVOLUTION OF A

WHISKY
COCKTAIL

1862 1876
The first recipe of the Whisky Sour New York bartender
In the 1800s, the word “cocktail”
was published. However, early versions of the Jerry Thomas pioneered the first cocktail with
merely meant a mix of a base spirit, sugar,
drink appeared almost a century earlier, thanks a twist. In his recipe for the “improved whisky
bitters and water. Any addition or alteration was
to English sailors who began adding limes and cocktail”, he added maraschino cherry liqueur,
considered “innovation”.
lemons to their spirits to help absinthe and a lemon twist.
prevent scurvy.

20TH CENTURY
Maraschino liqueur was employed as the
The egg was later added as a creamy,
only sweetening agent. Palates were drier in
frothy element to the whisky sour. It went
The cocktail suffered greatly. those days, and very sweet drinks didn’t appear
down a little smoother, and the cocktail
on the scene until decades later, when sugar
looked better in the glass too.
became more accessible.

PROHIBITION NINETIES
Consumerism brought
Base spirits in their
a technological boom with it that It wasn’t until the Nineties
pure form were hard to come by, and
would destroy the well-crafted cocktail for that bartenders started to pull back: They
were watered down or tainted. Sours and other
over a generation: pre-bottled mixers. American rediscovered the art of mixology, and wanted to
simple cocktails weren’t enough to
drinkers became accustomed to sweeter, simplify and go back to the basics.
hide bad base spirits.
more processed ingredients.

original recipe for the Whisky Sour

T he Today, while generously
ss)
(Use a small bar gla ed white sugar dissolve
d in a lit tle sweetened cocktails are still the norm in India,
spoo nful of po wd er bartenders are attempting to be true to the spirit
• Take 1 large tea
IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK (PAPER)

and adding a local twist – for instance, a whisky

ar is water
seltzer or A pollin sour with a Kolkata lemon.
• A dd the juice of
half a small lemon
whisky
• A dd 1 wine gla
ss of bourbon or rye claret glass
th shaved ice, shak e up and strain into a
• Fill the glass wi
• Ornament with
berries

190 — DECEMBER 2017

TOASTING
TO THE
MALTS
OF ALL TIME
A legacy of fine craftsmanship, a
journey of innovation and an ambition
of being the world’s best single malt
– Glenfiddich has enamoured, fulfilled
and far exceeded the world around it
with some of its most beloved elixirs –
particularly the brand’s legendary 12, 15
and 18 Year Old expressions
FROM A DREAM TO THE DRAM
From humble beginnings to reaching
the top, determination, innovation and
craftsmanship have been passed down
through the generations to be reflected
in works of perfection – the 12, 15 and
18 – the choice of connoisseurs since
the distillery first opened its doors.
Glenfiddich, its name taken from the
Gaelic for ‘Valley of the Deer’, had been
a vision sustained by founder William
Grant for 20 years. The long-term dream
began to materialise stone by stone in
1886 when William, his nine children
and a single stone mason bare-handed
built the distillery. Just one year later,
on Christmas day, the first drop of spirit
fell from their distillery’s copper stills.
With the pursuit of creating “the best
dram in the valley” today Glenfiddich
has gone from that humble conquest to
becoming “the world’s most awarded
single malt”.
HISTORICAL MALT MOMENTS
Since the beginning, momentous and
ground-breaking moments map the
story of Glenfiddich. It became the first
single malt to be promoted outside
Scotland, with the vision that the Scots’
well-kept secret should be introduced to
the rest of the blended scotch-drinking
world. It created history during the
first ever vatting of the Glenfiddich 50
THE 12 YEAR OLD
Featuring a unique freshness from
the same Highland spring water the
brand has used since 1887, the malt
has been carefully matured in the
finest American oak and European
oak sherry casks for at least 12 years.
Flowing from the Valley of the Deer
since the brand’s beginnings, today the
sparkling gold malt is the world’s most
awarded single malt for its distinct
fresh and fruity nose with a hint of
pear, its characteristic sweet notes
which develop into butterscotch-esque
flavours and its creamy finish.
*Drink responsibly
Year Old from nine casks laid down in World’s Most Experimental Bartender
the Thirties, honouring William’s nine Competition” which celebrates
children for their work. It has released collaboration, new ideas as well as the
the oldest single malt scotch, with just brand’s maverick spirit. It gave birth to
61 bottles from cask 843, and even set the world’s first cooked cocktail.
world records as it auctioned bottles of
Janet Sheed Roberts Reserve, in honour THE MALTS OF FAME
of Scotland’s oldest woman and last From the very rare, being casked for
grandchild of Glenfiddich’s founder. 64 years and the very innovative,
like the Solera technique that makes
REWRITING THE RULES OF the brand’s 15 Year Old expression
INNOVATION so special, to those malts born out of
Today the malt has travelled the seven chance and adversity like the Snow
seas, been paired with different cuisines Phoenix, ultimately what you get from
and interesting culinary creations, and Glenfiddich is 125 years of wisdom
enjoyed on the rocks as much as it has in every glass. Here’s to some of the
been loved in unique concoctions. The game-changing malts from the brand’s
brand has even crafted one-of-a-kind celebrated collection…
experiences to enthuse
malt drinkers, like its VR
experience of the tasting
notes in India. These
3D tastings began with
Glenfiddich variants being
poured into glasses, with
simultaneous projections
of each tasting note on
the table, making the
experience as much a
treat to the eyes as it
is for the palate. And
what began as a legacy
of experiment continues
even today, with “The
THE 15 YEAR OLD
The complex and intense flavours of
this malt are created by the use of
Solera Vat, a pioneering method which
is the secret behind the brand’s 15 Year
Old, and a reflection of the family’s
tradition of innovation. It was devised
by the distillery’s fifth Malt Master, and
inspired by the sherry bodegas of Spain
and Portugal. Today this golden-and-
red-hued malt is the first to enter the
top ten best-selling single malts for its
complex aroma, its silky smooth layers
of sherry oak, marzipan, cinnamon and
ginger and its satisfyingly rich finish
lingering with sweetness.
THE 18 YEAR OLD
What makes the 18 Year Old truly
special is that the brand marries this
expression in small batches of no more
than 150 oak casks, enabling the Malt
Master to control each element of its
aroma and taste. In fact, Glenfiddich
is one of the only distilleries with an
onsite cooperage to tend to every one
of their casks. This rich bronze variant
is celebrated for its aroma with ripe
orchard fruit, baked apple and robust
oak, a luxurious dried fruit, candy peel
and dates flavour overlaid with elegant
oak notes and a distinguished finish.
 IMAGE: REX FEATURES (A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS STILL)

THE GREAT AMERICAN

WEST WHISKEY
194 — DECEMBER 2017
The US makes more than just
bourbon, and Anish Trivedi tells you
why, for your next duty-free buy,
you should look towards the West
Y
ou remember the Wild West.
Clint Eastwood would ride into
town, hitch his horse to the rail,
walk into the saloon and say just one word:
“Whiskey.” It’s also where the term “rotgut”
originated. There’s still a lot of rotgut in the
world. But not in the American West, if distillers
there have anything to say about it.
Instead, there’s a growing number of
American single malts, very different from
their Kentucky cousin, bourbon. Apart from
anything else, they’re not made with corn or
rye, but from barley. Well, for the most part.
Like a good Western, there’s always a twist in a
good whiskey.
My first introduction to this brave new
world was Westland. Based out of Seattle,
and founded just about seven years ago, the
distillery was one of the first to capitalise on the
Pacific Northwest as a source for the ingredients
that go into making its much sought-after
bottlings, from local grain and peat to the oak
in which they’re aged. It’s a younger single
malt than you’d get from Scotland, but that’s
to be expected given how recently it’s been in
business. The minimum maturation period is
closer to two years than the three that Scottish
law requires.
Westland’s first expression, the American
Single Malt, has a nose that starts by smacking
you in the face, rather like Eastwood might
a bothersome barfly. But it settles down to a
sweet, spicy aroma, with hints of pineapple
and banana. The young lady by my side says
it reminds her of Malibu. Not the sunny
California town, but that dangerous flavoured
rum that’s been the ruin of more men than a
whorehouse in New Orleans. On the palate,
there’s a hint of coconut, with the spicy
overtones again.
There’s also its more recently released
Peated and Sherry Wood, both of which have
reinforced Westland’s claim to being one
of the best of the new breed of American
whiskey-makers.
Down the coast, in Portland, Oregon is
the similarly named Westward from House
Spirits Distillery. While it makes rum, vodka
and aquavit as well, it’s the single malt, made
with barley sourced from the region, that’s
put this distillery on the map. It also uses ale
yeast – fitting, given the region’s contribution
to the craft beer movement. Boasting one of the
largest pot stills in the country, its American
Single Malt carries no age statement. What you
finally pour into your glass has a fruity nose
with hints of spice and a spoonful of brown
sugar, with vanilla, chocolate and tobacco
across the finish line. Perfect for that aged cigar.
 F urther south, in a part of the
country better known for its
wines, is St George Spirits.
Founded in Alameda, California in 1982,
the distillery also has a range of spirits in its
portfolio, including brandies, eaux de vie,
rum, gin and vodka. But back in 2000, it came
out with its first single malt whiskey, Lot 1. No
one took an American malt seriously then, but
that didn’t stop St George from putting out a
new Lot every year. Most of the early bottlings
are near impossible to find on shelves, so
if you do spot one, don’t hesitate. Pick up
the phone and call me. But the more recent
releases, the 16 and the 17, are still available in
limited quantities. Most retailers will cut you
off at one bottle. No more.
Leaving the West Coast for the

WESTLAND’S FIRST
Southwest, there’s Santa Fe Spirits, up in
the Sangre de Cristo mountains of northern
New Mexico. Like others on this list, the
EXPRESSION, THE AMERICAN micro-distillery manages to churn out
barrels of vodka, gin and other liqueurs, but
SINGLE MALT, HAS A NOSE what gets my attention is its Colkegan Single
Malt. The name comes from the owner,
THAT STARTS BY SMACKING Colin Keegan, an English architect who, in
2010, decided to stop building houses and
YOU IN THE FACE, RATHER make alcohol instead. He also decided to
break away from tradition when it came to

LIKE EASTWOOD MIGHT A peated whiskey. Colkegan may smoke its

barley, but instead of peat, it uses mesquite.

BOTHERSOME BARFLY The result is a heady cocktail of wood, moss,

leather and tobacco.
The American Western owes part of its
inspiration to Texas, which makes it fitting
that the state produces a single malt whiskey
that can hold its head high pretty much
anywhere in the world. Although Balcones
founder Chip Tate has left and is striking
out on his own, the Waco-based distillery
continues to surprise first-time drinkers
of its 1 Texas Single Malt with big flavours.
But then, that’s what you expect from a part
of world that doesn’t do anything in half
measures. On that note, also keep an eye
out for Tate & Co. I expect it to make quite a
splash in my glass.
Eastwood hung up his sheriff’s hat to
become mayor of Carmel, California, a town
that, to the best of my knowledge, produces
no whiskey, rotgut or otherwise. But the
last time I was there, I stopped at the Hog’s
Breath Inn, a restaurant he used to own. I
sidled up to the bar, dropped my hat on the
table and asked for a real drink. They gave
me a Dirty Harry martini. Clearly no one
there knows how the West was won.

196 — DECEMBER 2017


GLENFIDDICH
18 YEAR OLD
A robust and full-bodied single
malt, yet remarkably rounded.
Make this one a stiff pour.
`9,000
JOHNNIE WALKER
BLUE LABEL
The Bentley of the blended whisky
world. Its bold, multi-layered palate
ensures that it sits unchallenged at
the top of the Johnnie Walker pile.
`28,000
ROYAL SALUTE
21 YEAR OLD
An elegant silky whisky
aged for 21 years in oak
casks before being bottled
in handcrafted porcelain
flagons. One of the
smoothest drinks around. 
`15,500

THE BEST
WHISKIES IN INDIA
LOCATION: KODE, MUMBAI

Your duty-free stash running low? No matter. Here’s our pick of the 12 finest
malts available locally, so you never have to open the doors to an empty home bar
PHOTOGR APHED BY JIGNESH JHAVERI

198 — DECEMBER 2017

 SINGLETON
OF GLEN ORD
12 YEAR OLD
Pleasantly fruity and
approachable, yet full of
depth. If you’re a new drinker,
this one’s a game-changer
the first time you taste it.
`6,500

CHIVAS 18 YEAR OLD GLENLIVET

As relatable and identifiable as it gets. FOUNDER’S RESERVE
A pleasing finish of vanilla and oak have Salty, crisp plum, a dusting of cinnamon,
LOCATION: KODE, MUMBAI

made Chivas hugely popular, and the 18 soft bruised fruits and a chocolate toffee
Year Old is proof why. finish. It sparkles and surprises.
`8,600 `11,000

200 — DECEMBER 2017

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 JAMESON
Everyone’s favourite Irish
whiskey, renowned for its
affinity with ginger ale.
Makes any gathering a
little more jaunty.
`2,250

MONKEY SHOULDER
Snifter snobs look down at blended
scotches, but what they don’t
understand is that they’re often
blended with very good single malt –
ARDMORE LEGACY
in this case, Glenfiddich, Balvenie and The aroma is spicy and delicate,
Kininvie. This one makes you seem with smoke dancing across the
cool for simply knowing about it. palate. This one’s a big, meaty
LOCATION: KODE, MUMBAI

`4,000
whisky that’s a worthy addition to
any legendary home bar.
`4,100

202 — DECEMBER 2017

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 AMRUT
AMALGAM
The first vatted whisky from
an Indian distiller, this new
variant from Amrut sources
malts from all across the
globe – Asia, Scotland and
those produced locally
married together – to create a
complex blend, best enjoyed
with a few drops of water.
Price on request

DEWAR’S 18
YEAR OLD
THE VINTAGE
Bright gold, spicy and
compelling. As pleasing
in a cocktail as in a
tumbler on the rocks.
`6,980

LOCATION: KODE, MUMBAI

THE ARRAN MALT

18 YEAR OLD
Light, clean, sweet – the antidote
to a work day from hell that still
hasn’t ended.
`5,465

204 — DECEMBER 2017

PRESIDENTIAL TREATMENT
Presidential Suite living area
Outfitted with state-of-the-art amenities, the hallmark of absolute luxury with the comfort
of a home, JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu’s Presidential Suite is everything you could ask for
I
f you’re a high-powered traveller
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world, then you’re probably only
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A five-star hotel in a glittering city
suburb, JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu
has everything that recommends
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the Grand Ocean Suite and Royal
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adding to its many attractions is the
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and hospitality.
For more information,
visit jwmarriottmumbai.com
Royal Lotus Suite bedroom
Designed to suit the tastes of the
modern traveller, the 2,200sqft
abode is kitted out with the best of
everything – a Bose home theatre,
a mini bar stocked with the finest
spirits you could want, versatile
contemporary art by Indian artists,
and high-end furniture across all
rooms, from the stately living room
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And if these modern-day comforts
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You’re used to only the best, and
with the JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu,
the best is what you get.

Travel: Rehana Munir
NEW Safari: Rahul Bose
Books: Kishore Singh
207 O
n the night of May 20, 2016,
a slight figure took one
firm step after another up a
mountain. Nine hours later,
a Sherpa simply announced:
PEAK
“This is it.” Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala
freed her eyes of their protective
SRI LANKA covering, but only for a moment. She
couldn’t risk freezing her corneas. The
sun was climbing up in the sky to join a
brilliant full moon. Here she finally was:
the first Sri Lankan to summit Everest.
BY REHANA MUNIR I arrive in Colombo to meet Jayanthi
a year-and-a-half later, on an October
night of brief rainy spells.
OF GALLE, HOPPERS I’m accompanied by a common
IMAGE: ALAMY
AND MANGO CURRY friend who’s been close to the
mountaineer since their days at Delhi
University’s Miranda House. The
EDITED BY SHIKHA SETHI
agenda is simple: a beachside holiday to
Galle with the mountaineer.
Jayanthi welcomes us home with
a delicious chocolate biscuit pudding
from a nearby bakery. Dinner consists
of a beautifully spiced roast chicken and
dhal curry with buttered toast, courtesy
her cook Pushpa. Among all the
memorabilia, I spot a picture of Jayanthi
with her climbing partner Johann
Peries, who was forced to turn back a
few hundred metres from the summit.
He had to take the heartbreaking call
when he discovered there wouldn’t
be enough oxygen left in his cylinder
to complete the climb and descend
safely. It’s a fitting reminder that, at that
level, even a small miscalculation can
effectively end your dream – or your life.
DECEMBER 2017 — 207
 TRAVEL
TALK
Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala is the first Sri Lankan to summit Mt Everest
The next morning, we set out for Galle.
But not before we’ve had a wholesome
breakfast that includes pork curry. On
the drive out, Jayanthi points out some
of Colombo’s defining sights. Cinnamon
Gardens, home to Colombo University
with its Sanskrit motto Buddhih Sarvatra
Bhrajate (Wisdom shines forth everywhere).
The Dutch museum, home to the opulent
throne of the last king of Kandy. Chatham
Street, where the charming Pagoda Tea
House has been serving sweet nothings
to lovers since 1884. Once we leave city
limits, it’s a smooth ride on the highway. At
the halfway point, we refuel with mango
juice and shrimp cashewnuts. Coke Studio
Pakistan blares on the stereo.
Soon we’re at the Why House in Talpe,
not far from Galle. We uncork a bottle of
champagne and over chicken, mango and
avocado wraps, I ask Jayanthi how it all
started, the quest for Everest. “I’d been on
climbs all over the world the past 15 years or
so, from Kilimanjaro to Krabi, which served as
good training. But it was only after climbing
Island Peak in Nepal in 2012 with Johann that
the Everest idea struck. A close friend really
pushed me, and organised a Skype call with
a green beret [member of the armed forces]
in Australia, who’d summited Everest. It
began with writing a funding proposal. But to
do that, I needed a comprehensive gear list.
All those long nights, I would return home
from work [as a rock-climbing instructor and
women’s-rights advocate] to compare rates
and read reviews on the internet. The climb
began much before the climb!” she says.
The next morning at the beach, we
see a familiar face. It’s Lankan cricketing
hero Kumar Sangakkara. I wave at him
frenziedly. He and his wife Yehali, on the
other hand, are waving delightedly at
Jayanthi. This is a thread running through
the trip – from superstars to cops, and from
holidayers to vendors, Jayanthi evokes
warmth and deep admiration among the
people of the island nation.
Jayanthi insists we must have the in-fort
208 — DECEMBER 2017
I’VE BEEN PROMISED WHERE TO STAY IN
AND AROUND GALLE
LAMPRAIS, THE DUTCH WHY HOUSE
BURGHER DELICACY. IT’S A What: This charming boutique
hotel is 20 minutes from Galle
HEAVENLY COMBINATION Fort and a short walk from the
OF RICE COOKED IN Dalawella Beach in Talpe, where
swimming is possible all year round
CHICKEN, MUTTON in a natural lagoon. (There’s a
pool on the property too, complete
AND PORK STOCK, AND with a pink flamingo boat.)
STEAMED IN BANANA LEAF Rooms: Each room has its own
private terrace, and everywhere
you look you’ll spot tributes to
the resident dachshund Jelly,
experience. So from the cosy Why House we
who struts about the place like a
move to the elegant Taru Villas, right across
temperamental diva. The hotel can
from the Galle Fort. In the evening, the chef
accommodate 20 guests at a time.
asks us what we’d like for breakfast. “Egg
Insider tip: Henrietta, the English
hoppers!” I say. The Lankan variant of the
hostess, is warm and effusive,
appam is crisp around the edges and a fried
while the local staff, headlined
egg down the middle makes it a national
by Baboo, is cheerfully attentive.
treasure. We get egg hoppers with bacon, on
Identifying my friend and I as
special request, and the ubiquitous chicken,
Indians, Baboo shares his proud
fish and potato curries besides.
secret: Sunny Leone stayed there
Walking around Galle’s historic lanes that
with the rest of the principal cast
echo their Portuguese, Dutch and British
and crew during the filming of Jism
past, we spot a couple of black Morris
2. Make sure you complete your
Minors standing bumper to bumper, like
sightseeing and return in time for
Tintin’s incompetent detectives, Thomson and
the teacakes that are served on the
Thompson. At Lucky Fort Restaurant on the
house along with evening tea – a
famous Prarawa Street, we’re served a joyous
delicious touch.
lunch of ten home-style curries including
cucumber, mango and tapioca. Tucking into
TARU VILLAS,
the tropical feast, Jayanthi tells me about
her plans for the future. “I want to get more
Rampart Street
What: Easy access to the Galle
women and girls interested in rock-climbing.
Fort – which is across the road
Put together a team for the Olympics,
– isn’t this boutique hotel’s only
perhaps. And I want to strengthen my work
draw. The spacious bedrooms
in women’s rights. I’m the ambassador for
feature antique four-post beds,
a new education programme where we
teak wood almirahs and settees,
sensitise pre-schoolers about values. That’s
with all the eccentric charm of a
the age at which we need to start, if we are to
Colonial Ceylon hotel.
make a fundamental impact.”
Rooms: The hotel has just four
After three days in Galle, it’s time to head
rooms – two on the ground floor
back to Colombo. The evening of our return,
and two on the first. Ours – on
I try prawn vadai and a local favourite – kottu
the ground floor – opened out
roti, masala chicken and paratha chopped
onto a small but deep pool.
up together in a scrumptious mess – at Galle
Insider tip: The staff welcomes
Face Green, where the waiter surprises us
you with homemade popsicles
with his perfect Hindi, and the cook delights
– we got passion fruit and lime.
us with the use of a hairdryer to fan the flames
Order the Spaghetti Bolognese –
of his grill. The next day, I’ve been promised
it’s lip-smacking.
lamprais, the Dutch Burgher delicacy. It’s
a heavenly combination of rice cooked in
chicken, mutton and pork stock, steamed in
IMAGE: APARNA KHERA (JAYANTHI)
a banana leaf, with meat, aubergine and ash
plantain accompaniments. Easily the peak of
our Lankan food adventure.
As I prepare to leave, I ask Jayanthi how
the Everest experience has changed her life.
Her answer is simple, but profound. “It taught
me that the personal can be political.”
 SAFARI

TALK

210 U
gyen, the Aman’s
outrageously gifted
Bhutanese massage
therapist, drives her elbow
into my gluteus maximus.
INTO THE WILD Small circles of pain-pleasure radiate
and flood my body. As my butt starts
to unspasm after the long birding hike
organised by the staff of the Amanbagh
18 months old, sent the convoy of
safari jeeps into feverish excitement
when they sauntered down to the river
for a drink and a gambol and then
proceeded to disappear from sight.
We waited, the forest waited, even the
aggressive French in the Gypsy next to
us waited. The work of tiger-spotting is
never easy.
IMAGE: RAHUL BOSE (SAFARI)

BY RAHUL BOSE in Alwar, Rajasthan, my thoughts go One of the naturalists in an open

back two days to Noor and her progeny. truck (yes, now they have tour
HOW TO DO A SAFARI Noor, one of the most famous tigresses
at the Ranthambhore National Park,
groups travelling en masse in these

IN STYLE IN 2017
abominations) says he thinks Noor has
and her three cubs, as yet unnamed already climbed uphill from the river
and unnumbered because they’re only and gone into the jungle past the

210 — DECEMBER 2017

 SAFARI

TALK
path we’re parked on. Our naturalist,
Pankaj Gautam, concurs. But, the
question remains, where are the cubs?
A quick consultation in jungle morse
code among the naturalists, and it’s
agreed that they have yet to emerge
from the river and go to their mother.
I take my eyes off the binoculars, inhale,
exhale. I’ve always loved the outdoors.
Stories still run across the Bose-Thorat
clans of how, as a three-year-old, I
escaped with our dhobi on his cycle.
Singh remains calm. A retired forest
research officer who’s now partnering
with the Aman-i-Khas for safaris, he
was in the park when Rajiv Gandhi
began to visit, he was in the park when
Noor was born and he was in the park
when tiger number T7 mauled him,
ripping off half his face. Five surgeries
and seven years later he has graciously
agreed to accompany us around his
backyard, this 1,113sqkm park that he
has slept in for over 2,400 nights. That
perfect arhar dal tadka (a very
light hand on the lasun) in a rustic
kitchen on the Amanbagh grounds,
I murmur my thanks. To Rakesh,
Ugyen, Daulat Singh, Pankaj, Noor
and every sentient being that adds
peace and beauty to this troubled
planet. In the words of an ancient
travelling monk: Even if I never
return, this much was enough.
Rahul Bose is a Mumbai-based actor, director
and writer

I grew up in Himachal’s mountains, evening, at our 7-star tent on the edge

where we’ve had a home since 1947,
played outdoor sports all my life and
even now you’ll find me sprinting and
playing with a ball on any ground as
opposed to huffing on the elliptical
trainer. Sky, sun, sea, mountains,
jungles, rivers, bring it on. Almost
telepathically, the folks at the Aman-
i-Khas in Ranthambhore understood
that. Not one meal is arranged indoors,
be it a moong dal chilla and dahi
breakfast in the middle of the jungle or
raan and tunday kababs for dinner by
the ancient stepwell refurbished into a
pool under the stars.
As more and more jeeps cluster
at our spot, I wonder, how do they
know, these naturalists? How do they
know Noor’s cubs haven’t crossed
up the mountain? It’s been fifteen
minutes now. The French are fidgeting,
considering a Frexit. In fevered
anticipation, the Indian family in the
truck wallop fistfuls of dried fruit
into their mouths. Even some of the
naturalists have grown quiet as they
second-guess themselves. But Daulat
“33 YEARS OF SEEING THESE CREATURES AND I STILL CAN’T
TAKE MY EYES OFF THEM. SUCH IS THEIR MAJESTY”
of the forest, he talks about that day. “I
was just 35 feet away but I never felt
scared as I looked into T7’s eyes. On the
contrary, tigers are scared, even shy of
humans. The villagers began to stone
him and that’s when he went for me.
It wasn’t his fault, he was frightened.
Six months later I went back, the team
tranquilised him, we fixed a radio collar
and released him back into the Sariska
Tiger Reserve. It gives me the greatest
happiness to know T7 is safe and happy
today in his habitat.” It is this Daulat
Singh who sits upright in the jeep,
sanguine in the knowledge that the
cubs will come. Then Pankaj whispers:
“Tiger.” Two magnificent, almost fully
grown tigers saunter past the scrum of
jeeps and trucks, morning light blazing
their coats with a cool fire. The forest
holds its breath, we hold our breath,
Daulat Singh holds his breath, then
says, “33 years of seeing these creatures
and I still can’t take my eyes off them. MY RECOMMENDATION:
Such is their majesty.” Literally on the edge of the
Ranthambhore National Park,
you’ll hear Lightning the tigress
calling outside the Aman-i-Khas
The next morning, as Chef Rakesh
at night – if you’re lucky. Don’t
Kumar shows me how to make the
miss the tunday kababs and a
swim in the stepwell-turned-
pool. Request for Daulat Singh to
take you on a safari. It’s an extra
charge, but so worth it.
Then travel two hours to
the Amanbagh to reflect on
everything you saw at the park,
slow down and decompress. Book
Ugyen for a deep tissue massage.
Go birding with Sita Ram. Then
cook your own Rajasthani meal
with Rakesh, the head chef.
Always dine by the pool – you’ll
get to listen to two exceptional
musicians, Aziz and Sahil, in your
own bespoke concert. And. Do.
Not. Miss. The. Raan.

212 — DECEMBER 2017

 BOOKS
TALK
214
BY KISHORE SINGH
THE BOOK OF CHOCOLATE SAINTS IS
AN ODE TO THE BOMBAY POETS
LOST WORLDS
OF THE SEVENTIES AND EIGHTIES
F
iction, misaligned fact, innuendo and
merging identities – so it’s difficult to
tell where Francis Newton Souza the
artist ends, and where Dom Moraes,
poet and writer, begins – make up
Jeet Thayil’s novel, The Book Of Chocolate
Saints. Taking off from Newton “New” Francis
Xavier in his previous outing in Narcopolis, the
poet-author’s disturbing, opium-laced debut,
Thayil places his hybrid protagonist at the
centre of an enthralling account, combining
incidents from both their lives, taking licentious
liberties with their and others’ selves. He coasts
the thin edge between bitchy and scandalous,
provocative and slanderous, scurrilous and the
libelous. Throw in an overdose of sex, drugs
and booze, and you have what the author roils
as an ode (of sorts) to the modernist Bombay
poets of the Seventies and Eighties.
It’s a rollercoaster of a book that explores
the nooks and crannies of the poet community
in Bombay, its loneliness and angst concealed
under the seductive glamour of salons and
poetry readings. It is at once a thinly disguised
biography of not just Dom Moraes but also
his peers, the camaraderie and scathing
competitiveness of this world. Written from
the inside with a degree of empathy, yet devoid
of sentimentality, it serves up the grit and soot
that make up this milieu in all its nakedness.
So cleverly are the artist and the poet fused in
the character of Newton that researchers in the
future will have trouble telling the lies of one
from the fiction of the other.
The fictional Souza’s wives are, in fact, those
of the real Dom Moraes – Henrietta, Judith
and Leela (the latter named Lulu in the book)
– while the poet’s mother Beryl is fictionalised
into Souza’s “mad” mother bearing the same
name and nicknamed Burial. Souza’s real
mother, Maria, was his huge support, however
Oedipal their relationship, while Beryl and
Dom shared a tormented one based on her
insanity. Thayil’s tome is more about poets and
poetry than artists and painting, more Dom
than Souza. It’s easy to see why he chose to
combine the two larger-than-life alcoholics
and alleged womanisers into one, avoiding, in
that sense, a memoir of either. But if Souza and
Moraes are his protagonists, Thayil himself is
never removed from its narrative.
214 — DECEMBER 2017
Familiar names add to the word count
of the novel, a laundry list of Indian poets,
though of artists there are but a scanty
handful. The Seventies surface as an
interesting character in the book, a period
during which Thayil places the Progressive
Artists Group, and the writer gets under
its skin to report on its sleazy underbelly.
The fictional “Goody Lol”, Souza’s last flame
and fling, whose real name is familiar to
everyone in Delhi, might have much to
complain about, depicted as a serial, bisexual
predator and alcoholic, while a younger
Dharini, or “Ari”, seeks to replace her in
Newton’s affections. In real life, art writer,
curator and painter Srimati Lal was Souza’s
muse, while Sarayu Srivastava partnered
with Moraes in his readings as his “voice”.
The real and the reimagined align forces,
Newton’s teetotalling periods coinciding
with a writer’s block, while going on a binge
results in a frenzy of painting. Souza never
did get a show, let alone a retrospective, at the
National Gallery of Modern Art, but Newton
heads home from New York for 66, his big
outing, at government expense, from which
he goes missing, found dead alone, as Souza
was, mourned by only a handful at the burial.
Almost from the start of the book, Newton’s
IT’S A descent into perdition is written like an
ROLLERCOASTER
inexorable lifeline carved and set into stone,
indelible and irretrievable.
OF A BOOK THAT Somewhere within the incendiary fire
and brimstone hell of creativity are current
EXPLORES THIS events woven into the narrative including
Goa’s annexation that Moraes denounced,
WORLD, ITS the Gujarat riots, where he used his
LONELINESS Catholic identity as a shield to get the first
interviews from Muslim ground zero, as well
AND ANGST as American politics and the annihilation
of the World Trade Center, which neither
CONCEALED
Souza nor Moraes lived long enough to
see. Thrown into this cauldron is the search
UNDER THE and rise of Dalit identity and poetry, Sikh
SEDUCTIVE bashing and racism, and other components
of contemporary history. A book set within a
GLAMOUR book, a writerly trompe l’oeil like a painter’s
mise en scène, livens the pace and gives it
OF SALONS a newsy quality, as if an account unfolding
AND POETRY
before your eyes. But in the end, this is
neither a book about Moraes, nor of Souza,
READINGS but of a time when the possibility of such
lives, against all odds, was a reality.
Kishore Singh is a curator and art consultant
CHECK OUT
Jeet Thayil begins his account with Xavier in a Jesuit school improving
upon pornographic drawings, exactly as happened to Souza. Souza
wrote a particularly scathing autobiographical account of it – Nirvana Of
A Maggot – in Stephen Spender’s Encounter magazine in London.
of your commute. Unfortunately, the
framework required to legalise and
2018 AUDI A8
THE NEW A8, MORE THAN
demonstrate such an advanced AI ENGINE BEING A TECHNOLOGICAL
MILESTONE, SETS
system is likely to arrive only next year. 3.0-LITRE, V6
TURBOPETROL;
Until then we’ll just have to take Audi’s 3.0-LITRE
word that it’s as good as it says it is.
There’s still plenty to tinker with
V6
TURBODIESEL A PRECEDENT FOR
here, though. Even without the
Traffic Jam Pilot, there’s enough
HORSEPOWER
340BHP; THE KIND OF CARS AUDI
WILL BE CREATING IN THE
281BHP
sensual comfort to make Mick
GEARBOX

Jagger head into an ascetic retreat.
On the outside, Audi’s softened the
edges, taking away the previous A8’s
brutish muscularity and replacing
it with something more refined and
understated, perhaps even benign. Its
sheer size and a decorative boot still
mark it as the biggest and brightest
of Audi’s brood. However, it’s inside
that you find the first indicator that
Audi’s truly embraced the future:
There are no buttons. Instead, you get
not one but two touchscreens forming
the front half of the car’s multimedia
access points. Instead of an earthy,
faux-Victorian cocoon of exotic wood
and leather, you get proper space-age
aesthetics, along with a detachable
touchscreen tablet in the rear console
that allows you to operate the climate
and massaging functions. But that’s
still pretty agrarian by modern
luxury standards, so Audi’s thrown in
a foot massager-slash-warmer as an
optional extra.
It also hasn’t wasted an
opportunity to exhibit its technical
mastery, much of which will
eventually find its way to Audis of
lower denominations. A careful
cross-section of the A8 reveals
advancements that are yet to be
found in other vehicles. Most top-
level forms of European automotive
luxury use radar, ultrasonic sensors
and camera-based systems to read
their immediate environment,
which allows their semi-autonomous
systems to function better while
mitigating collisions with detected
obstacles. The A8 does that, and a bit
more, with its “active air suspension”
tech. Essentially, it reads the
environment (through
a windscreen-mounted
camera) and uses electric
actuators situated next to
each individual tyre to adjust
dampening and ride height
according to the road. It’s
only in the absence of the
COMING DECADE
8-SPEED
AUTOMATIC
system that one realises how deftly
this car absorbs undulations.
On the engine front, India will
get the 3.0-litre turbocharged V6,
and a 3.0-litre TDI. (There’s also
a 4.0-litre petrol V8 (60 TSI) that’s
likely to come this side, but for the
time being these are the drivetrains
to focus on.) All engine trims come
with a 48-volt electrical system that
essentially powers the peripherals,
which can power the vehicle for up
to 40 seconds while coasting at low
speeds, saving a precious bit of fuel
and nominally qualifying the less-
than-frugal A8 as a Mild Hybrid
Electric Vehicle. Even with 340bhp
backing the V6 petrol, speed remains
a relative concept, since burying
the throttle does nothing to shake
the A8’s innate composure. It feels
blissfully disconnected from the
tangible world, though the active
air suspension tech does make it
incredibly balanced around corners.
There’s also Audi’s four-wheel-
drive system. Usually designed to
improve the track-going dynamics
of a performance car, in the A8
it helps curtail the car’s not-
inconsiderable turning radius,
putting four-wheel steering to its
best use in an everyday scenario.
The A8 also uses radar sensors
to detect oncoming objects and
either temporarily stop (subject to
override) doors from opening or
stop the vehicle at intersections, as
long as it’s going at under 10kph.
The new Audi A8, more than
being a technological milestone,
sets a precedent for the kind of
cars Audi will be creating in the
coming decade. It’s a bigger, plusher
and rigorously overengineered
successor to the previous A8, that’ll
have the smaller models feeding
off of it for some time to come. It’s
also Audi’s attempt to momentarily
establish its supremacy in this game
of technological top trumps.
A car that does most of
the thinking for you is the
next chapter of automotive
luxury. And in that regard,
nothing comes close to
matching the cranial
capacity of the otherwise
unassuming A8.

218 — DECEMBER 2017

* Available at Selected Stores
TOUR DE FORCE
In a span of two decades, Jeremy Clarkson has gone from “funny-haired-bloke-
on-the-telly” to an international sensation, largely because of his trademark
intonations and irreverent brand of humour. GQ chatted with the massively
popular – and polarising – television presenter and bestselling author about cars,
capers and coping with misadventure in the second season of The Grand Tour
1
The opening sequence of the first
season of The Grand Tour was pretty
spectacular. Does the new one have
something similar in scale?
Well, we didn’t really need to have a
grand opening this time. In the first
season, we sort of needed to say,
“Hey, we’re here!” Now that we’ve
done that, we don’t really have to say,
“Hey we’re still here!”
2
You, James [May] and Richard
[Hammond] have often described
the show as “three men falling over,
with a few cars thrown into the mix.”
One of you, quite literally, fell over this
time – off a Swiss mountain, no less.
Does this mean it’s pedal cars for Mr
Hammond for the foreseeable future?
Oh, god, Hammond’s been quite
useless ever since that happened.
His left knee is busted, so naturally
we gave him a Jaguar XJS, which
has the heaviest clutch known to
man. I thought that was hilarious.
3 Could this then also be the landmark
year that Richard turns 40?
D’you know what? I believe he’s still
38. Took a tumble down a mountain,
220 — DECEMBER 2017
upside down, and still not a single
grey hair on his head. I find that very
unnatural. Like his teeth.
4 What’s the most interesting car
you’ve driven this year?
Oh, there have been plenty. The Bugatti
Chiron – that was a pretty special one.
Also the Tesla Model S, and the Ford GT.
5
You’ve owned that last one. Have you
bought the new model as well?
No, I didn’t buy this one. It’s £420,000.
6 … Surely that wouldn’t stop you?
Yes, it would. I’ve decided I’m just
going to look at these hypercars and
occasionally drive them from now on.
Someone else can buy them.
7
Is it true that The Grand Tour’s
travelling tent has found a
permanent home in the Cotswolds?
For this season, yes. We’re getting
too old, the three of us. We’ve
been on the move constantly, and
there’s still plenty of travel in the
show – Croatia, Mozambique,
Spain, Switzerland. We’ve been
travelling all over the world, but
yeah, we’re going to be pitching
the tent for a while.
8 Does this mean you won’t be
coming back to India anytime soon?
That’s definitely on the cards for
the next season. Between me,
James and Richard – we genuinely
love India.
9
With both you and Richard in the
hospital, was James May, aka
“Captain Slow”, actually the fastest
man on The Grand Tour?
James was the fastest of the lot
very briefly – and only while I was
in the hospital [for pneumonia]
and Hammond was getting his
knee fixed. Though he too was
hospitalised at some point.
10
You’re a bestselling author,
and your daughter recently
released a book of her own. Do you
have any advice for budding writers?
Be lucky. That would be my
advice. But apart from that, I’d
say that teachers shouldn’t be
afraid to tell students that they’re
rubbish. My teachers always did.
I don’t think they do enough of
that today.
The Grand Tour airs weekly on Amazon
Prime Video
WORDS: PARTH CHARAN
 INGS
D TID
LA-
G
E 
ver since it was first
introduced, the Mercedes-
Benz GLA has been
caught between worlds.
As the gateway to Merc’s
incredibly diverse and overqualified
SUV club, it’s got to make a pretty
compelling pitch to draw crowds
away from fancy hatchbacks, like its
fraternal twin, the A-Class. Luckily,
the crossover trend runs in its favour,
automatically positioning the GLA
as a more luxurious alternative to
hatchbacks. The crossover-luxury
association is a deep set one, instantly
lapped up by car buyers, if the
segment’s market share is anything
to go by.
So, what’s changed in the new
GLA? Not much, except that the 2017
model is a handsomer and spiffier
version of its former self. LEDs, as
seems to be the norm these days,
adorn the headlamps, flanking
a redesigned, sharply machined
twin-blade grille – instantly
222 — DECEMBER 2017
We love a gentrified crossover,
like the Mercedes-Benz GLA, as
much as we love bad puns
contemporising the front half of the
car. The rest of the body retains the
fluid musculature that’s found in all
Mercs. And there’s no denying it: The
GLA has a strong, stately presence.
It’s pretty nice inside as well, with
the seats offering a taller driving
position, something that’s becoming
increasingly preferable in modern-
day traffic conditions. Ambient
lighting, a sunroof and a calming
mix of beige and black make up the
ingredients of a German luxury
car starter kit. It’s a taste of what
Mercedes has to offer, and nothing
more, as it hasn’t been bestowed
with the markings of a higher form
of luxury – which should, perhaps,
include a touchscreen system.
Since it’s the diesel engine that
forms the bedrock of the GLA’s
sales, it’s the top-specced 220d we’re
looking at, the 2.1-litre turbo-diesel
with 170hp of power and 350Nm of
torque. That’s a lump sum more than
the comparatively agrarian 2.0-litre
engine’s power output. It’s got
grunt, no doubt about it, but it’s
grunt you can hear through the
dash. That said, the engine churns
out fistfuls of torque that make it
pretty brisk on the highways. The
GLA rides softer than the A-Class (a
car that shares its underpinnings)
and even feels roomier at the back.
The added ground clearance is
what properly qualifies it as a more
practical alternative to the A-Class.
It can coast over most bumps, speed
breakers and quite possibly less-
than-enormous crashed meteors,
should the situation arise.
Entry into Merc’s SUV club will
cost you `30.84 lakh, but with the
German automaker in top form
for the last five years, the GLA is
a direct beneficiary of that fact. It
WORDS: PARTH CHARAN
feels solidly put together, stylish
and muscular without being
imposing. It may be the baby of the
Merc’s SUV fleet, but it’s got plenty
of fight in it.
 • A look inside Panerai’s
Neuchâtel manufacture
• Chopard nails the
classic chrono with the
Mille Miglia GTS
E D I T E D B Y PA R T H C H A R A N

INSIDE THE
MOTHER SHIP
Panerai’s Neuchâtel-based manufacture is a bona fide den of wonders.
We put on a loupe and take a closer look

H
alfway into a
watchmaking class at
Panerai’s Neuchâtel-
based manufacture, one
thing becomes overwhelmingly
clear: I would’ve made a terrible
surgeon. Even the chardonnay
that the facility’s Four Seasons-
trained chef had been gracious
enough to ply us with for lunch
WORDS: PARTH CHARAN
hadn’t exactly hoped to set up shop
after a two-hour class, considering
mechanical watchmaking takes
nearly two decades to master, after
which you might just be ready to
meet Panerai’s gloriously high-end
watchmaking standards. But the
reminder I couldn’t do it still stung.
Inaugurated in 2014, Panerai’s
facility looks quite different from a discharges zero pollutants. The

hadn’t helped, as the refresher
course in poor journalistic motor
functions concluded with one
perfectly assembled but ultimately
non-functional timepiece. I
traditional atelier. Instead of a historic
structure, what’s nestled amid Swiss
hilltops is a proper state-of-the-art
10,000sqm modernist structure.
The building is solar-powered and
250-odd employees it shelters are
encouraged and incentivised to take
bicycles and public transport. It’s
fairly evident that this is a brand that
actively avoids missteps of any kind.

DECEMBER 2017 — 227

 Panerai’s rapid ascent towards
horological Valhalla has been
noteworthy for several reasons.
Chief of which is that it has gone
from introducing its first-ever in-
house movement in 2002 to having
28 of them powering most of its
watches – the last 10 of which have
been developed under Frédéric
Dreyer, Panerai’s hyperqualified
(with four Masters degrees)
Research and Development
Director, and our tour guide for the
day. Come 2018, he says, all Panerais
will be powered by movements
that are manufactured in-house.
Modern-day Swiss watchmaking is
essentially a balancing act: Adopting
new design and watchmaking
techniques can improve accuracy
and reduce costs, but it has to be
done without losing one’s grasp
on the traditions that have made
the brand iconic in the first place.
Panerai has a pretty clear mandate
– keep the watches as distinct,
exclusive and recognisable as
they’ve always been, while amping
up the focus on reliability and
precision. (That’s how the Luminor –
one of the most recognisable watch
shapes in the world – remains as
timeless as it is.) As a result, each
watch is subject to 60-80 different
types of stress tests, most of which
simulate extreme versions of
everyday scenarios where the watch
can sustain impact with varying
degrees of severity.
The first thing you notice is that
these guys like to play things pretty
close to the chest. Which is why your
phones are immediately confiscated
before you can enter their sanctum
sanctorum. The corridors are
marked by vast, open areas bathed
in natural light and filled with a
monastic quietude. There’s a large
Lego board measuring individual
progress on projects, said individuals
being represented by tiny Lego
figurines ranging from Darth Vader
to Batman – it’s easy to miss, but it
brings a certain levity to an overall
atmosphere with a non-existent
margin for errors.
The Luminors and Radiomirs
of today are forged from an
intense, exhaustive and fascinating
228 — DECEMBER 2017
EACH WATCH IS
SUBJECT TO 60-80
DIFFERENT TYPES OF
STRESS TESTS WHICH
SIMULATE EVERYDAY
SCENARIOS
process that’s spread across seven parts,
starting with the idea then going on to
the design, modelling, 3D prototyping,
testing, final production design and then
final production. There’s specialised
equipment for pretty much everything,
a lot of which has been made exclusively
for Panerai. Taken in isolation, these
elaborate contraptions can appear quite
bewildering, and possibly as agents
of torture for the watches. But they’re
essentially indispensable to the birthing
process of each Panerai.
Separate wings are dedicated to
different testing stages, including
a one-metre Panerai watch drop
test, a magnetic testing station, an
area where watches are subject
to washing and a satinisation
machine that’s been developed
in collaboration with a Swiss
university. There’s a shock testing
machine that requires large
springs to be installed under
the floor, to send reverberations
rippling through. Unlike a lot of
traditional Swiss manufacturers,
Panerai relies almost entirely on
automation to create its watches,
right down to the setting of
stones and jewels. Apart from the
actual assembly of the watch, the
machines take care of everything,
and while this may diminish the
brand’s traditional halo, it’s an
approach that’s perfectly in line
with Panerai’s obsession with
accuracy and efficiency.
Despite my best efforts,
Frédéric didn’t spill any details
on what we can expect from
Panerai at the upcoming 2018
Salon De La Haute Horlogerie
(SIHH), the prestigious watch
fair that sees the world’s finest
Swiss watchmakers introduce
their newest creations each
January. But if the past few years
are anything to go by, Panerai’s
idea, without sounding trite, is
to focus primarily on innovation.
Panerai has retained the iconic
shapes of its flagships, the
Luminor and the Radiomir, but
things are a lot more intricate
and cutting-edge now. That’s in
part thanks to the use of new
technologies like 3D printing
and Direct Laser Sintering – the
latter having been used to create
the Luminor “Lo Scienziato” 1950
Tourbillon GMT Titanio, one of
Panerai’s most ingenuous limited-
edition watches to come out in
recent times, along with the 2017
Luminor LAB ID Carbotech.
WORDS: PARTH CHARAN
So every employee in the
manufacturing process is primed
to create a timepiece that’s simple,
iconic, timeless and exclusive. No
pressure, then.
 OASIS OF
OPULENCE
Welcome to The Ritz-Carlton Bangalore. It’s where
unrestrained luxury and sophistication conspire with the
vibrant city to make way for unforgettable experiences
At dusk fall a doorman at The Ritz-
Carlton Bangalore performs the Mashal
ritual where he ignites several torches
that illuminate the walkway of the
hotel. Fanned by the evening winds,
these torches cast ethereal shadows on
the hotel’s latticework, which takes you
back to Bengaluru’s storied past. As
you walk through the marbled
corridors here, you can’t help but
notice its staggering art collection,
brought to life by mood lighting. The
sublime elegance and contemporary
luxuries at The Ritz-Carlton Bangalore
instantly make you forget that you’re
right in the heart of Downtown
Bengaluru, making it the perfect place
to check into when you’re visiting the
Garden City.
Taking Bengaluru's culinary scene to
the next level, the hotel has seven
swanky restaurants and lounges. While
The Market serves the best buffets in
the city, Riwaz is known for its
Northwest Frontier cuisine. But the
Asian food at The Lantern is absolutely
incomparable. For seafood and meat
grills, head to Grill 99, an alfresco
restaurant by the pool. While The
Lobby Lounge serves your favourite
tipples and legendary afternoon teas,
The Ritz-Carlton Bar is reminiscent of
the veritable gentleman’s club.
However, BANG — the hotel’s luxury
rooftop bar — is the city’s premier
The sublime elegance and
nightlife destination. It also has a firepit contemporary luxuries at
area for private gatherings. The Ritz-Carlton Bangalore
You may also indulge in rejuvenating instantly make you forget
treatments at The Ritz Carlton Spa. that you’re right in the heart
Sprawling across 17,000sqft, it has 12
treatment rooms and even includes the
of Downtown Bengaluru,
internationally acclaimed Rossano making it the perfect place
Ferretti Hair Spa. But The Ritz-Carlton to check into when you’re
Club Lounge® is a hotel within the hotel. visiting the Garden City.
Designed as a private space to work
and convene, it offers personalized
amenities like five complimentary
culinary presentations and beverages,
concierge services, elegant
workstations, Wi-Fi access and more.
ADDRESS: 99 Residency Road,
Bengaluru. For reservations, call
080-49148000 or visit ritzcarlton.com
 PAST TRACKER
We’d go a lot further than a thousand miles to acquire the new
Chopard Mille Miglia GTS Chronograph
T
his year saw no dearth of tribute watches,
particularly motorsport – the anvil upon
which many great chronographs are built.
And since there are few motorsport events as
prestigious as the Mille Miglia, a fresh batch
of Chopard’s highly popular Mille Miglia collection had
to be on display. Particularly since this year marks the
90th anniversary of the race. The thousand-mile open-
road race, which took place in Italy from 1927 to 1957 and
was revived two decades later as a classic and vintage
car rally, has served as the ultimate vintage motorsport
pilgrimage. When it comes to spotting the most exotic,
now-extinct breed of cars in their natural habitat, the
Mille Miglia serves as the motherlode.
Chopard, having served as the official timekeeper and
sponsor since 1988, naturally gets first dibs on releasing
a line dedicated to the vintage rally. One that has been
refreshed in 2017 to include the new Chopard Mille Miglia
230
GTS Chronograph. The GTS had originally been introduced
in 2015, but this latest edition is festooned with a lot more
details that mark it out as a throwback chrono.
While the entire collection takes visual cues from racecar
aesthetics – particularly the 90th Anniversary tribute watch
(featured in our annual Watch Report) – the GTS is a more
practical and less decorative edition: The flag-patterned
dial has been replaced with a swathe of inky black, with
contrasting red details. An absence of digits around the hour
markers brings the focus directly on the sub-dials, which are
designed to resemble analogue dashboards from Fifties-era
racing cars. Even the pushers on the side of the 4mm-thick
stainless steel case are designed to resemble engine pistons,
with a guilloched surface resembling racecar brake pedals
which were specifically designed to create more friction for
a well-timed heel-toe maneouvre. Top this up with a rubber
strap that’s fashioned after tyre treads and you have yourself
one of the most satisfactory tributes to motor racing ever.
WORDS: PARTH
WORDS: CHARAN
PARTH CHARAN
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SUIT BY
ERMENEGILDO
ZEGNA. JUMPER BY
KARL LAGERFELD
AT THE COLLECTIVE.
WATCH BY
BREITLING

On the day I meet Shahid Kapoor at his new office
in Juhu, the headlines are swirling with news of the
Padmavati controversy, a period drama in which the
36-year-old actor plays the Rajput king Maharawal Ratan
Singh. A `10 crore bounty has been put on director
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s head, as well as on the female
lead, Deepika Padukone. The film’s release has been
indefinitely postponed. Three state governments –
Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat – have already
banned the film. Maharashtra, Bihar, Punjab and
Haryana are a whisper away from following suit. It’s a
hornet’s nest no one wants to touch – which explains the
resounding silence from most of the film fraternity and
less shrill political quarters. Right now, it feels like shit
might get a lot crazier before it gets better. I expect the
man in the thick of this imbroglio to be on edge, angsty,
frustrated. Instead, Kapoor, dressed in white shorts
and a grey jersey top, as if he’s just about to step out for
an evening run, greets me with a benign smile. We’re
served coffee; my cup is placed on a coaster that reads
“Looks like it’s fuck this shit o’clock”.
You were in Hyderabad recently, and then Goa
yesterday for the opening ceremony of the
International Film Festival of India, where Majid
Majidi’s film Beyond The Clouds, starring your
brother Ishaan [Khatter] was the opening film.
Looks like a hectic time for you.
I couldn’t catch the film yesterday, but I’m dying to see
it. I’ve been hearing such good things about it. But yeah,
it feels like it’s not hectic at all right now. I was supposed
to be much busier with a film coming out in seven days
[laughs]. Now with that getting pushed, I actually feel like
I’ve got no work…
First with Udta Punjab, now Padmavati.
I really think the best thing to do right now is to stay
calm and allow the sane minds to work constructively
to put the film out. We had to rough it out with Udta,
so I’ve been through this before. But the thing is, when
you’re in the middle of it, you need to be as cool as
you can be. When the film releases, I think the people
who’ve been protesting it are going to feel pretty foolish.
They’re judging something without seeing it – I just don’t
understand that.
What was prepping for the role of Maharawal
Ratan Singh like?
The most difficult part was that he’s the least known
among the three characters. There are several gaps
in our knowledge, and it was up to me to fill them
appropriately. It was important to understand what type
of king I was playing – we’ve had great kings, we’ve
had terrible kings, we’ve had blunderers, kings who’ve
become saints. Ratan Singh was a warrior king who
falls in love with this exceptionally beautiful woman.
They get married and are very happy together when
another man [Alauddin Khilji] enters the picture. It’s a
story about a husband and wife, but also a king and a
queen. What does he do when an invader demands to
see his wife? How does he protect her, and what are his
responsibilities to his people? What’s the right decision?
In terms of the current environment, I’m thinking
about the success of Baahubali, and how people
appear to be really hungry for heroes.
I remember when Gladiator came out and Russell Crowe
played Maximus, the character felt too good to be true.
But it inspired me so much. That was a strong reference
for me because I wondered how you play a character
who is so noble and good, and make him connect with
people today. Sometimes cinema has the power to make
us aspire to be something better. Of course, there’s a lot
of value in playing something that’s real; I’m coming
from Udta Punjab, where I played a coked-out, crazy
pop star – not at all the kind of guy you’d wanna be, not
even the kind of guy you’d want to be in a room with.
With him, I wondered how to get people to understand
someone so off-the-hook, this free radical jumping all
over the place. But people got him. I hope they get Rawal
Ratan Singh as well. He’s extremely powerful, but always
steady in all kinds of high-pressure situations. I’ve always
admired people who can do that. We’re living in a time
where we need to be inspired by characters who make
us want to be better, because there’s a lot happening
in the world. Many actors keep playing versions
of themselves. It’s lame, because once you’ve done
something, it’s not new any more. The idea is to surprise
people. I think the audience wants something different.
And they have plenty of options.
Exactly. So I’m thankful I’m in that position to be able
to do really different characters – from Haider to Udta
to Padmavati. That makes me feel good. In the last few
years, I’ve started making choices that come from within,
backing myself and focusing on the things that genuinely
drive me. Next, I’m doing a film called Batti Gul Meter
Chalu, where I play a lawyer.
The last time you and I spoke, you were just about
to get married – now you’re married, happily so,
and with a baby too.
I’m obsessed with my daughter, and I’ve completely
changed from where I was. I wake up early to spend time
with her; I run back from work to spend time with her
before she goes to sleep. My breakfast is usually more
on my clothes and on the table than in my bowl. Earlier,
I could afford to be much more self-absorbed. Today, it’s
important for me to give myself to the people who matter
SUIT, SHIRT; BOTH
BY PAUL SMITH.
TIE BY THE TIE
HUB. TIE PIN BY
THE BRO CODE.
SHOES BY OLIVER
SWEENEY. WATCH
BY BREITLING
“EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES
EITHER BRING OUT
GREAT OR TERRIBLE
CHARACTER. WHEN YOU
REACH A BREAKING
POINT, EITHER YOU
KEEP IT TOGETHER OR
COMPLETELY FALL APART”
in my life. I think that’s something that happens, a flip in
one’s mindset, when a man hits his 30s.
Do you feel like you need to be more rock-solid
now?
I don’t think it’s something you can become. You get
there through experience and with time. Extreme
circumstances either bring out great or terrible character.
When you reach a breaking point, either you keep it
together or completely fall apart.
You seem pretty content with your choices,
personally and professionally.
Well, everything has its pros and cons. There are basically
two ways: Either you don’t take a decision and let life
throw whatever it throws at you. Or, you take a decision
without regretting things and you live by it and learn to be
optimistic about it. Regret is a dangerous emotion, it’s self-
indulgent and has the power to make you unhappy when
there are often many reasons to make you happy.
You often post images of you and Misha together.
You seem to be particularly delighted to be the
father of a daughter.
It’s special; I don’t think anyone else can make you feel
like a daughter can. I don’t know how long it lasts, how
it changes and evolves. But I often catch the expression
on other women’s faces when I’m with my daughter, and
I can feel they’re seeing themselves with their fathers.
That’s beautiful to me, because it reassures me that when
I’m old, Misha won’t forget these moments we’ve spent
together. There are times when I think, I’m doing all this,
but she won’t remember this. Later, she might wonder
why I’m so involved in her life, without understanding
that she’s so much a part of my reality… I don’t know, in
general, even as babies I think girls are better than boys.
They seem more sensible, more sorted. They’re not as
cranky or dumb.
What are your top tips on fatherhood?
Make time for it. In the early days, every few days, every
week, your child changes… So genuinely be there as
much as you can. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Chill,
because you’ll never have all the answers. Improvise. Get
ready to lose a lot of sleep.
Has your way of looking at the world changed since
you became a father?
I worry about the future much more. Of course, this
is because I know my daughter’s growing up in this
atmosphere. I want to protect her. But I do think that the
times to come are going to be more about women than
men. Change is coming – and it’s already palpable. In
fact, sometimes I fear for men because we’re vulnerable
too. Now they’ll be even more on the back foot. But I’m
happy that Misha’s going to grow up in a world where
women have come into their own. I worry, of course, but
I think you’ve got to let children find themselves, and
they’ll probably teach you a few more things than you
can teach them.
What has Misha taught you recently?
A lot of words I never knew existed, like “bababa” and
stuff like that. And that anything edible is called “apple”.
Apple, apple, apple, apple.
What was the last TV show you binge-watched?
The Young Pope was very interesting.
Fitness-wise, what have you learned in the
last year?
Functionality over looking good and having big muscles.
You want your body to act as a supple whole. Also, we’re
so busy contracting, we’ve forgotten how to extend,
something I used to do as a dancer. That’s what allows you
to release stress. I’m looking for someone to holistically
help me rediscover fitness. I’ve been so busy doing it for
visual appeal; now, I genuinely want to do it inside out.
Is staying fit just a losing battle after your mid-30s?
Well, you always feel like everything is so much slower.
Your metabolism is slower. But it eventually comes down
to lifestyle. If you’re consistent, you can beat people
younger than you. When you’re younger, you can afford
to be more brazen, more undisciplined, take a few
chances. But after a certain point – once you enter your
30s – you need to get your act together.
Are you still DJing, and producing your own
sets? Your home has a basement with all your
equipment.
I haven’t had any time. Plus, the DJ set has been packed
up; that room has been converted into a playroom for my
daughter now. Misha and I listen to a lot of music together
– she’s already figured out how to control the volume
button; I’m sure she’ll learn how to change the song if she
doesn’t like it soon enough.
What’s your favourite vacation spot?
I love beaches – Ibiza, Barcelona, Greece. And shopping.
It’s therapeutic – you walk through a store, get yourself
some coffee, see stuff, buy something. You spend the day
faffing. I enjoy that.
A trait you most dislike in yourself?
I’m too empathetic. It can be draining.
Have you become better at setting boundaries?
When you get invested in somebody, you can’t help it. So,
you have to choose people carefully, and it’s important to
understand when you need to focus on yourself. I feel like
this body is meant to constantly fix itself; so is the mind.
If you allow yourself some downtime from whatever’s
draining you, eventually you’ll come back to a natural,
balanced state. But you have to give yourself that time. As
a generation, we don’t do that. We just keep engaging and
engaging. It’s like when you see a pack of dogs running
after a car… When they catch up with it, they don’t know
what to do. We’re kind of like that right now.
 “REGRET IS
A DANGEROUS
EMOTION, IT’S
SELF INDULGENT
AND HAS
THE POWER
TO MAKE YOU
UNHAPPY WHEN
THERE ARE
OTHER REASONS
TO MAKE
YOU HAPPY ”

JACKET BY DSQUARED2.
JEANS BY DIESEL.
SCARF BY HUGO BOSS.
SHOES BY GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI.
WATCH BY BREITLING

PHOTOGRAPHER AGENCY: DEU:

CREATIVE MANAGEMENT
HAIR: TEAM HAKIM’S AALIM
MAKE-UP: GLADWIN JAMES
ASSISTANT STYLIST: TANYA VOHRA
FASHION COORDINATOR:
RAVNEET CHANNA
FASHION ASSISTANT: SHAEROY CHINOY
PRODUCTION: MEGHA MEHTA,
ANOMALY PRODUCTION
 WRITTEN BY ANNIE ZAIDI

I L LU S T R AT E D BY Z E E N AT K U L AV O O R

PHOTOGRAPHED BY ABHISHEK BALI

& MANISH MANSINH

A fresh breed of poets, writers, stand-up

comics, film-makers and advertising hotshots
are revitalising the language with a new idiom

000 – DECEMBER 2017

 the fort to celebrate Ishq Urdu’s second birthday!). It started
after advertising creative Nasheet Shadani won a bronze and
a silver at the Cannes Lions Festival. One was for the Save
Calligraphy project, the other for redesigning the logo of
Ogilvy & Mather in Urdu. Winning made him sit up and think
about the importance of culturally rooted work.
In 2015, he says he started Ishq Urdu with two ideas.
The first was the word “Aazadi”, written in Urdu and Hindi
such that it could be read both left to right and right to
left. It was an instant hit on Independence Day. The second
was Bollywood Without Urdu: a series of posts referencing
popular film songs and dialogues with Urdu words
replaced by Sanskritised Hindi synonyms. “Mogambo
khush hua” thus became “Mogambo prasann hua”, while
“Dil to bachcha hai ji” became “Hriday to baalak hai ji”.
The idea was to remind people that so much of what
they sing, dream, speak is actually Urdu. Shadani was
troubled that even though songs like “Rashk-e-Qamar”,

Here’s a twist on the Ship of Theseus paradox. The original

Nasheet Shadani
paradox is this: If a ship has been restored or fixed after
having all its parts replaced, is it still the same ship? But
what if the ship were taken apart, its rusty parts polished,
its software updated and the whole thing re-assembled
and manned by a new crew? Is it still the same ship?
A decade ago, Urdu was a cultural vessel that looked the
worse for wear. Lovers of the language spoke of it ruefully,
as if it were headed for the ship-breaking yard.
Mushairas (public poetry recitations) were organised in a
few cities, but tucked out of sight of the cultural mainstream.
A generation educated in English-medium schools couldn’t
even read the posters advertising the event. Besides, Urdu
wasn’t necessarily their scene. College fests had jazz and
hip-hop rather than ghazals and qawwalis. The new leisure
was gaming and memes, selfies and social media, Netflix and
trying to chill. Couplets and metaphors?
Actually, yes. Couplets and metaphors.
Enter the new Urdu. The old ship has got a fresh coat
of paint, new steel joints and a robust crew. Stereotypes
associated with Urdu, its ethos and its poets are, thankfully,
dying out. You’d be hard pressed to spot a black sherwani
in the mehfils and open mics where the most popular poets
read. Today, Urdu wears jeans and T-shirts. The wah-wahs
might come off as a bit self-conscious, and are usually
replaced by applause. In fact, the wah-wahi now takes the
form of likes, shares and follows on Facebook, Twitter,
YouTube and Instagram.
When the new Urdu writes of its terror of death-by-
nicotine, it ends up as a viral video. Chartered accountant-
turned-financial manager-turned-writer Hussain Haidry’s
performace of his poem “Lat” (Habit) was turned into a
video by a cultural space, Kommune, earlier this year. It
garnered over 3,22,000 views and brought more visibility
than he’d anticipated. He followed it up with “Hindustani
Mussalman”, which doubled his audience and led to
appearances on national television, invitations to mushairas
and writing lyrics for Hindi films.
The new Urdu doesn’t take itself too seriously. Take Ishq
Urdu, a Facebook page with around 2,55,000 followers. On
August 15 this year, a still of Madhubala from the iconic
1960 film Mughal-e-Azam taking a selfie was posted, with
the caption: Anarkali – Qile mein Ishq Urdu ki saalgirah par
DJ party ke liye tayyar! (Anarkali is ready for the DJ party at

DECEMBER 2017 – 241

 Shiraz Husain

“Afghan Jalebi” and “Chhaiyaan Chhaiyaan” were on everyone’s

lips, young people thought of Urdu as a language spoken by an
obscure species. Indeed, the promoters of the language were using
obscure methods. Many blogs and websites presented Urdu in a
rather depressing way, Shadani felt, focusing mainly on poetry and
not on its cultural ecosystem. With Ishq Urdu, he’s brought back
some of the fun. The page offers couplets and quotes from writers
as diverse as Manto, Plato and “Mirza” Eminem, along with jokes,
memes, word meanings and graphic art.
There are other literary design initiatives, like the Khwaab
Tanha Collective by Shiraz Husain, which cleverly spans virtual
and tangible worlds. It offers merchandise like mugs, posters
and T-shirts printed with writers’ portraits, and lots more online:
sketches, interactive GIFs, recitations on Soundcloud. What’s more,
Khwaab Tanha doesn’t restrict itself to a narrow definition of the
Urdu writer. Ghalib and Manto find place, of course, as do Parveen
Shakir, Jaun Eliya, Gulzar, Vinod Kumar Shukla, satirist Harishankar
Parsai, Amrita Pritam and Paash, who wrote in Punjabi.
The most significant thing about the new Urdu is that it rejects
ghettos. Rana Safvi, a historian who started two vibrant Twitter
handles, @urdualfaz and @shairoftheday, is among those who
reject the false binary of a Hindi/Urdu split along religious lines.
A pinned tweet on her own page says: “My name is Urdu and I
am not a Muslim”.
Partition was rough on the language as the interwoven threads of
Urdu-Hindustani-Hindi were unravelled. Fewer people could read
the script, Nastaliq. Urdu was not on the syllabus at English- and
Hindi-medium schools. As early as the Sixties, Sahir Ludhianvi,
one of the most beloved poet-lyricists of Hindi cinema, was writing
of the step-motherly treatment afforded the language, and its
demonisation as a “gaddar zubaan” (traitor’s language).
Even so, through the Eighties and Nineties, Urdu remained a
big part of north Indian pop culture. Middle-class entertainment
included ghazal nights at the theatre. Singers like Jagjit Singh, Pankaj
Udhas and Penaz Masani were desi rock stars. On television, there

242 – DECEMBER 2017

THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THING ABOUT THE NEW URDU IS THAT
IT REJECTS GHETTOS. RANA SAFVI IS AMONG THOSE WHO
REJECT THE FALSE BINARY OF A HINDI/URDU SPLIT ALONG
RELIGIOUS LINES. A PINNED TWEET ON HER OWN PAGE SAYS:
“MY NAME IS URDU AND I AM NOT A MUSLIM”
was a series about Mirza Ghalib’s life. There were competitive
qawwalis too, of the ladies’ team versus gents’ team type,
where the poetry was often humorous. But, along with the last
century, these entertainments also faded away.
In recent years, though, the tide seems to be turning. The
language is reasserting itself in the cultural mainstream,
and not in any apologetic fashion either. Safvi, for instance,
had been living abroad and feeling very cut off from her
cultural roots when Twitter came to the rescue. In 2011, she
started Sha’ir of the Day as a way to connect to Urdu lovers
regardless of their religious background. She picked a theme
and a couplet, and followers jumped in with their own
contributions. Thus the conversation was built. In 2013, she
started another handle to help with vocabulary. Urdu Alfaz
offers a word, its meaning and examples of how it is used in
poetry. Both handles remain popular, with over 15,500 and
20,100 followers, respectively.
Then, in 2013, a tall figure came striding onboard the
Urdu mothership. Sanjiv Saraf set up the Rekhta Foundation.
“Rekhta” is the older word for the uniquely Indian hybrid
language that eventually developed into Urdu.
Saraf attended IIT Kharagpur before joining his family
business, manufacturing polyester films. He incubated some
other businesses, including a hydroelecticity project and
Manupatra, an online legal information provider, before
finally, at 53, returning to his old love, Urdu. He tried to
learn it but found there weren’t enough good resources
online. Assuming there were millions like himself who loved
the literature but had limited access, he set up Rekhta to
preserve, archive, digitise and promote what he describes
as a deeply expressive tongue, linked with love, romance
and sophistication. With due respect to all others, he says,
no other language matches the lyrical beauty, sweetness and
magnificence of Urdu.
He also stresses that it isn’t just a language but a culture
that transcends age, region and religion. He wants to
expand its audience, and in this he is succeeding. Websites
like urdupoetry.com existed; they provided the text in Roman
English with the meanings of unfamiliar words. But Rekhta
pushed the envelope much further, with a smarter, more
aesthetic design and many more tools: Rekhta.org offers a
dictionary, but one can also just look up a word by clicking
on it. Readers can switch between Hindi, Urdu and English
scripts for the same text. They can read scanned versions
of books that may not be in bookstores. There’s video and
audio and a daily dose of couplets and word meanings. The
latest offering is Aamozish, which offers tools to help learn
to read Nastaliq.
None of this is one man’s doing, of course. Rekhta
employs a team of 60 people, including writers, scholars,
IT professionals, music composers, editors, translators and
social media handlers.
The team has little doubt that there’s a surge of interest,
especially among the younger generation. They estimate
that about 70 per cent of visitors to the website are between
18-35. The big leap, however, was taking that interest
offline, with Jashn-e-Rekhta. Literary festivals, including
the world’s biggest, in Jaipur, already feature poets like
Gulzar and Javed Akhtar, who attract tens of thousands of
fans. Jashn, however, is devoted solely to Urdu. Free and
open to all, it’s growing into one of the more prestigious
events on the circuit; footfalls have risen from 20,000 in 2015
to about 1,40,000 in early 2017. The fourth edition, slated
for this month, will take place at a larger venue in Delhi to
accommodate bigger crowds.
If a new, hyperconnected India is seeking out Urdu again,
the evolution of technology, from websites to blogs to social
media and widespread access to smartphones, has a lot
to do with it. The creative energy and content comes from
individuals driven by passion and a special set of skills.
One of them is a self-confessed drifter who turned his film-
making experience to the service of poetry. Manish Gupta
has made films like Karma Aur Holi and lived abroad for 15
years doing a bunch of things, including running a nightclub
in Miami. Four years ago, he founded YouTube channel Hindi
Kavita, and followed it up with Urdu Studio.
Gupta says he was concerned that Indians were losing
access to their best writers now that English was the new
normal. “I lived in Indore in the Nineties and we were already
using English a lot. My wife and I even fought in English!
There was a time when, if you spoke in English, especially in
small towns, people said, he’s showing off. Now if you speak
in pure Hindustani, people get intimidated. They think you’re
showing off!”
He invested time and money producing videos to
professional standards. Actors, directors or writers read
out a beloved poem, revealing a personal connect. Style is
of essence, Gupta says, for it is stylish content that seduces
people rather than mere appeals to nationalist or linguistic
DECEMBER 2017 – 243

pride. “There is no format, but we edit carefully. We pay
attention to things like background score. We don’t just
document poetry, but try to show the glory, the mazaa of
the language.”
So far, his team has shot about 700 videos, and uploaded
about 400. Careful curation has garnered Hindi Kavita and
Urdu Studio over 59,000 and 21,000 subscribers, respectively.
Gupta has also screened some videos at colleges. And
with the help of volunteers located as far as Dehradun and
Hyderabad, he hopes the movement will go beyond video.
However, more video initiatives are also welcome, he urges.
“Our literature is cool, pretty mainstream. At least 60 crore
people speak the language (Hindustani). We need 1,500 or
2,000 channels, not just two.”
Though he created separate channels for Hindi and Urdu,
the dividing line is blurry. Faiz Ahmad Faiz and Dushyant
Kumar, Nazeer Akbarabadi and Allama Iqbal find place on
both. Gupta says, “This two-different-language thing is a
childish argument. Someone did complain once about the
use of ‘kavita’ instead of ‘nazm’ for an Urdu poem, but...” he
trails off and throws up his hands.
Yet, the wall between the two languages has always been
thin as an eggshell membrane. Or, as Ishq Urdu puts it,
they’re a “Jai-Veeru” unit. Some scholars believe the divide
is an artificial one. Rekhta/Urdu, Hindi/Hindvi or Hindustani
were brewed in the same pot, and the words were used
interchangeably in the 19th century, with Khari Boli and
244 – DECEMBER 2017
“THERE WAS
A TIME WHEN,
IF YOU SPOKE
IN ENGLISH,
ESPECIALLY IN
SMALL TOWNS,
PEOPLE SAID,
HE’S SHOWING
OFF. NOW IF YOU
SPEAK IN PURE
HINDUSTANI,
PEOPLE GET
INTIMIDATED.
THEY THINK
YOU’RE
Manish Gupta
SHOWING OFF”
Dakhani being variants. In the 20th century, two distinct
strands emerged, especially of written literature. There were
discernible traces of Persian in Urdu while Sanksrit was
more evident in Hindi, but the common idiom has always
straddled both.
Film-writer, lyricist and stand-up comic Varun Grover
laughs at the irony of attempting to stuff the two into separate,
sealed-off compartments. “Hindi is an Urdu word,” he points
out. “In Hindi, there’s no word for Hindi. The only way to
make Hindi speakers stop using Urdu is to physically reach
inside their throats and pull out their tongues.”
His own writing is best described as Hindustani. “It’s
what everyone who writes in the popular mainstream uses.
Take that popular dialogue from Tanu Weds Manu Returns:
‘Hum thode bewafa kya hue, aap to badchalan ho gaye.’
(I was a little unfaithful, but you have turned immoral).
What language is that if not Urdu?”
There may have been a feeling that it was being ignored,
but Grover believes Hindi speakers, especially readers,
have always been proximate to Urdu. “Ghalib, after all, is a
bestseller even today. Dushyant Kumar’s ghazal collection,
Saaye Mein Dhoop, has been a bestseller for decades.”
The credit for enabling the literature then goes to
publishers like Rajkamal and Vani Prakashan, who have
published the work of writers like Ghalib, Sahir Ludhianvi,
Nida Fazli, Bashir Badr, Gulzar and many others in Devnagri.
Hussain Haidry would agree. It was Devnagri that helped
him discover the stalwarts. His father ran a
bookstore in Indore, so he had plenty of access to
literature. However, he didn’t write much himself.
What changed things for him was moving
to Mumbai to work for Ernst & Young, and
discovering the concept of the open mic.
In 2009, Haidry says, he hadn’t imagined
himself up on stage. Amateurs could only attend
mushairas to hear established poets. But at open
mics, he soon made friends with other poets and
eventually started performing. “I don’t think I’m
even one per cent as good as the best poets at
mushairas and sammelans, but at least I found a platform,”
he says.
Cultural spaces like Kommune and open mics held in cafés
and private studios are significant in that they help people
cross linguistic borders and foster the cultural mellifluence
that gave birth to Urdu in the first place. They also help fresh
voices emerge, but Haidry adds a note of caution. Poets must
develop their craft, or the open mic may turn into just another
fad that lets you appear “cool and deep”.
Haidry makes no bones about the fact that he himself is
not an “adbi shayar”, a literary poet. “The spoken medium
is no measure of high quality,” he says. Nor are the number
of likes on Facebook or YouTube, and Grover agrees. The
best writers are not necessarily internet sensations. Asked
to name a contemporary they admire, both promptly name
Abhishek Shukla.
Born in Ghazipur in 1987, Shukla is what you’d call a poet’s
poet. He works hard on his craft. He not only sought
mentorship when he began writing, he also subscribes to
the view that rhyme and metre are as important as ideas.
His next goal is to try to learn Persian.
The journey hasn’t been easy. The language used at home
was quite rough, he says, and his interest in poetry developed
through songs. He recalls a time when he heard taunts like,
“Ye Javed Akhtar banna chahte hain” (he wants to be Javed
Akhtar). “I suppose my family was worried that I wouldn’t
have a job,” he says.
He does have a job now. Based in Lucknow, he works at a
rural branch of the State Bank of India, setting out for work
every day at 7am and returning at 9:30pm. He reads and
writes only in his spare time. Yet, since writing his first ghazal
in 2008, his reputation has quickly grown. He’s read at Jashn-
e-Rekhta and even international mushairas in Dubai, Bahrain
and Karachi.
Shukla is likely to publish his first collection of ghazals
early next year, which is the real goal. Mushairas are more
prestigious than open mics – he calls them “fashionable”
– but they don’t matter as much. “What’s important is to
publish, to build a body of work.” The development of
this will be interesting to watch, for his work appears to
be seeded with the humane values and lyrical
strength that drove progressive Urdu writers in
decades past. His couplets have the malleability
that makes them pertinent to “love” but also
relevant to any other spiritual or material
context. Sample this: “Khush libaasi thi jahaan
shart usi mehfil mein/Log kehte hain tera hijr
pehen aaye the hum” (Where the dress code
said, Bright, into that gathering/People say,
I showed up wearing our separation).
The new Urdu “cool”, as represented by jokes
and fake quotes attributed to Ghalib, is starting
to bother Shukla, though he doesn’t mind the iconography.
“You may have seen posters of Ghalib or T-shirts with Faiz
printed on them. It makes the work visible, so it’s okay for
the uninitiated. Chhat par paani gir raha hai to ghar seelega
hi (when it rains on the terrace, the walls get damp). But
what’s next? What’s beyond cool?”
Ask him to supply an answer to his own question and he
pauses to reflect. “Currently, we have at least 20 good Urdu
writers who are familiar with the best work produced around
the world,” he says. Among them, he cites Rahul Jha, Pallav
Mishra, Shahbaz Rizvi and Abbas Qamar, some of whom
are still studying or only just out of college. “People used to
say, ‘Just look at the work being produced in Pakistan, that’s
poetry!’ I think soon we can say that about Urdu in India.”
If the new Urdu speaks in a confident voice today, it is
also because of the several efforts from people who use
whatever platform they have access to.
There are video initiatives like Banana Poetry and The
Mansarovar Project (TMP) – the latter was started in 2016
by Shivam Sharma, who chose the name Mansarovar
because it means “lake of the mind”, and also because it is
the title of the collected stories of Munshi Premchand, one
of our foremost Hindi-Urdu writers.
Sharma, who grew up in small towns around Uttar
Pradesh, before heading to Pune to study at FTII, wanted to
do something on YouTube. However, Hindi Kavita and Urdu
Studio were already doing recitation-based videos. “I looked
at the comments and felt that the videos hold greater appeal
to people already inclined towards poetry. I wanted to take
poetry to people who didn’t yet know that they like it,” he
says. So he used a different visual tack, starting with Jan
Nisar Akhtar’s “Aakhri Mulaqaat” (Final Encounter) as the
basis for an abstract short film. Collaborating with musician
friends, he now hopes to perform live.
Hussain Haidry
DECEMBER 2017 – 245

“HINDI IS AN URDU WORD,”
FILM-WRITER VARUN
GROVER POINTS OUT. “IN
HINDI, THERE’S NO WORD
FOR HINDI. THE ONLY WAY
TO MAKE HINDI SPEAKERS
STOP USING URDU IS TO
PHYSICALLY REACH INSIDE
THEIR THROATS AND PULL
OUT THEIR TONGUES”
A few years ago, Arwa Mamaji and Priya Nijhara set up
the blog Urduwallahs. They were invited to run a monthly
discussion group called Urdu Mehfil at Prithvi Theatre
in Mumbai. Screenwriter Javed Siddiqui would lead the
conversation and others pitched in with readings, sharing
of anecdotes and film clippings.
There are fiction-based initiatives too, like Katha
Kathan. Retired advertising man Jameel Gulrays started
out recording himself reading short stories out loud and
uploading them on YouTube. Soon, others joined in. In
recent months, Gulrays and his band of volunteers have
moved on to staged readings, and they also conduct an
informal baithak for enthusiasts at regular intervals.
246 – DECEMBER 2017
Sanjiv Saraf
Theatre groups such as Motley, based in Mumbai,
have performed Ismat Chughtai and Manto’s fiction for
over a decade. This year, Tamashaa Theatre ran a series
of Urdu readings to introduce audiences to other writers.
Sunil Shanbag says the initiative is rooted in an attempt
to recall what is at the heart of theatre: the stories. “We
began with Marathi readings, which were quite popular.
This year, we’re exploring Urdu. Most people don’t
know much beyond Manto and Chughtai. If they’re well-
read, they may have heard of Qurratulain Hyder, but
their knowledge ends there. We’re taking it further, from
the earliest published stories to contemporary fiction by
Naiyer Masud and Intizar Hussain.”
Facebook, Instagram and Twitter keep the mix
interesting with all of the above-mentioned channels
and collectives, alongside Sha’ir, Jalwagah, NbtJashn
and some dead poets (half a dozen handles are run by
fans for Sahir Ludhianvi alone).
What’s remarkable is that all of these are born out of
love. A better Urdu vocabulary or the ability to quote
a couplet does not necessarily bring tangible rewards
(although Gupta disagrees; the ability to flirt via poetry
is a real incentive, he says). For most people, though,
IMAGE: GETTY IMAGES (SARAF)
learning, interpreting and promoting the language has
been a personal journey. Or perhaps it is just as the poet
Farhat Ehsas claims: Sar charh ke bolta hai Urdu zabaan
ka jaadu (Urdu is a magic potion that goes straight to the
head). Perhaps Urdu has once again gone to our heads
and turned us, gently, back towards itself.
 New Delhi Mumbai

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G olden irl
Feel like you haven’t seen enough of Radhika Apte this year? Us either. GQ got the lustrous actor to
take a break from a manic work schedule and give us the low-down on a life lived outside the mould

P H OTO G R A P H E D BY TA R U N V I S H WA • STYLED BY VIJENDRA BHARDWAJ • W R I T T E N BY N I D H I G U P TA

250 — DECEMBER 2017

 DRESS BY
ERMANNO SCERVINO

OPPOSITE PAGE:
SLIP DRESS BY
LA PERLA

DECEMBER 2017 — 251

 adhika Apte returns to the backstage area
and promptly collapses into a bear hug with
several human beings bedecked in black and
gold, silver and sequin. The actor has just
strutted across the 2017 GQ Fashion Nights
ramp as showstopper for designer duo
Shantanu & Nikhil in a stunning Thar-inspired
mustard-and-slate ensemble. All around her is
hectic activity – photographers snapping away, models, make-
up artists, designers running in and out of tents, fans who’ve
snuck in to demand selfies. In the middle of it all, Apte stands,
obliging everybody with that smile of hers – somehow coy and
confident at once – and a quick thanks. They love her.
“You killed it,” I join in the chorus. Apte, fixing her
septum ring: “Really? My arms didn’t go flailing a bit too
much?” she laughs. “I haven’t really done this before.”
2017’s been that kind of year for Apte, doing things she
hasn’t before. And there isn’t much that Radhika Apte hasn’t
already done. A trained contemporary and Kathak dancer,
she’s also been doing theatre since she was 10. She’s starred
in films of all makes and sizes, she’s (un)done things in them
that most others would (and did) balk at. Oh, and she did The
Marriage Thing a long time ago – five years ago, to be exact. 
“I’ve been working like a dog this whole year,” Apte says
wearily, “and I’m just overwhelmed.” A pause, before she
adds, “Fortunate also, for the kind of people and projects I’ve
got on my plate this year.” She’s shooting multiple projects
simultaneously – also a first – including Anurag Kashyap’s
horror flick Ghoul, Gaurav Chawla’s stock market thriller
Baazaar, Sriram Raghavan’s Shoot The Piano Player and a
Netflix series based on Vikram Chandra’s magnum opus,
Sacred Games. “There’s something new to learn every day.”
As she gets ready to kick off 2018 with the R Balki-helmed
biopic Padman in January – in which she plays the demure
housewife to Akshay Kumar’s social activist Arunachalam
Muruganantham – here is Radhika Apte musing on life and
career; and being a veritable portrait of an artist in flux.

What are you looking forward to in 2018 – apart from a string of

releases, presumably?
A big long break [laughs]. I don’t know what I’ll do in that
break, I’m more of a doer than a talker. But that’s all I really
want, to travel and do more interesting work that will help
me meet more people and be more inspired.
 
Padman seems exciting. What’s it been like working with
Akshay Kumar?
Akshay’s such a big star, so spontaneous, so unpredictable.
I wouldn’t know what he’d turn into the moment the
camera started rolling, so that kept me alert. Working with
Saif [Ali Khan, on Baazaar and Sacred Games] was also an
experience because Saif is interested in so many things. He’s
always reading on set, he’ll really research his character…
He has a child’s curiosity. I’ve grown up watching their work,
and now we’re contemporaries. It’s an interesting space.
 
Do you feel like you’re ready to shed that “indie” tag that follows you
around everywhere?
Honestly, I don’t even register it. I’m just doing my work, and
if you want to put labels on me, you can. That’s your problem.
I get that you want a descriptor, but these are all relative. Sure
I can be “bold” in certain areas, but I am also very timid in
many other ways. I can be indie, but I can be commercial too.

252 — DECEMBER 2017

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SCERVINO. SHOES BY
CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN

DECEMBER 2017 — 253

SLIP DRESS BY LA PERLA.
SHOES BY CHRISTIAN
LOUBOUTIN

OPPOSITE PAGE:
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SCERVINO. SHOES BY
CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN

254 — DECEMBER 2017

If you want work, you have to be commercial. It’s just… Work,
you know. I don’t feel I’ve done enough of anything; in fact,
I’m still trying to understand what I want to do. I want to be a
part of world cinema, not be restricted to Indian cinema. And
I feel like this is all still the beginning.
Speaking of beginnings – what were your initial days in the industry
like, back in 2005?
I did Life Ho Toh Aisi! in 2005 when I’d just started college, and I
didn’t consider it as part of my “work experience” at all. I never
got paid to begin with, it was just something I did during the
summer holidays. That, along with [RGV’s] Rakhta Charitra,
were my first auditions for Bollywood. Actually, before that, I
auditioned for Dev D with Anurag [Kashyap].
I was, I think, second on the shortlist, but that was before Kalki
auditioned. I actually started to focus [on acting] around the
time we were shooting for Hunterr, about four years ago.
What can you get away with now that you’re famous?
Am I? I’m not that famous. And I’m pretty sure I don’t want
that either, I really like my personal space. Like, one time
at the Mumbai airport, this guy interrupted me during a
phone conversation to ask for a selfie. I hate it when people
do that – intrude on your private space and think it’s okay
to interrupt whatever you’re doing. When I asked him if
he even knew who I was, or if he could name three films of
mine, he mumbled that he’d seen me in an ad for a fairness
cream. Which I’ve never done.  and I think if you can do that, you have learned to live.
Do you find a lot of men vying for your attention?
Not much of that either, to be honest. I don’t check my
social media inboxes; Facebook is strictly for staying in
touch with close friends; Instagram is more a work-related
platform. You’ll never see me put up selfie after selfie.
So how do you meet new people?
I’m not much of a social animal, I either spend time with
close friends and family, or alone, or on set. I guess the
one thing that attracts me to anybody – man or woman – is
their energy. Isn’t that how it actually works – you just feel
attracted to somebody and then you figure out what it is
that you like about them? Relationships have to be about
that connection, about laughing and talking a lot. Yeah,
I guess if I was single, I would be single for a long time.
 
It’s a good thing you’ve been married for a while, then.
Five years. But I don’t really feel married, because Benedict
[Taylor] and I didn’t do anything the traditional way. He’s in
London, I’m here, we travel a lot, it’s long-distance a lot of
the time. I haven’t met anyone kinder and more generous
than him though. And, he introduced me to the musician
I love best: Joni Mitchell.
 
Who else do you admire?
My mother. She’s the strongest woman I know. And my
late grandmother. She could find humour in anything,
DECEMBER 2017 — 255
“I CAN BE ‘BOLD’,
BUT I AM VERY TIMID
IN MANY OTHER
WAYS. I CAN BE
INDIE, I CAN ALSO
BE COMMERCIAL”

256 — DECEMBER 2017

SLIP DRESS BY
LA PERLA

OPPOSITE PAGE:
SLIP DRESS BY
LA PERLA. NECKLACE
BY CORNELIA WEBB

HAIR & MAKE-UP:

DEEPA VERMA
ASSISTANT STYLIST:
TANYA VOHRA
FASHION ASSISTANT:
DESIRÉE FERNANDES
PRODUCTION:
MEGHA MEHTA,
ANOMALY PRODUCTIONS

DECEMBER 2017 — 257


PIMP MY
PLANE
Private jets have been around since the Sixties, but of
late they’ve grown bigger, and are able to do much more
than that hop across the pond for lunch. These bigger
airplanes – which are now available for charter, for those
who need a travelling office or a home with the bells and
whistles while on the way to that family vacation – have
the same operating costs as conventional private jets,
and also fit into the same footprint as a Gulfstream or
Bombardier. You can just do more inside. At the Dubai
Airshow 2017, we saw three jets that are challenging
what’s possible for those who don’t want to fly commercial
W R I T T E N BY A J AY AW TA N E Y
258 – DECEMBER 2017
NON-STOP PARTY
DEER JET
The “Dream Jet” is the world’s only VVIP-outfitted
787 available for charter. This massive plane
allows you to fly up to 18.5 hours non-stop, and
accommodates up to 40 people. The master suite,
which has been soundproofed to keep audio
levels down to 44db – roughly how loud a library
is – features a king-sized bed with Hermès linens,
separate wardrobe and changing areas and an en
suite bathroom with heated floors. The lounge-
cum-dining area is the perfect place to catch a drink
before enjoying a delicious meal at a proper dining
table. And there are 18 comfortable Business Class
seats in the back for the rest of your entourage.
Basically, you can go about living the good life in
the air as you would on the ground.
Make: Boeing Business Jet 787 Dreamliner
• Range: 9,800 miles non-stop (aka Los Angeles-Mumbai)
• Seats: Up to 40 • USP: A master bedroom
that’s been soundproofed to keep the sound level at
44 decibels, roughly as loud as a library.
• Price: Approximately $70,000 per hour
uas.aero
 THE ROYAL SUITE
COMLUX
If sleeping in small suites isn’t your thing, this one’s got a queen bed.
This A319 jet is done up in mirror-finished wood and has two rooms Make: Airbus Corporate Jet A319
in the back that can be configured into a bedroom, or a lounge for • Range: 4,600 miles non-stop (aka Mumbai-Tokyo
private meetings. Up front, you can set up a flying boardroom or a or Delhi-London) • Seats: Up to 19
dining area. The shower suite is stocked with Molton Brown amenities • USP: Extra add-on fuel tanks to extend the range of
to help you stay fresh 40,000 feet above the ground. The plane also has your flight. • Price: On Request
internet connectivity to keep in touch with affairs on the ground. And, oneabove.aero
if you want to fly further than the standard eight hours, you’ve got the
option to pop in an extra fuel tank in the belly before takeoff.

SHEIKH IT UP
E M I R AT E S E X E C U T I V E
The solo private jet in Emirates’ fleet is painted all white with subtle
branding to keep things low-key. Once on board, you’ll be served
your favourite drink, kept ready by the crew and served in the lounge,
which can also be transformed into a boardroom, private restaurant
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 He’s a 23-year-old prophet of rage from West Delhi, with a flair for lyrical
dexterity, a cocky braggadocio rapper with an ear for big anthemic hooks.
And with Sez’s considerable production skills backing him up, Prabh Deep’s
got everything he needs to be Indian rap’s next big thing

WRITTEN BY BHANUJ K APPAL | PHOTOGRAPHED BY ABHISHEK BALI

that lurks under the surface of this lower-middle-class

ithe hunde ne fire te, aithe hunde
ne katal /
Aithe hunde ne nashe te, kinu painda
ni farak”
[Click Clack / Gunshots ring out
Click Clack / And murders are committed
Click Clack / Drugs are rife
Click Clack / But nobody cares]
—PRABH DEEP, CLASS-SIKH (2017)
n a muggy September evening, Prabh Deep takes
me on a guided tour around the warren of narrow
streets, criss-crossed by electricity wires, that used
to be his gang’s old stomping grounds. Neon-lit
eateries, family-owned beauty parlours and run-
down hakim shops dot Tilak Nagar’s cramped
alleyways. A second-floor window displays a sign featuring
a Sikh man in a sharp red turban, an advertisement for a
“turban training centre”. Weaving in and out of traffic, Prabh
points out sites of interest – the glitzy three-storey home
of a local crime lord, the dimly lit back backstreet where
teenagers armed with hockey sticks and bicycle chains act
out their fantasies of gang violence, the clinic where they go
to get patched up after – with gleeful, almost perverse, pride.
It all adds up to a dark psycho-geography of the violence
neighbourhood in Delhi. As we turn a corner, he stops.
The smell of cheap, adulterated street weed fills the air.
“Koi pitne wala hai (someone’s going to get beaten
up),” he says, spitting out the words with uncharacteristic
vehemence. “These guys are getting too bold.”
Earlier that day, Prabh had introduced me to a sallow-
faced, sunken-eyed young man walking a pitbull he was
training for amateur dog fights. A recovering heroin
addict who goes by the name “Hashish”, he gave me a
crash course on how drugs have changed the landscape
of this West Delhi neighbourhood. “Heroin, coke,
MDMA, crack, cough syrup, tablets, pain medication,”
he rattles off the names of the most popular drugs as if
reading out a shopping list. “The kids are obsessed with
chitta (heroin). They start when they’re teenagers, and
ruin their lives.”
A quick Google search throws up multiple news
reports about massive drug busts involving residents
of Tilak Nagar (which also boasts over a dozen rehab
clinics). It seems the neighbourhood – along with more
infamous Delhi areas like Khirki Junction, Paharganj
and Seemapuri – has become one of the hubs of a major
trans-national drug transit route that connects poppy
fields in Afghanistan and Myanmar with drug markets
in Sri Lanka, Africa and Europe. Few escape untouched.
Prabh tells me about Abu, a childhood friend whose

260 – DECEMBER 2017

DECEMBER 2017 – 261
 addiction pushed him into a life of crime, and who spent
years in Tihar Jail for murder before succumbing to an
overdose. “I tried to get him a job at the place I was working
at, thinking that then he wouldn’t have the time or energy
to go out and do drugs,” he remembers, chuckling. “Five
neighbourhoods attacked on the first day was Nangloi
minutes into the interview, he’d grabbed the guy by his
Jat, the West Delhi municipality adjacent to the upper-
collar. He didn’t get the job and I got fired too.”
middle-class conclave of Paschim Vihar.
Stories like these form the emotional core of Prabh’s
Prabh’s grandfather Jagdip Singh, along with two
first full-length record Class-Sikh, which debuted at No 2
of his four brothers, was among the 65 Sikhs murdered
on the iTunes India albums chart on October 16. That’s an
that night. The family’s wealth – and their connections
impressive feat for an underground rap album put out on
with Congress leader Sajjan Kumar – couldn’t save them.
a fledgling indie label with a marketing budget smaller
In one fell stroke, the family lost everything, joining
than most GQ readers’ monthly salaries. But a couple of
thousands of refugees in the rehabilitation colony of Tilak
spins is all it takes to realise that, if anything, Class-Sikh is
Vihar. “I’ve seen the sons of crorepatis die on the streets
criminally underrated. Aided by collaborator Sajeel Kapoor
like beggars,” reminisces Prabh’s father Manmohan
aka Sez’s minimal production, Prabh crafts a compelling
Singh, who was 14 at the time of the massacre. “Their
tale about coming of age in a neighbourhood ravaged by
parents dead, no adults left in the family, they went from
poverty, unemployment and drugs. Listening to the 12-track
growing up like princes to dying like dogs.”
album feels almost voyeuristic, with Prabh dissecting his
“[Prabh] was the first ray of sunshine for our family
inner mind and the environment that’s shaped him with the
after 1984,” adds his mother, Jaswinder Kaur. By the
clinical precision of a forensic pathologist. “A good album is
time he was born, in 1993, the family had moved out
all about the story,” he tells me. “And Class-Sikh is my story.”
of Tilak Vihar to the slightly more upmarket nearby
neighbourhood of Tilak Nagar. But the trauma of 1984
still lingered. Manmohan Singh struggled – and failed
– to get a job, and developed a gambling addiction that
he beginning of that story stretches back to only added to their problems. Kaur became the family’s
October 30, 1984, nine years before Prabh was main breadwinner, running the house on the meagre
born. That morning, Indira Gandhi was gunned earnings from her small hair salon.
down by two of her Sikh bodyguards, who “I grew up without my dad, he was never there,” says
pumped 33 rounds into her body. Over the next Prabh, when we sit down for a chat later that day. He
four days, anti-Sikh mobs – allegedly aided by and his father don’t talk much, he tells me, and often
the Delhi Police and members of the Indian National fight when they do. But there is also mutual respect, and
Congress – rampaged all over the capital city. One of the age and distance have helped him get some perspective
on his father’s struggles. “I understand now why he got
into gambling. He wanted to get rich, so that he could
give me the life he had before 1984.”

262 – DECEMBER 2017


rabh was an outgoing, carefree child, but as he
grew older, the family’s perennial financial troubles
took their toll. In school, the principal would
regularly pull him up in front of his classmates,
asking why his school fees were late again. By his
teens, he’d grown into a quiet, inward-looking boy.
This, along with his short stature, made him a regular
target for bullies. Prabh ignored the provocations until
one day in the seventh grade an older boy slapped him
in front of his classmates, and he broke down in tears.
After school that day, Prabh tracked down the assaulter
to return the favour. “After that I stopped being afraid of
picking fights,” he tells me. “Now I don’t give a fuck.”
Pretty soon, Prabh had his own gang, taking part in
neighbourhood street fights and what he calls “small-
time haraamigiri”. He also started hustling for spending
money, flipping second-hand phones and motorbikes
at a mark-up, and acting as a middleman for money
lenders. “It was easy money,” he says. “And growing up
around here, you learn early that money equals power.”
It was around this time that Prabh found hip-hop. He
was 13 when he and his best friend Happu Singh – now
also a rapper – came across a b-boy crew practising their
moves in the nearby Vikaspuri District Park. The two were
fascinated by the strange dance moves, the clothes, the
don’t-give-a-fuck attitude. He joined the crew, and spent
the next few years honing his skills as an amateur dancer
while studying for a career as a chartered accountant.
But as his 12th board exams drew near, Prabh became
increasingly disenchanted with the world of academica. So
he decided to drop out (his mother hints that the family’s
precarious finances also played a role in the decision). “I
think school is basically a system of control,” he tells me.
“The education system is too outdated. It’s just getting you
ready to be workers, to be cogs in the machine.”
For a while, Prabh thought that he’d make a career
as a b-boy, but dancing wasn’t bringing in enough
money to pay the bills. He worked a number of odd jobs,
including a long-ish, well-paid stint in the BPO industry,
but the familiar sense of alienation and disillusionment
followed him around. “When I started working at the
call centre, family friends started coming in with rishtas
for me,” he laughs. “All they saw was that I was well-
dressed, I had money to spend. But they didn’t see how
shitty it all felt. Yeh naukri hai, main naukar hun. Calling
it a job in English doesn’t change that fact.”
Then in 2013, a young Sikh academic from Germany
named Jaspal Singh, whom he’d met at a Snoop Dogg
concert, invited him to his house to record a track. That
song – about life at a call centre – was “super bad”, but
Singh left him his microphone when he returned to
Germany. Prabh quit his job, and spent the next year
locked in his room, researching hip-hop’s roots and
learning the ropes of music production and recording.
While most of his peers in the nascent Delhi hip-hop
scene imitated the slang-laden ebonics of American
rap, Prabh chose to rap in Punjabi. But this wasn’t the
sanitised, corporate club-rap that currently dominates
the Punjabi music industry, and, increasingly, Bollywood.
Prabh’s music channels a different strain, the conscious
music that once drove Chuck D – the frontman of rap
insurgents Public Enemy – to proclaim that “rap is black
America’s CNN”, giving the rest of us a window into
the lives of America’s marginalised minority, whose
struggles in the inner cities went largely unreported and
unrepresented in popular culture.
Underneath all the aspirational hyper-materialism and
crime-noir fantasies, underground rap is a genre committed
to the idea of art as a vehicle for social change. It’s this legacy
that Prabh owes his allegiance to. “In 10 years, I’ll stand for
MLA from my streets,” he tells me, launching into his plans
for the regeneration of the neighbourhood he’s grown up in.
“Growing up, I always wanted to make money and move my
family out of the gullys. But I don’t want the next generation
to feel that way. I’m going to make Tilak Nagar a place
people are proud to live in.”
In his Punjabi heritage, Prabh also found a rich vein of
oral storytelling to tap into, and his aesthetic owes much
to the folk songs of Gurdas Maan and Kuldeep Manak.
Another source of inspiration is Amar Singh Chamkila, the
Dalit enfant terrible of Eighties Punjabi folk who scandalised
the upper castes with his songs about extramarital sex,
alcohol and drug use. “At the time, folk music was mostly
spiritual, all about the Gurus,” says Prabh, who grew up
listening to his father’s old Chamkila tapes. “While he was
singing about the stuff that happens in people’s daily lives.
DECEMBER 2017 – 263
 He was keeping it real.”
But the Punjabi wordsmith who would be most
influential on Prabh’s songwriting is Sant Ram Udasi,
the Naxalite poet whose militant lyricism skewered
both the bourgeoisie and the Brahmanical caste system.
“His poetry talks so deeply about things that are still
happening around us,” says Prabh. “I want my music to
be like Udasi’s poetry, still relevant decades later.”
rabh spent the next couple of years putting out
single after single, building a dedicated following in
the Delhi hip-hop underground scene. He’s been a
regular here since his b-boy days, when it was little
more than a small, tightly knit community that would
come together to show off rhymes and dance skills in
friendly competition on street corners, in parks and – rarely
– Delhi’s less fashionable clubs. Today he’s a mentor to the
city’s new crop of young, aspiring rappers and frequent
collaborators MC Calm and Encore ABJ of the bilingual rap
duo Seedhe Maut. He’s also involved in organising street
parties, DIY ciphers such as “Introduce Yourself” and other
events that help keep this community alive. “In Delhi, the
two big pillars of the scene are Prabh and Sez,” says Happu
Singh. “They’re the ones who pushed it into the limelight.”
Sez, the producer behind hits like rapper Divine’s “Mere
Gully Mein” and “Jungli Sher”, would also be instrumental
in helping Prabh make the step up from small-time local
hero to rising rap star, Puma endorsee and the face of
Saavn’s #DesiHipHop billboards all across the country.
The two met in 2015, when a Facebook conversation led
to a recording session the same day. By the end of the
month they were fast friends. In Sez, Prabh had found
the perfect partner-in-crime, a producer who instinctively
understood the sound he was aiming for, the Sounwave to
his Kendrick Lamar. Sez’s presence looms over Class-Sikh,
a record he produced, mixed, mastered and even helped
write. “[Meeting Sez] was one of the turning points in my
life,” says Prabh. “He constantly keeps surprising me. That’s
great for me, it gives me something to work with lyrically.”
It was around the same time, in late 2015, that Prabh
met the final piece of the puzzle, Uday Kapur. The music
264 – DECEMBER 2017
journalist and Azadi Records co-founder was working with
entertainment conglomerate Only Much Louder (OML) at
the time, where he was managing Mumbai rapper Naezy.
Earlier this year, Kapur returned to India after completing
an undergraduate degree in Denmark and teamed up with
Mo Joshi, a music entrepreneur from the UK, to start Azadi
Records, an independent label with a focus on hip-hop as a
means of protest and political engagement.
Their decision to pick up Class-Sikh for their first
release was a no-brainer. “These were stories that never
made it into the local news in Delhi,” Kapur tells me on
the balcony outside Sez’s modest home studio in Ashok
Vihar. “Here are all these people suffering and struggling
in the nation’s capital, and nobody is doing anything to
help them. Prabh is exactly the sort of artist we want to
work with, one whose work allows you to dive in and
seriously engage with the problems facing his area.”
Prabh, in turn, saw Kapur as someone who shares his
aversion to doing things by the music industry’s rules.
More importantly, he understands hip-hop is all about
that competitive edge, the ambition to prove that you’re
the best of the best. “I don’t claim to be the king or the
best rapper in India in my songs, I just try to prove it in
every single I drop,” says Prabh. “Matlab, ek gaane mein
maine dus baar sunna ‘Mera flow aisa hai, mera flow
waisa hai.’ Kar ke dikha de na, bolne ki kya zaroorat hai?”
This wouldn’t be the first time a motley crew of outsiders
have tried to shake up India’s moribund and formula-
bound music industry. But Prabh and Azadi have two big
advantages. The first is the rapidly expanding profile of
India’s DIY underground rap scene, which has made even
the slow-moving behemoth that is Bollywood sit up and
take notice – most recently in the form of a Zoya Akhtar
film project, following the breakout success of gully rap
pioneers Naezy and Divine. The second is the musical
talent that is Prabh himself, whose range of tones and vocal
textures allows him to shift gears from low deep-throated
growl to gravelly gangsta rap to smooth soul with ease.
That – combined with the emotional depth of his lyrics
and his ability to reframe quotidian detail as philosophical
epiphany – make Class-Sikh a potential game-changer.
Back in the studio, Prabh is busy trying on
the new clothes he’s just picked up from the
Puma store as part of his new endorsement
deal. He and Sez spend the next few minutes
trying to figure out how four items of clothing
can cost `35,000, joking about how the kids on
Prabh’s street would beat him up if they saw
him walking around in a camo hoodie. In the
corner, Kapur and Joshi are discussing plans
to get Class-Sikh onto the radio in the UK and
Canada, with an eye on their large Punjabi
diaspora. For his part, Prabh, with typically
outsized ambition, is plotting out how to
make his dream of playing at Madison Square
Garden in New York a reality. “[Sez and I]
have… A plan,” he says. “Catchy hooks, deep
verses. That’s how you get a big audience
while still talking about real stuff.”
1600 1100

960
 WEARABLE
H
Menswear
designers are
putting a new
emphasis on the

A
custom-made
buckles, snaps and
clasps that finish
everything from
your boots to your

R
bracelets. Here,
we take a look at
the season’s best
heavy metals

D
W
PHOTOGRAPHED BY
SEBASTIAN MADER

STYLED BY
MOBOL A JI DAWODU

A
R
E
TROUSERS, BOOTS; BOTH BY CALVIN KLEIN

266 — DECEMBER 2017

 GREY
MATTER
• Only Rick Owens
could turn a
keychain into an
S&M accessory,
making it look like
a tiny leather whip.
It’s also a keepsake,
reminding you (and
everyone else)
that it comes from
the designer’s
Fall/Winter 2017
collection, which
cheekily shares a
name with a Mariah
Carey movie: Glitter.
KEYCHAIN BY RICK OWENS

DECEMBER 2017 — 267

A NEW WAY
TO BLAZE
• By now, menswear
designers have
played with tailoring
proportions every
which way. And yet in
his final collection for
Givenchy, Riccardo
Tisci hit upon a new
idea: to explode the
humble blazer button.
BLAZER BY GIVENCHY BY
RICCARDO TISCI

268 — DECEMBER 2017

 BLACK
BEAUTY
• Dunhill started
115 years ago as
a London shop
supplying goggles,
headlights and other
sturdy goods to the
earliest motorists.
Its retro doctor bag
is made to last, too
– and it’s sneakily
versatile. The brassy
lock looks strictly
business, but the
bag can also handle
a weekend’s worth
of stuff.
BAG BY DUNHILL

DECEMBER 2017 — 269

 KNOTTED
UP
• Tom Ford is the
master of the subtle
branding flex. Case
in point: this ram’s
leather bracelet
with a gold clasp
that nobody would
mistake for anyone’s
initial but Tom’s.
BRACELET BY TOM FORD.
CARDIGAN BY VISVIM. SHIRT
BY MASSIMO ALBA.
TROUSERS BY A.P.C

GROOMING: TAKAYOSHI
TSUKISAWA
SET DESIGNER &
STILL-LIFE STYLIST:
JULIET JERNIGAN/CLM

270 — DECEMBER 2017

SLIP UP
• Miuccia Prada
channels a
radically different
world with every
collection. This
season she dove
deep into the
aesthetic of the
Seventies, and of
all the neo-kitsch
accessories
she brought
back, none were
shaggier (or more
comfortable)
than these furry,
studded sandals.
TROUSERS,
SOCKS, SANDALS;
ALL BY PRADA

DECEMBER 2017 — 271

 PHOTOGRAPHER: SIGNE VILSTRUP/TOMORROW MANAGEMENT
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 BANGALORE SESSIONS

Bangalore used to be the country’s most chilled-out, laid-back city – until it became a
cautionary tale for what happens when a city grows too fast without a matching rise in
infrastructure. In 2017, the Garden City still has a few things going for it: The weather’s
still fabulous, the Christmas and New Year’s parties as lively as ever. But the traffic
has become, if such a thing is possible, even worse. There’s the constant drone of
repair and construction work, and some of the poshest parts of the city look positively
post-apocalyptic. Over whisky and canapes in The Ritz-Carlton’s Presidential Suite,
our panellists – Sid Poojari, director of Sukh Sagar hotels; real estate magnate
Sanjiv Shanmugam; tech entrepreneur and quizzer Thejaswi Udupa; founder of the
country’s buzziest indie music venue, The Humming Tree, Nikhil Barua; and founding
MD of Narayan Murthy’s private equity fund Catamaran Ventures, Arjun R Narayan
– reveal Bangalore’s subtler charms, why its darshinis are Michelin-star worthy, and
why it’s going to remain India’s “Silicon Valley” for a long time to come

P H OTOG R A P H E D BY APARNA NORI INTERVIEWED BY SHIKHA SETHI

IN ASSOCIATION WITH
LOCATION: THE RITZ-CARLTON, BANGALORE

274 — DECEMBER 2017

FROM LEFT:
SANJIV SHANMUGAM,
NIKHIL BARUA,
ARJUN R NARAYAN,
THEJASWI UDUPA,
SID POOJARI

DECEMBER 2017 — 275

What’s most exciting about Bangalore
right now?
SID POOJARI: The cultural change we’re seeing
– there’s a huge influx of people from other parts
of the country, as well as from abroad, led by the
tech boom.

Israel recently set up an Israel Centre at

IIM Bangalore. And there’s talk between
both the governments about developing
a “hi-tech” triangle between Tel Aviv,
Bangalore and the Silicon Valley. 
POOJARI: Bangalore’s still best known as the
outsourcing capital of the world. Going forward, it
needs to become the source. But yes, its diversity
makes it easier for newcomers to make it home.
ARJUN R NARAYAN: I think the rough figure is,
if you’ve lived here for 15 years, you can safely be
considered a Bangalorean. Or, if you’ve been here
long enough to remember bars and pubs that have
long since shut. Places like Purple Haze, Tavern,
Casa Piccola and Tiffany’s. We also had theatres like
Plaza Galaxy, which turned into WeWork. Drive-In
turned into an IT park. So old Bangalore
died, and tech Bangalore took its place.
Do clubs still close at 11:30pm?
POOJARI: I think the deadline’s been
extended to 1am. But really, Bangalore
house parties are the best. The weather
is ideal, and there’s plenty of space.
Unlike Bombay, where everyone lives
in a matchbox.
SANJIV SHANMUGAM: It’s also a
BYOB scene, so people are more
relaxed about having friends over. The
pressure isn’t all on the host.  
THEJASWI UDUPA: Going back to
Bangalore’s history, it started off as
a cosmopolitan city. Kempe Gowda,
THEJASWI UDUPA
SID POOJARI
the city’s founder, is not actually a Kannadiga.
He was a Telugu guy, who came from Tamil
Nadu – his sisters came from Tamil Nadu – and
they set up the town. Since the beginning, we’ve
always had people from other parts coming here.
There’s Malleswaram, which is the Tamil part of
town, there’s an Andhra part of town. There’s
also a strong Anglo-Indian influence here thanks
to the British cantonment – you can see it in
neighbourhoods like Cox Town, Richmond Town.
Today, Indiranagar and Koramangala are the
hipster neighbourhoods.
POOJARI: In Bangalore, you’ll hear people
speak Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and maybe even
Malayalam. But if you go to any of the other
Southern states, you’ll mainly hear them speak
their own native language. 
And the music scene? Bangalore’s always
been associated with rock.
UDUPA: It still has the best rock music scene –
with some amazing bands like Bevar Sea and
Kryptos. Whenever people are feeling angsty,
they channel it into music, and there’s definitely
enough angst going around in a big city like
Bangalore. Funnily enough, a lot of the rock
singers I know started off in school choirs. That
may explain some of the angst too [laughs]. I saw
a great gig at The Humming Tree recently, which
hosted a Japanese Samurai death metal band
called Gotsu-Totsu-Kotsu. That was pretty cool.

The Humming Tree recently had the

Grammy award-winning Tinariwen
perform here as well. I’d say it’s one of
the country’s most exciting music venues.
Nikhil, what’s your experience been like?
NIKHIL BARUA: It’s definitely getting better.

276 — DECEMBER 2017

 I saw Mumford & Sons, along with Laura Marling,
during their India tour six or seven years ago,
when they weren’t that big. In Delhi, they played
with a Rajasthani folk band called The Dharohar
Project, and they blew me away. Later the Mumford
boys said those musicians were among the most
talented they’d ever played with. It bothered me that
I didn’t already know about them, and that more
people didn’t. The keyboardist of Mumford, Ben
Lovett, had started a venue in London with some
friends, The Flowerpot, with the simple idea that
by having their own venue they could programme
who they wanted, and run it as is. I’d returned
from Northwestern University in Chicago, and was
looking for something to do that had meaning, and
that I’d be passionate about. That’s how Humming
Tree was born. Right now, we’re working on a
festival in Bangalore and Mumbai for February
2018. We’re also opening in Mumbai next year. But
we still need a proper gigging culture. For a lot of NIKHIL BARUA
people, it’s a night out with drinks and friends and
catching a cool band they might know two songs by
name (if that) and documenting it on social media. gentlemanly – like a quizzing competition. 
What it should be is buying tickets in advance, UDUPA: Bangalore’s got a very vibrant quizzing
dragging your friends along, wearing comfortable culture. Karnataka Quiz Association [KQA] was
shoes, sweating a bunch, pretty mediocre drinks in set up here over three decades ago and hosts
plastic cups in a room that has no redeeming interior over a dozen quizzes each month. Its anniversary
design quality but great sound and a shitty bar at the event brings in quizzers from all over the country
back. It’s too sanitised and image-oriented here, it – and abroad.
has to be more real. POOJARI: Going back to the food, I think you
get much better Andhra food in Bangalore than
anywhere in Andhra Pradesh.
Fair enough. What about food? Where can
you get fantastic wada sambar? And dosa. We went to Nandini this afternoon.
SHANMUGAM: Asking where to get good idli- POOJARI: You can’t go wrong with Bheema’s,
dosa in Bangalore is like asking somebody to Nandini, Nagarjuna.
recommend a great partying spot in New York.  NARAYAN: My favourite part of Bangalore is still
UDUPA: In the city, definitely not in the the filter coffee.
Cant[onment]. I’d say Vidyarthi Bhavan.  POOJARI: Indian Coffee House, MTR, Koshy’s
POOJARI: I don’t like Vidyarthi Bhavan much. have got some of the best brews.
NARAYAN: I think you guys should have a fist SHANMUGAM: You can pick any random darshini.
fight over it.  There’s no place to sit, it’s all standing. High
volume, quick turnover.
We’re not in Delhi. You’ll need to determine UDUPA: That’s probably the main reason why I
a winner through something more wouldn’t ever move out of Bangalore – no other
city has a darshini culture. They’re called darshinis
because the first one that started was called Sri
Darshini. I recommend the Central Tiffin Room
[CTR] for set dosa, which is a love child between
an idli and a dosa.
POOJARI: The obsession with filter coffee here
is similar to the Italians. When you go into the
smaller towns of Italy and ask for coffee, they
serve you an espresso with a glass of water. It’s
LOCATION: THE RITZ-CARLTON, BANGALORE

exactly the same here. You walk in, ask for a filter
coffee, have your little shot, it’s on the go. 
UDUPA: In Kannada, there’s no word for hello…
NARAYAN: We just say “Oota aytha”, which is,
“Have you eaten?”
POOJARI: When I came to Bangalore, people
were always asking me “tiffin aytha”. Here tiffin
means breakfast… 
 Bangalore underworld in the Eighties – interesting
because he was an exceptionally well-read guy.
NARAYAN: Have you read Malgudi Days by RK
Narayan? Old Bangalore used to feel like that.
Something major could be happening – say, World
War Three – and you wouldn’t even know it. All
of Malgudi Days was written during the Freedom
movement, but there’s maybe one mention
of Gandhi. It’s like nothing happens, political
movements don’t touch us, everyone’s so placid.

Does that extreme laid-back-ness explain

SANJIV SHANMUGAM
NARAYAN: Apart from an English breakfast, South
Indians have the most elaborate breakfast. It’s like a
cricket line-up. Opening batsman is idli-vada…
SHANMUGAM: Wherever you go, you’ve got to end
your meal with kesari bhaat.
Bangalore’s traffic?
POOJARI: I think it’s a lack of political will.
NARAYAN: I don’t see that changing. All the other
South Indian states have a strong regional party.
But Karnataka, and Bangalore specifically, has
been traditionally divided into four or five different
regions, and groups of people, who don’t like
each other very much. It’s always been harder to
mobilise the Kannadigas, because then you have
to decide who you’re mobilising: the Malnad, the
Vokkaliga, the Lingayat, the Coorgi. And because
we don’t have a strong regional government,
there’s nobody to negotiate for Karnataka. Plus,
we’ve always been off-centre. When there’s a BJP
government at the centre, we’ve had a Congress
government, and vice versa. So, we always get that
stepson treatment. You don’t get the funds that the
other states do.

Any other foodie havens? Is Gurugram poised to take over

SHANMUGAM: I like Karavalli [at The Gateway on
Residency Road]. Harima is good for authentic sushi.
Bangalore as India’s new tech hub?
NARAYAN: I don’t think so. One, we still have the
NARAYAN: Karavalli is fantastic. I also like The Permit
big players here: Infosys, Wipro, Flipkart. Two,
Room, which is run by the guys from Toit [the
Bangalore has a high concentration of angel
microbrewery], they’re attempting experimental
investors and VCs – these are the guys who made
South Indian with some molecular gastronomy.
money in the first wave of the IT boom, which
UDUPA: It’s old Bangalore’s classic street food – but
generated almost $20 billion in non-founder
with a twist. We have about 25 microbreweries
wealth. You’ve also still got some of the best
right now. Some of them are really good. No other
engineering and coding talent here.
city in India has managed to make a good IPA.
POOJARI: Jamavar [at The Leela] is also very good.
I think we have a few darshinis that are Michelin ARJUN R NARAYAN
star-worthy.
UDUPA: Why not? A street food vendor in Singapore
[Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice &
Noodle] was recently awarded one.

I recently read Vivek Shanbag’s Ghachar

Ghochar, which is set in Bangalore.
What are some the best books you’ve read
LOCATION: THE RITZ-CARLTON, BANGALORE

about the city?

UDUPA: Yeah, Srinath [Perur] is an excellent
translator and writer. I like Janki Nair’s The Promise
Of The Metropolis, which is very well researched.
Then there’s a memoir by the gangster Agni
Sreedhar, called Dadagiriya Dinagalu, which
was translated into English as My Days In The
Underworld. He was a prominent member of the

278 — DECEMBER 2017

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THE CROWN
JEWELS
The necklaces you
see here between
the wide lapels of
this posh dinner
jacket? They’re
LeBron’s own. Not
pictured: his three
championship rings.
»
JACKET BY BALMAIN.
T-SHIRT BY TOM FORD

284 – DECEMBER 2017

T
Ten days before Donald Trump took on Colin Kaepernick
and the NFL and Stephen Curry and the NBA, and before
LeBron James, one of the most famous and popular
humans in America, called the President of the United
States a “bum” on Twitter, I asked him if he thought his
adversarial stance against Trump might end up being for
him what the Vietnam War was for Muhammad Ali.
“Well,” he said, “I think only time will tell.”
How so?
“I think Ali represented something bigger than Ali.
He wanted to make a change for a future without him
included. That’s what Ali brought to the table. I don’t know
what it’s like to live in every state in this country, but I
know freedom. I know the opportunity that our country
has given people, and to see the guy in charge now not
understanding that is baffling to not only myself but to my
friends and to the people that’ve helped grow this country.
But Muhammad Ali’s correlation to the war... I don’t think
me and Donald Trump could ever get to that point.”
On the one hand, appraising the greatness of an athlete
is an incredibly easy thing to do. There are seasons and
statistics and big plays and rings. There are streaks
and records and head-to-head matchups and end-of-season
accolades. The data, the video clips, the testimonials – it’s all
there to compare across time. The games don’t change as
much as other things in society change, and so we can make
strong cases, we can make cross-generational arguments,
we can say things like: LeBron James is the greatest living
athlete. Based on what he’s done on the court thus far and
what he still could potentially do in years to come.
On the other hand, an athlete’s greatness can be defined
more expansively. What was their influence? What did
they mean? What role did they play in their society at a
given time? Who could they – and should they – have
been? What did they do for their generation? What power
did they wield, and to what effect?
LeBron James, we’d argue, scores high on both counts
on the athlete-greatness front. There is LeBron James
the basketball player, and he’s front and centre, he’s still
number one. But there’s a deep understanding of the way
this life of his is going to work for decades to come – that
one day (maybe not as soon as for some other players, but
still) basketball will run out, and it will be on to Phase II.
Which is why he spends his off-season cramming his days
laying groundwork for what comes next, expanding the
universe of LeBron Inc.
Over the course of a couple of weeks, I was with him
as he premiered a documentary with Drake at the Toronto
Film Festival, addressed crème de la crème world leaders
in Midtown Manhattan, walked in a fashion show in Hell’s
Kitchen and soldiered through a five-hour magazine photo
shoot with ninja-military precision in LA. (He didn’t request
a single thing during the shoot, not water, not food; he
had one fruit snack that I offered him from my pack. It was
grape.) I watched up close the ways he transformed expertly
from audience to audience, modulating his clothes, and
his voice, and his posture, and the way he used his hands
(sometimes gesturing wildly, sometimes holding them quietly
in a diamond shape at his belt buckle), and even the way he
talked about the game he’s galactically famous for. (I watched
him oversimplify basketball to a roomful of film producers,
who he safely assumed might be basketball illiterate, even
describing a slam dunk as “one of our best plays in my
sport.”) He code-switched effortlessly, all depending on who
was sitting across the proverbial business table from him.
He’s deadly serious about his universe of extra-basketball
enterprises. He knows the critical importance of Phase II for
taking the fame, the exposure and the influence that he has
garnered and cultivated in basketball, and amplifying it to
any number of ends. He knows that LeBron without Phase II
is... Wilt? Russell? That is, a legacy of greatness on the court
for all time, but muted by a relatively quiet life after the
game. A quiet life after the game is not for LeBron James.
Which is why, over the years, he’s spent such energy
and shrewdness assembling the people around him – a
Dream Team of old friends and new partners and experts
in this field and that, who strategically operate within
every emerging arena for him. The team is critical. The
team will go a long way to priming the potential greatness
of LeBron James in Phase II.
“I have people around me, for the most part, that’ve been
around me for a long time,” he told me. “So when you’ve
been around people for a long time, there’s no sugarcoating,
there’s no trying to put you higher than what you should
be, there’s no yes-men or -women, there’s no gas. It’s just
straight-up, raw, uncut, unfiltered knowledge, truth, passion.”
“it’s my responsibility.
I believe that I was
put here for a higher
cause. We have people
that have been in
the higher positions
that chose to do it
and chose not to do it”
DECEMBER 2017 – 285
 o matter how grand an athlete’s
N ambitions outside the arena,
their influence is limited if they’re
not exceptionally dominant in
it. Despite the best ideas or the
most benevolent intentions, their
potential influence correlates with
their talent. It just does. They can’t
do what LeBron James wants to do in the world if they
haven’t already made their case on the court. Which is,
of course, why the greatness of this athlete in particular
obviously starts there.
Despite LeBron’s having won just – “just” – four MVP
awards, no player has been more consistently dominant
and impactful over the past decade-and-a-half in the NBA.
And yet it’s hard to see when the downturn will come.
Somehow at 32 and on Season 15, he’s in better shape than
he was during his rookie year. (“I feel amazing,” he told me
while getting a hand massage.) Veteran LeBron has double
the muscle and seemingly none of the body fat of Rookie
LeBron. He looks like an action figure – an unrealistic one
at that. But you don’t charge up and down the court like
a freight train, guarded by every team’s best and most
physical defender game in and game out, 39 minutes a
night, without showing a little wear and tear somewhere.
As far as I could tell, he has only two physical tells
that confirm his mortality. The first? His feet. Every
ballplayer has busted-up, twisted feet. But the King’s
are exceptionally wrung out. They look like they went 12
rounds with the bear from The Revenant.
The other? Two scars on the back of his head you can
only see up close.
How’d you get those scars on the back of your head?
“One, I got elbowed.”
In a basketball game?
“In practice, when I was in Miami.”
Really?! By who? I bet they were nervous.
“Yeah, they were! I won’t say who it was, though.”
He laughs. “My own teammate elbowed me.... Sixteen
[stitches] across the back.”
The other scar?
“During the Finals I fell into a camera, against Golden
State. The first time we played them.”
Did you have any stitches then?
“No, I actually – this was just glue. It was going to be
staples, but I told them, ‘Don’t fucking staple my head.’
And they put in the glue, and it didn’t heal right. We kept
this one under wraps, though.”
Why?
“Because we don’t talk about injuries. I don’t talk
about injuries.”
The fact that LeBron hasn’t been seriously injured isn’t
just something that explains his dominance – it’s becoming
almost like a mythic quality surrounding him, a suggestion
of infallibility that’s useful to propagate for the intimidation
factor alone. It’s a fact that is key to unlocking the whole
recipe – the unmatched talent, yes; the unfettered intensity,
sure; but more than anything, that physical consistency,
the ability to just play, to stay in the game. The most high-
profile player in sports can have his head busted open
– during the NBA Finals, no less – and he keeps it a secret
because glue will be sufficient.
When it comes to on-court greatness, LeBron beats
286 – DECEMBER 2017
MJ – and every other athlete – for these factors and
more, and because he has the legitimate potential to play
the game of basketball at the highest level longer than
anyone else. He’s been to seven straight NBA Finals and
could seemingly play at that level for another 10 seasons
– 25 total. That’s astonishing. And no one has been “the
greatest” for decades.
Would you play when you’re washed up? If you love
doing it, but you weren’t...
“I know I won’t be able to play at this level forever, but
to be washed and play... I don’t know if I can play washed.”
Maybe you’ll play against little Bronny when he gets to
the league?
“I don’t know if I could play washed, but I damn sure
would love to stick around if my oldest son can have an
opportunity to play against me. That’d be, that’d be the
icing on the cake right there.”
Yeah, but you can’t let him embarrass you out
there, though.
“I’ll foul the shit out of him!” He laughs. “I’d give him all
six fouls. I’d foul the shit out of Bronny, man.”
Yeah, like every time he tries to shoot.
“On sight: Flagrant 2!”
he Four Seasons conference room in
T New York was filled with producers,
cameramen and the obligatory anxiety
that comes with waiting to receive
a very famous person. There were
basically two guys in charge in the
room, one in a decent suit and one in
a bad suit. Bad Suit worked for the
Bloomberg Global Business Forum and explained what
LeBron James was doing there: They needed “a world
leader of equal stature” to the attendees of their upcoming
summit – statesmen and businessmen like Emmanuel
Macron, Justin Trudeau, Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Tim
Cook and Jack Ma. It was one of those highly exclusive
gatherings where all the world’s problems would either be
solved or spawned. In the conference room, there were 10
or so people setting up to record the greeting, a pre-taped
call to action to be broadcast at the opening of the summit.
“How many world leaders are actually known around the
world?” Bad Suit said. “We needed him.”
When LeBron enters a room, it feels like the floor tilts
down in his direction. And this afternoon was no different.
His voice carried. His hand, extraterrestrial, extended with
seasoned celebrity coyness. Our necks craned up. The
King smiled down, a smile as wide as his wingspan. His
Lanvin shirt looked painted on. He had a pair of Nike Air
Zoom Generation sneakers on his feet. He was about to
address the leaders of the Free World in a pair of Nikes.
Decent Suit ushered LeBron to his seat in front of a
teleprompter and gave him directions he didn’t need.
“You’re representing all of us,” he said. Meaning: people
who want more from their elected and unelected leaders.
LeBron politely insisted, “I got it.”
After the prompter scrolled the speech a few times,
LeBron gave it – a speech he was seemingly reading for
the first time – a try and nailed it on the first attempt. He
never hesitated or second-guessed a single word. Bad
Suit’s eyes filled with the same hope Morpheus’ did when
he found out that Neo was in fact The One. Someone in the
 “i think they can
love what lebron
james does.
do they know
what lebron
james completely
represents?
i don ’t think so”
back gasped, like out of a movie. And then, to just about
every head of state and titan of industry worth a damn,
32-year-old LeBron James said, “We know the world needs
us to step up.”
Us.
A moment like that is the most significant reason why
LeBron James is the greatest living athlete. Greatness
has an all-encompassing burden. It’s a beauty and brains
type of mandate. Floyd Mayweather could go undefeated
for 50 more fights, but he’d never be the greatest living
athlete. Because he’s selfish. And tacky. And, consequently,
small. You have to transcend sport to be the greatest –
beyond sneakers and drinks that replenish electrolytes and
videogame covers and money teams.
It’s the Ali Test. It’s a people’s-champ-ness one needs.
It’s the ability to turn fans into followers and followers
into consequential action. To be able to legitimately have
an effect on the way people live in the world, as corny as
it sounds. And LeBron, more than any other living athlete THE KING’S
on earth, has that in him. The fact that he’s putting over a ENGLISH
thousand kids through college is commendable. But when The peacoat
assessing his imprint and the potential of his reach, it had a British
seems relatively small. Like a 30-point game. He’s reaching heritage even
for something bigger. Something that most athletes before London
eschew and that LeBron himself wasn’t always inclined label Alexander
to do. It’s not like he was out there his rookie season McQueen
stumping for candidates. But things have changed. It’s a stitched it with
different world now. Which is why I figured I’d test out the embroidery
upper limit of his ambition. worthy of
Would you ever want to be president? a duke’s
“Of the United States?” He pauses. “Nah.” family crest.
That didn’t seem like a confident answer.
“I say no because of always having to be on someone »
PEACOAT BY
else’s time. From the outside looking in, it seems like the ALEXANDER
president always has to be there – gotta be there. You McQUEEN. JOGGERS
BY DOLCE &
really don’t have much ‘me time’. I enjoy my ‘me time’. GABBANA.
The positive that I see from being the president... Well, not CUSTOM LEBRON 15
with the president we have right now, because there’s no SNEAKERS BY NIKE.
WATCH BY
positive with him, but the positive that I’ve seen is being PATEK PHILIPPE.
able to inspire. Your word has command to it. If you’re BASKETBALL
BY LEATHER
speaking with a knowledgeable, caring, loving, passionate HEAD SPORTS
voice, then you can give the people of America and all over
the world hope.”
Why is being known for speaking up on social issues so
important to you?

DECEMBER 2017 – 287

A COAT FIT FOR...
YOU KNOW
To get on Bron’s
level, you need the
softest, fluffiest
shearling known to
man. Then you flex
even harder with
the rarest, most
coveted sneakers.

»
COAT BY DSQUARED2.
SWEATSHIRT BY KING
LONDON. SWEATPANTS
BY MAISON MARGIELA.
SNEAKERS BY NIKE X
VIRGIL ABLOH. NBA SOCKS
BY NIKE. ALL JEWELLERY
THROUGHOUT, HIS OWN

HAIR: NICK CASTELLANOS

GROOMING: JOLEANE
GERRICK, J.CEO LLC
CONTRIBUTING STYLIST:
BRENNAN. + WESMORE./
THE SARTORIAL
COLLECTIVE
SET DESIGN & PROP
STYLIST: WARD
ROBINSON/WOODEN
LADDER
PRODUCTION:
STEPHANIE WEED/LIZ
LANG PRODUCTION

288 – DECEMBER 2017

The way LeBron speaks on race threads
a very Fine needle. It’s healing and
inclusive while also being extremely
real. He’s the anti-conformist athlete
“I don’t do it to get praise or to be in an article. I do it
because it’s my responsibility. It’s my responsibility.”
Is it anyone in your position’s responsibility? Or is it
your responsibility?
“Nah, it’s my responsibility. I believe that I was put
here for a higher cause. We have people, not only today
but over the course of time, that have been in the higher
positions that chose to do it and chose not to do it.”
But do you think it’s wrong not to speak up if you have
the platform?
“I don’t think it’s right or wrong. If it’s in you, and if it’s
authentic, then do it. If it’s some fake shit, then the people,
the kids, they’re going to notice it. They know.”
WEB Du Bois talks about how a black person will always
feel his “two-ness” in America. You’re a very extreme
example of that. On the one hand, you’re the saviour of
Ohio. It’s nearly impossible to find someone in Ohio who
doesn’t worship you. But it also has its share of racism. Is
that difficult when something happens in your backyard?
“It’s heavy when a situation occurs either with myself or
with someone in a different city, ie, Trayvon, Mike Brown.
I have to go home and talk to my 13- and 10-year-old sons,
even my 2-year-old daughter, about what it means to
grow up being an African-American in America. Because
no matter how great you become in life, no matter how
wealthy you become, how people worship you or what
you do, if you are an African-American man or African-
American woman, you will always be that.”
The two-ness.
“True colours will show, and it showed for me during
the playoffs, where my house in Brentwood, California,
one of the fucking best neighbourhoods in America, was
vandalised with, you know, the N-word. And that shit puts
it all back into perspective. So do I use my energy towards
that? Or do I now shed a light on how I can use this
negative to turn into a positive, because so many people
are looking for what I’m going to say. I had a conversation
with my kids. I let them know this is what it is, this is how
it’s going to be. When it’s time for y’all to fly, you’ll have to
understand that. When y’all go out in public and y’all start
driving or y’all start moving around, be respectful to cops,
as much as you can. When you get pulled over, call your
mom or dad, put it on speakerphone and put your phone
underneath the seat. But be respectful the whole time.”
Can a state that elected Donald Trump also love LeBron
James? Is that actually possible?
“That’s a great question. I think, um, they can love what
LeBron James does. Do they know what LeBron James
completely represents? I don’t think so. So those people
may love the way I play the game of basketball, because
they might have some grandkids, you know, they might
have a son or a daughter or a niece that no matter what
they’re talking about, the kids are like, ‘LeBron is LeBron.
And I don’t give a damn what you talking about. I love
him.’ So they don’t have a choice liking me. But at the
end of the day, these people are gonna resort back to who
they are. So do I have a definite answer to that? My state
definitely voted for Donald Trump, the state that I grew up
in. And I think I can sit here and say that I have a lot of fans
in that state, too. It’s unfortunate.”
The way LeBron speaks on race threads a very fine needle.
It’s healing and inclusive while also being extremely real.
He’s the anti-conformist athlete. From tweets and Instagram
posts about police brutality to the way he’s taken control of
his career – off the court and on the court. The way he chose
to leave Cleveland and then chose to come back. The way he
broke the norms of free agency in the process. He’s liberated
every NBA player from now to eternity. But at the time, in
the summer of 2010, he was bludgeoned for it – by media, by
fans and, perhaps most controversially, by Cavs owner Dan
Gilbert, who published an open letter to the city of Cleveland,
effectively calling LeBron a narcissist and a traitor. It had
nothing to do with business or sport, for that matter. Some
argued that it read like he thought he owned more than just
the team – like he owned LeBron.
Did you feel like Dan Gilbert’s letter was racial?
“Um, I did. I did. It was another conversation I had to
have with my kids. It was unfortunate, because I believed
in my heart that I had gave that city and that owner, at that
point in time, everything that I had. Unfortunately, I felt
like, at that point in time, as an organisation, we could not
bring in enough talent to help us get to what my vision
was. A lot of people say they want to win, but they really
don’t know how hard it takes, or a lot of people don’t have
the vision. So, you know, I don’t really like to go back on
that letter, but it pops in my head a few times here, a few
times there. I mean, it’s just human nature. I think that had
a lot to do with race at that time, too, and that was another
opportunity for me to kind of just sit back and say, ‘Okay,
well, how can we get better? How can we get better? How
can I get better?’ And if it happens again, then you’re able
to have an even more positive outlook on it. It wasn’t the
notion of I wanted to do it my way. It was the notion of
I’m gonna play this game, and I’m gonna prepare myself
so damn hard that when I decide to do something off the
court, I want to be able to do it because I’ve paid my dues.”
What does LeBron James owe the city of Cleveland?
“LeBron James owes nobody anything. Nobody. When
my mother told me I don’t owe her anything, from that
point in time, I don’t owe anybody anything. But what
I will give to the city of Cleveland is passion, commitment
and inspiration. As long as I put that jersey on, that’s what
I represent. That’s why I’m there – to inspire that city. But
I don’t owe anybody anything.”
DECEMBER 2017 – 289
 BLAZER,
TURTLENECK; BOTH
BY PAUL SMITH

OPPOSITE PAGE:
SHERWANI BY
SHANTANU & NIKHIL.
T-SHIRT BY VATALY.
JEANS BY G-STAR
RAW. WATCH BY
A.LANGE & SÖHNE

290 — DECEMBER 2017

MAKING
THE
Actor Kartik Aaryan rocks the swishest eveningwear of a season full of prints,
embellishments and sharp tailoring

P H OTO G R A P H E D BY TA R U N V I S H WA STYLED BY VIJENDRA BHARDWAJ

DECEMBER 2017 — 291

 SUIT BY HUGO BOSS.
JUMPER BY PAUL
SMITH. SHOES BY
ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA

292 — DECEMBER 2017

 SUIT BY DIOR HOMME.
SCARF BY PAUL SMITH

DECEMBER 2017 — 293

BLAZER BY ROBERTO
CAVALLI AT INFINITE
LUXURY. T-SHIRT BY
VATALY. JEANS BY
G-STAR RAW. WATCH
BY A.LANGE & SÖHNE

294 — DECEMBER 2017

SUIT, SHIRT, TIE;
ALL BY GUCCI

DECEMBER 2017 — 295

 JACKET, TROUSERS;
BOTH BY DSQUARED2.
TURTLENECK BY PAUL
SMITH. SHAWL BY
SHANTANU & NIKHIL

296 — DECEMBER 2017

 SUIT BY BALMAIN.
TURTLENECK BY
PAUL SMITH. BOOTS
BY DIOR HOMME

GROOMING:
DEEPA VERMA
ASSISTANT STYLIST:
TANYA VOHRA
FASHION ASSISTANT:
DESIRÉE FERNANDES
PRODUCTION:
MEGHA MEHTA,
ANOMALY
PRODUCTIONS

DECEMBER 2017 — 297

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 DID WE

A JIHADIST?
When one family took in a Syrian refugee, they did it out of compassion,
to help a kid who said he’d escaped an ISIS prison. But then the boy
got caught up in lies about his terrifying past, and they realised they no
longer knew who was living in their home
WRITTEN BY SCOTT SAYARE Ÿ I L LU S T R AT I O N BY TO M E R H A N U K A

O ne boy, seated towards the rear of the boat, was singing over the thrum of the motor,
perhaps out of exhilaration, perhaps out of boredom, or perhaps out of fear, though four
years of war in Syria had dulled his sensitivity to risk and it had not been strong to start.
The others were praying. O sea, be kind! the boy sang. “Shut up!” the others pleaded.
Near the end of the crossing, with Turkey well behind them, the boat’s motor gave out. The boy
threw himself over the side of the rubber dinghy and began to flail his way towards the Greek
shore, several hundred yards off; this was another mark of his heedlessness, as the water was
cold and dangerously choppy. The others stayed in the boat.

A rescuer swam to the boy and dragged him to the beach,
on the island of Lesbos.
A nurse brought him to a nearby tent. “Okay, talk,” she said.
“What do you want to hear?” the boy asked. He was
warm and dry now, but not entirely certain who the
woman was.  “Maybe you’re one of them?” he asked. The question
“I want to hear everything,” the nurse replied. His
name was Paul, he said, and he was 16 years old. He
was angular and trim, with ropy limbs and thick hands
and a brow that ran across his face in a brooding
crease. His eyes were black and deep-set, and there
was something distant and inscrutable but immediately
attractive about him, an air of slight deviousness. His
speech was somewhat wooden, as if he had recently
memorised certain details of his life, but the nurse
found his story to be broadly credible. As a Christian
in wartime Syria, he said, he had been repeatedly
imprisoned by jihadists. He glanced at the nurse’s hijab.
was playful, but the boy had not expected that his first
encounter in Europe would be with a Muslim, speaking
Syrian Arabic, and he was wary. “Are you crazy?”
she said.
She was Syrian-Swedish, from Stockholm, and had
come to assist the hundreds of thousands of refugees and
migrants arriving on Lesbos that year.

300 – DECEMBER 2017

DECEMBER 2017 – 301

She would be returning home soon and offered to help Paul
re-settle there. He made it to Stockholm 10 days later, on October
9, 2015. The boy was very young, and going to Europe was
mostly an adventure for him, with no predetermined end point.
He had been told of Sweden’s reputation for generosity towards
refugees, though.  shared a room in a house in the hills of a
One of the nurse’s friends, a physician named Lina, took to
the boy, and often invited him to visit her, her husband, Otto and
their three teenage daughters. (The names of Lina, Otto and the
boy have been changed.) Paul seemed to her “a very vulnerable,
charming young man, somehow,” Lina said recently. “He has
a way to know how to – how do you say? – push on the right
buttons, from the beginning. To get you affected.”
Others found him unmanageable. The nurse had arranged
for Paul to live with another friend, but the woman asked to
have him moved elsewhere: His sleep habits, and his moods,
were erratic. The social authorities assigned him to the home
of an elderly woman, but he fled after just a few days. At a
small centre for refugee minors, Paul declined to consume
anything but candy and cigarettes and began punching walls
and fighting. Later, he broke open the head of a safety razor
and slashed his wrist.
Lina had once been a psychiatric nurse. Paul’s episodes
were to her less daunting than they were painful to observe
from afar. She and Otto discussed taking the boy in. In
addition to their growing affection for him, and their sense
of responsibility to the refugees arriving in their country,
their marriage had been strained for several years and they
wondered if such a project – in its simple urgency, in what they
felt to be its purity – might be what Otto called a “platform”
for a new start. In early December, once they had obtained the
necessary approvals, Paul moved into the family’s duplex.
They knew almost nothing of his past. He spoke too little
Swedish to describe it in detail, but early on he and Lina
began a habit of walking after dinner, wandering for hours
beneath the streetlights, and over time she was able to make
out the contours of his life. Paul came from Shadadi, a small
city in the eastern desert that had been occupied by jihadists
for nearly three years. He was the youngest of 10 brothers,
the rest of whom – with his parents and three sisters –
remained in Syria. He had been imprisoned, it seemed,
by both ISIS and Al-Qaeda, as the rival groups fought for
control of eastern Syria.
He’d arrived in Sweden with almost no possessions.
He had been careful, however, to preserve a small sheet of
paper he’d carried out of Syria, folded into a square and
hidden away. After a time, when he had grown comfortable
with Lina, he showed the note to her. He seemed penitent
and ashamed, she recalled. The message had been given to
him in a prison many months before, but he had failed to
deliver it, and he feared that, as a consequence, its author, an
American journalist, was dead. It began:
 
I AM OK BUT I BADLY NEED YOUR HELP. I NEED SOMEONE
TO IMPRESS UPON MY GOVERNMENT HOW VERY VERY
IMPORTANT IT IS THAT THEY ACT QUICKLY. I WON’T GO INTO
DETAILS BUT I’LL JUST SAY THIS. THEY CAN NEGOTIATE A
SOLUTION NOW OR THEY CAN WAIT, DELIBERATE, DELAY.
IF THEY CHOOSE LATTER COURSE I WON’T BE AROUND
AS SOMETHING TO BE NEGOTIATED FOR. IT IS SIMPLY TOO
DANGEROUS HERE. CAPTORS TOO MERCURIAL. THEY MUST
ACT TODAY, THIS INSTANT, AND MUST CONTINUE ACTING
UNTIL THEY GET THE JOB DONE. OK?
302 – DECEMBER 2017
T
heo Padnos arrived at the Syrian
border in 2012. Padnos, who was 44,
wanted to document the war and
what he believed to be the cultural
and psychological forces driving it. He
Turkish border city, and he spent much
of his time climbing to the ridgeline
above, gazing out over Syria, just a few
miles away. Soon he met three young
men who said they worked with a
Syrian opposition group. They offered to
take him into the country. The morning
after they brought him in, one of the
men walked over to him and, without
preamble, kicked him in the face.
For two years, the world vanished. Padnos was
held by Jabhat al-Nusra, Al-Qaeda’s Syrian branch. The
logic according to which they tortured him – with metal
cables, with their fists, with notifications of his imminent
murder – was not apparent; the violence, one man told
him, was meant to train his soul. Padnos was a man of
intense, boyish curiosity, and despite the circumstances,
his inquisitiveness remained intact. He often attempted to
engage the men, asking about their personal histories, their
beliefs. They batted most of these questions aside. They
were particularly unreflective about the reasons
for their jihad, Padnos found, parroting the usual tropes
about a besieged Islam that would throw off and vanquish
its oppressors.
These were familiar notions. Padnos had recently
lived in Damascus, and for several years, at the height of
the Iraq war, he had lived in Yemen, studying Arabic and
Islam. In 2011, he had published a memoir of his time there,
in which he wrote of Western tourists being kidnapped and
executed. “Most people there understand that militants kill
tourists,” he wrote, “because they – the outsiders – have
ventured too far, into territory they do not fathom, which
happens to be under the sway of a steadfast, ultra-serious
kind of belief.” He was not so naive. “My whole identity as
a writer, as a person, was that I understood the territory,”
he told me. “I hadn’t travelled ‘too far’. And I was not an
enemy, I was not a tourist.” Syria was a betrayal. He had
believed that, whatever the circumstances, he could
make his goodness understood, and that this goodness
would matter.
In June 2014, he was moved to a carpeted cell that held
several men and a boy of perhaps 14. They were fighters
for Jabhat al-Nusra, they explained, but had been accused
– wrongly, they said – of attempting to defect to ISIS. As
usual, Padnos asked the men about their lives, and as usual
they attempted to ignore him. The men complained of his
prattling; the boy, however, listened sympathetically. At one
point, Padnos asked him what he believed to be the goal of
the jihad in which he was fighting. “To take over the world,”
the boy replied, matter-of-fact. Padnos must have given him
an incredulous look, because the boy went on, smiling, “You
think it’s a little unrealistic, don’t you?”
For Padnos, this was a moment of near miraculous
humanity. “It’s the first time in two years that someone
acknowledged that it was ‘a little unrealistic’, ” he said.
“He went off script, broke character. And I was like, ‘Thank
God, finally!’”
 After just a few days, the boy was told he would be
released. Padnos quickly composed a note, to be given
to a friend outside Syria, begging for assistance. The boy
took the message with him when he left, hidden away, and
promised to help. 
had survived. The boy’s true name was Ammar. “As for our
friend Paul,” Padnos wrote to Lina, “yes, he’s a sweetie. I
remember him well.”

I n December 2015, Padnos received a message from

a Swedish woman, claiming that a boy he knew from
Syria was now under her care. The American had
A mmar is an enthusiastic storyteller, with a fine instinct
for tragicomic tension that is presumably the fruit of
a childhood spent in war. His theme of choice is the
absurd. In recounting his experiences to me, he often
seemed to be carried off course by the momentum of his
been freed many months earlier, shortly after writing narrative, though these digressions sometimes seemed to serve
his note, but no thanks to it. Rather, the government of as entertaining detours around any suggestion of involvement
Qatar had interceded on his behalf with Jabhat al-Nusra. with Al-Qaeda. Once, after an evening spent brooding, he
(The group is said to have received a ransom of several turned to me and, with what seemed a mix of anger and
million dollars, though this has never been publicly disappointment, asked, “Do you think I was a mujahid?” I said
confirmed.) “I understand you found one of my old jail that I’d been told that he was but also that he didn’t seem to be
friends?” he wrote back. “Thank you for reaching out!” living as one in Sweden. “If I lie,” he replied cryptically, “it’s not
Padnos had signed his note; on the internet, Lina to hurt anybody. It’s to protect people.” 
discovered that he’d been released and found him on He was playing games at a computer club, he said, when
Facebook. She sent photographs of the letter and of the the fighting reached Shadadi, his home, in the spring of 2011.
boy – chopping vegetables in Stockholm, playing soccer. Military police opened fire on an anti-regime protest, and he
Padnos immediately recognised the teenager he had met in ran home. He was 11 years old.
captivity. That boy had not been a Christian, however, and “At the beginning of the revolution, I was with the regime,”
had not been named Paul, and Padnos was quite certain he said. “Because I didn’t know what the revolution was. I
that he had been a jihadist. only watched regime TV.” His father worked in the oil industry
He told the FBI that he believed a member of Jabhat and was thus intimate with the government of Bashar al-
al-Nusra was living in Sweden as a refugee, but he did not Assad; Ammar was treated with some deference as a result.
share his concerns with Lina. He was of two minds. He
believed quite strongly in the boy’s potential for violence;
in Syria, such children had been merciless with him. But
he also suspected that, away from his homeland and
the jihad, and the ethical accommodations that any war
imposes, a young Syrian killer might be something quite
innocuous. The violence in Syria was only the handmaiden
to something more powerful, it seemed to him, some raging
elemental force that had billowed up over the territory like
a storm and seized control of the inhabitants below. “The
place is under a spell,” Padnos said. Sweden was not.
The country’s liberal asylum policies are premised on a
similar vision of war as an alternate reality, and a willingness
to exempt its participants from many of the moral judgments
that might obtain in peace. Sweden took in 163,000 asylum
applicants during the European refugee crisis in 2015;
that year, only 461 were referred to the country’s security
services, which recommended rejecting 29. Even identified
security threats are permitted to remain in Sweden if their
human rights are judged to be at risk in their country
of origin. 
This determined benevolence is sometimes viewed,
especially outside Sweden, as credulous to the point of
folly. (Earlier this year, the Trump administration placed an
indefinite ban on the admission of Syrian refugees.) But it
has thus far given rise to little political violence. Sweden has
experienced only two jihadist attacks: one last April, when
an Uzbek man who had been denied asylum killed five
people with a truck in central Stockholm, and one in 2010,
in which the Iraqi-born attacker was the only casualty. 
Paul was “a young man with a lot of trauma,” Lina wrote
to Padnos. “I’m so happy that he feel[s] safe with us, but it
does not take much to stress him.” She asked that Padnos
not contact him until she gave her approval, but he found
the boy on Facebook, and the two chatted playfully, each
pleased, if a bit apprehensive, to discover that the other

DECEMBER 2017 – 303

At the bakery, he was ushered to the front of the line to collect
his family’s bread. This was once a source of pride. Later,
when the regime was faltering, his family lost their home and
their standing, and Ammar became aware that his neighbours
regarded him differently. “Look what’s happened to them,”
they said, with a mix of Schadenfreude and horror.
By the early months of 2013, Jabhat al-Nusra was occupying
the countryside outside Shadadi, and each day brought
rumours that the jihadists would soon move to “free” the city
from Assad’s control, Ammar said. He was asleep at a brother’s
house on the morning they came, awakened by the blast of a
suicide truck bomb and the shattering of glass. He ran outside,
and as he passed the bombed-out shell of what had once been
a house, he heard a man moaning in pain. “So I went to see,”
he said. “I wasn’t afraid of anything.” Inside he came upon a
government soldier who had been shot in the chest. The man
asked for help escaping, but the boy said it was too dangerous
to take him into the street wearing a regime uniform.
So, he claimed, he stole some women’s clothing from another
abandoned house and gave it to the wounded man, who at
first refused to wear it but then relented. “It was a funny and
sad situation,” Ammar explained, laughing, it seemed, at the
preposterousness of his own imagination. 
Whatever Ammar’s embellishments, it is true that Jabhat
al-Nusra moved into Shadadi early in 2013. Assad’s forces
had done little to endear themselves to the town’s inhabitants,
who were not much dismayed to see them go. The jihadists
“didn’t steal anything,” Ammar said, “and we were happy.”
The fighters also left the bodies of their enemies to rot in the
streets where they fell, he recalled. It was possible for a young
man to survive without joining the jihadists, but membership
would have conferred at least the benefit of avoiding their
violent attentions.  behaved as if he understood this, and enjoyed it: Her screams,
ISIS overran much of eastern Syria that fall, and by year’s
end it had seized Shadadi from Jabhat al-Nusra. The two
armies occupied adjacent territories. Travelling across the
borders of these zones of occupation – for trade in nearby
towns, say, or to visit family – was hazardous. Both groups
were wary of spies. “If you’re in a Daesh-controlled area,”
Ammar said, using a dismissive name for ISIS, “and you go to a
Nusra-controlled area, then they think you’re a spy.”
A refugee receives medical care on Lesbos,
Greece, six miles from the Turkish mainland
304 – DECEMBER 2017
One of his brothers was arrested in a nearby town held by
Jabhat al-Nusra, accused of working for ISIS. Ammar went
looking for him. He, too, was arrested.
He was placed in prison with Padnos. The American was
shaggy-haired and gaunt, with a heavy beard and a close-
trimmed moustache, in the style favoured by Salafis. The
guards treated him harshly. “I thought he was ISIS,” Ammar
said. Padnos rhapsodised constantly about “how Syria is
beautiful,” Ammar said, and attempted to engage the other
prisoners. The boy found him tiresome. “In the beginning, I
didn’t like him,” he said. “But after a while, I said to myself,
‘Wallah, it’s not fair. He came as a journalist, and he’s coming to
report the news, and they tortured him.’” 
Upon his release, Ammar was taken to meet Jabhat al-
Nusra’s emir for eastern Syria, an Iraqi known as Abu Mariyah
al-Qahtani. The man asked his forgiveness for jailing him and
handed him a wad of Syrian pounds; the boy told the emir
that, in that case, he would be happy to stay longer. By his
recollection, Abu Mariyah laughed.
A t Christmas, Stockholm was bitterly cold but
festive. Lina bought the boy a nice parka and showed
him the sights – the department store window displays,
the skating rinks. He was wide-eyed, and Lina felt as
if she were a young mother again, introducing her toddler
to the world’s little marvels. At New Year’s, they fought over
fireworks. He wanted to fire them off as he had in Syria, from
his hands. “This is not how we do it in Sweden,” she said, firm
but full of patience, and made him plant them in the ground.
He was enraged, but Lina did not mind. She, too, could be
pigheaded and had no problem screaming back at him. He
like her forgiveness, were proof of her love.
Lina is a tall and sturdy woman, with blue eyes, flaxen-white
hair and a sharp, slightly upturned nose, which together lend
her an air of vigour and temperance. She is generous with her
time and energies, and exceptionally patient, but she does not
linger. In English, she concludes many pronouncements with a
friendly but definitive “Yah?”
She sought little explanation when the boy admitted that his
name was not Paul. She had never entirely believed his initial
story, she told me. She seemed untroubled by the deception, or
at least determined not to dwell upon it. His name was Ammar;
he was a Muslim. Lina stopped feeding him pork.
She enrolled him in kung fu classes and found him a job in
a local church kitchen, baking and serving coffee to the elderly
Swedes who came for lunch. She spoke to him about social
democracy and gender equality, to which he was immediately
receptive, and same-sex marriage, which required more time.
Once, in Stockholm, he and a policeman collided accidentally
on a sidewalk. To his astonishment and delight, the officer
wheeled about to say, “Oh! I’m sorry!” It had not been this way
in Syria.
Sometimes he would sit on her knees, and she would
IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK (REFUGEE)
scratch his back, as his mother had before. The two would
often walk arm in arm and, as they stood about the same
height, could appear to be friends as much as mother and son.
Discreetly, she shared her cigarettes with him. Lina’s daughters
kissed their mother hello and good-bye on the lips; it startled
her, but in a pleasant way, when Ammar began to do the same.
All asylum seekers under the age of 18 are legally entitled

“I DON“T LIKE CAUSING REAL
DAMAGE,“ SAID AMMAR
to attend school in Sweden. Ammar began in February 2016.
His class of 14 was composed mostly of Afghans, all boys, all
dressed in seeming imitation of the European soccer stars they
idolised, in skinny jeans and hair gel. Swedish schoolchildren
call their teachers by their first names, but this felt inappropriate
to the boys, and they insisted on calling theirs lärare or
“teacher”. Ammar was often giggly and loud, but he evidently
possessed a gift for language. His Swedish was soon fluent.
He did sometimes sulk in silence, however. Once, a teacher
recalled, he began to sob uncontrollably and had to leave
class. Some at the school believed he was depressed. Given his
impulsiveness and emotional extremes, Lina thought he might
have a personality disorder. He had frequent nightmares.
When he could not sleep, she climbed the stairs to his
bedroom, beneath the eaves of the building, and crawled into
bed beside him.
He often skipped homework, school, his job at the
church, kung fu. Lina said this was largely the result of his
“grandiose thinking”: If he felt he’d already mastered some
aspect of Swedish or some fighting technique, he saw no
use in attending a class where it would be reviewed. He
struggled to befriend Swedes; sometimes he accused them
of racism, though more often than not he said this with a
grin, as if to proudly show Lina he had mastered the tropes
of Swedish progressivism.
His most difficult moods often seemed to take their source
in news from Syria. He was overcome by sudden upwellings
of shame, both for having fled, it seemed, and for having
survived. He spoke only rarely with his parents. Lina wrote a
long letter to Ammar’s mother, promising to care for him as
her own son. There was no response. Perhaps this apparent
indifference was some Syrian norm, or perhaps Ammar’s
parents were ashamed, Lina reasoned. Yet she learned that
one of Ammar’s friends, another Syrian, was receiving daily
calls from his father. In a careless moment, she reported this to
Ammar, and it seemed to wound him.  girlfriend. They had been classmates for several years before
He was extremely sensitive to any perceived slight from her.
In a rage, again and again, he accused her of withholding from
him the same love she showed her daughters. Then he would
lock himself in his room or refuse to speak, sometimes for days.
Lina’s daughters, meanwhile, sometimes felt this new son had
displaced them from their mother’s heart, to say nothing of
their daily routines. To make room for Ammar, the 14-year-old’s
bed was moved to a common area.
Lina bought him shoes, clothes, a phone, a laptop, and
yet he complained of being treated as no more than a guest.
On the other hand, he often felt it shameful to take from her.
He skipped meals, so as not to spend her money. He spoke
of returning to Syria. Often this seemed a provocation, but
at other times he seemed sincere. “He cannot find a way of
living here in Sweden and with me,” Lina once wrote to me in
despair. “It is heartbreaking.” He had arrived in Sweden less
by design than by providence, and his life there sometimes
seemed to him unreal, novel and thrilling like a game, but futile
like one, too. Never had he considered the prospect of a life
in Europe, even as he fled there. “Impossible,” he said. “One-
in-14,000 impossible.”
The laptop – a gaming computer on which Ammar could
play Counter-Strike and Clash Of Clans – became a crisis in the
spring. Lina, who lives well but frugally, had found it lightly
used and on sale for a fraction of its usual price. Ammar came
from a wealthy family and was unaccustomed to second-hand
goods. He took Lina’s gift as a mark of disdain and stormed out.
He had evidently hoped to be pursued. Sometime later, he
sent Lina photographs of a razor blade and his wrist, bloody
again. She found him not far away and led him home to the
apartment. Soon, though, he was standing on the railing of the
sixth-floor balcony, threatening to jump. Otto pulled him inside.
For an hour, Lina sat beside Ammar on his bed, in silence. He
seemed to have calmed, and she left him alone.
She returned to find that he had climbed out his window
and onto the roof. She pleaded with him but then turned away,
not wanting to be left with the image of an empty room and his
falling body, and began to sob. “Oh,” said Ammar as he came
to her, “now I know you love me.”
A
mmar’s release from prison
in the summer of 2014 was the
auspicious start to a terrible
year. Upon returning home from
captivity with Jabhat al-Nusra, he
was arrested by ISIS, once again
accused of spying for the other
side. He was released, only to be
re-arrested several times over.
Once, Ammar said, he was accused
of stealing from an ISIS intelligence
officer. They held him for three
months and beat him for hours,
until he had screamed himself into
silence. On a different occasion, he
claimed, he was arrested for assaulting one of the group’s
tax collectors. 
He had been high at the time, he explained. Ammar had
begun taking pills – Zolam, an alternate brand of Xanax,
and Baltan, an opioid – because of Noor. Noor had been his
the war. “Then I became a young man,” Ammar said. “I knew
how to love and be loved.” Noor was an Alawi, a member of
the sect to which the Assad family belongs, and, in the eyes
of the Islamic State, an apostate. On his computer, Ammar
has kept several photos of a girl he says is Noor. She is pretty,
with dark eyes and long, dense lashes. Some of the photos
are selfies, shot from above to accentuate the bulge of her
breasts beneath a tight top. She purses her lips just so. It is
adolescent vanity, both banal and charming.
One day in Shadadi, in the street near a souk and a taxi
stand, Ammar happened upon a public gathering and
watched as Noor was decapitated. With his sword, the
executioner speared the severed head and held it aloft
before the crowd, Ammar said. He fainted. “Some things
you don’t understand because you’ve never seen them,” he
told me in Stockholm, in a café. He pushed aside the slice
of chocolate cake he’d been eating and put his face to the
table. “What made me come here?” he sobbed. A film of
dark frosting coated his lips.
DECEMBER 2017 – 305

Early in 2015 he was arrested for the last time. In
northwestern Iraq, ISIS had captured thousands of women
and girls of the Yezidi ethno-religious minority and begun
selling them to its fighters as sex slaves. Ammar was
accused of buying Yezidis and selling them back to their
families – and he claims that this was in fact what he had
done, though he did not admit it to ISIS. He had bought and
sold nine Yezidis, he said, including one girl who went for
$11,000. He had little to say about his reasons for doing this,
and no proof to offer, but said that after Noor’s death he was
afraid of nothing and angry.  Lina said, “things happen, and you have
ISIS took him to the Iraqi city of Mosul, where he
dug trenches and welded containers for bombs, he
said. The fighters played soccer with him. There was
constant encouragement to join ISIS. He considered it but
disapproved of the group’s violence. “I like causing trouble,
I admit that without any problem, but I don’t like causing
real damage,” Ammar said.
He was transferred back to Syria, to the city of Raqqa, ISIS’
capital. On most days, the guards brought a man into the yard
– a regime soldier, a Hezbollah fighter, a Kurd – to be executed
before his fellow prisoners. “It was not funny,” Ammar said.
Generally it was a beheading, with either a sword or a knife,
but sometimes the men were drowned, or shot, or hanged, or
doused with acid.
He was transferred, for the last time, back to Shadadi.
They beat him there a great deal, demanding that he confess
to selling the Yezidis. (He believed that if he confessed they
would kill him.) Once, when he was strung up from the ceiling,
a torturer poured gasoline on his feet and set them alight.
Ammar’s plastic sandals melted into his skin, which remains
heavily scarred. “The pain of a burn is worse than any other
pain,” he said.
The men with whom he was held were considered
particularly dangerous, so it was Ammar who was chosen to
be the prison cook, and this was how he would escape. He was
being held alone in a small cell adjacent to the kitchen when a
guard told him, quietly, that he had been sentenced to death,
and encouraged him to flee. Ammar didn’t trust him initially,
but the man returned later that day. “I believed him when he
gave me his knife,” Ammar said.
There were two guards that night. The first was on
watch while the second prayed. Ammar was in the kitchen,
cooking soup, and called to the first guard to come taste it.
The man bent over the pot. “I was going to stab him with
the knife, but I was afraid of killing him, so I hit him with
the thing I was cooking with,” Ammar said. He ran to the
room where the other guard, a boy his age, was kneeling in
prayer. He took his gun. Two hundred men were freed, or
perhaps 280, and perhaps there were female prisoners who
were released as well, depending upon the expansiveness
of Ammar’s mood. The escapees walked north through
the desert for a day, or maybe two, before coming to the
Kurdish line.
The Kurds arranged for a group of escapees to be taken
in a convoy west to Aleppo. From there they left for the
Turkish border and sneaked across at night, on foot. In
Turkey, they piled into a covered truck. They were 25 men,
Ammar said, and two sheep. It was August 2015. Soon he
would set out for Europe. He wore a jacket his family had
sent to him in prison; in the pocket he found Padnos’ letter,
undelivered and forgotten.
306 – DECEMBER 2017
L
ong before Ammar’s arrival in
Sweden, many years ago, Lina and Otto
had a son. He died the day he was born.
Lina gave birth to a second child soon
thereafter, a son again. The new boy’s
diaphragm was malformed, leaving his
lungs unable to expand. They took him
home after about two months, when his
condition seemed to stabilise, but it never
fully did. He died at 6 months. “Yah, well,”
to...” She trailed off. “But twice!” Otto,
who was just starting as a doctor, swore
never to work with children, in those
terrible hospital wings where parents
close their eyes and pray, as he had, that the alarms are ringing
to announce the death of someone else’s son or daughter.
The decision to take in Ammar was in some respects a
projection into the past. The boy could be a son. Otto had
hoped, too, that Ammar’s arrival might cast him and Lina back
into an earlier, happier stage of marriage. But Lina’s energies
and affections were now directed exclusively towards the boy,
it seemed to him. “He’s taken my place, in a sense,” Otto said.
He and Lina have separated, and will divorce. “It’s not Ammar,”
he said, “but he has made things clear.” 
Ammar has been approved for permanent residency. He
will stay with Lina. Early on, she’d told him of her boys and of
her sadness, as an encouragement during his episodes. It was
possible to be very low, she said, but then to make a good and
happy life. 
The boys were buried in the shaded corner of a nearby
church cemetery, and she sometimes brought Ammar to their
grave. On an afternoon last year, the cemetery grounds were
strewn with fine white petals, a delicate confetti released from
the old trees. Ammar sat slouched atop a pink headstone with
a cigarette, the ashes floating towards the foot of Lina’s boys’
grave. He spat unthinkingly. “That’s not respectful,” Lina said,
and Ammar stood. She explained, to his shock, that her sons
had been cremated. When people are cremated, do you watch
them burn? he asked. She explained that you do not.
They wandered up through the cemetery to the top of a
small rise behind it, a lookout point with a view down to the
open water and the pastel facades of Stockholm’s Old Town.
Lina had taken Ammar to this spot in the winter, on their first
walks, and he had been enchanted. Do you remember how
beautiful you found it? she asked. “No is beautiful!” he teased,
in broken English. They continued down to the city. Lina
waited on the sidewalk as he climbed the stone steps to the
Royal Palace, where a single soldier was posted. He was a pale
young man, with a blond moustache in tidy triangles over his
upper lip, a beret and a bayonetted rifle on his shoulder. “Is
the king home?” Ammar asked. “No, the king’s not here!” the
guard replied, laughing.
“MAYBE HE CAN PUT SOME
OF HIS PAST BEHIND HIM?“
PADNOS WROTE
 Ammar descended again to the street. Stopping at a flower
box, he snapped the stem of a daisy and absentmindedly
plucked off its head. In English he said, “Sweden is nice,”
teasing again but quite right.  saying, no, he should really go, and he left Ammar confused
I n the spring of last year, Padnos flew to Stockholm. He
and Ammar met outside a mosque. The boy reached the
top steps of a leafy walkway and emerged into a clearing
ablaze in white sunlight. “Habibi!” Padnos called, and
jogged shufflingly toward him, smiling but reserved, waiting to
take his cues from the boy. Ammar stopped and stood, beaming,
and threw open his hands. He kissed Padnos’ cheeks, brought
his forehead in to Padnos’ and told him, laughing, that he’d
assumed he was dead. He took one of the American’s curls in
his fingers and smiled: They had been so much longer in Syria,
and so much filthier!
Ammar took Padnos by the forearm and led him down
to the street. A young couple were kissing beneath a row of
shade trees; Ammar turned to his old cellmate. “Where is Abu
Mariyah?” he joked loudly – Abu Mariyah al-Qahtani, their
former jailer, would hardly approve. He draped himself over
Padnos, easy in his physicality. Ammar wore skintight jeans
that bunched modishly above his Nikes, and his black hair was
swept up in a lacquered pompadour. He drew now and then
from a Marlboro Light. Padnos laughed and joined in the boy’s
theatre, but chastely, with a sort of sad familiarity.  feared he, too, possessed. “Maybe you don’t know just how
Padnos was curious to observe a young fighter in peacetime,
amid the temptations of another, very different life. He asked
after Ammar’s brother, the one with whom Padnos had also
been imprisoned. “He’s with Daesh now,” Ammar whispered.
He took Padnos to his favourite kebab restaurant. He
introduced him to the men behind the counter, an Iraqi and
three Syrians in red company T-shirts, as a “jassus Amriki”, an
American spy. They found this to be hysterical, and Ammar
explained that the American was a former prisoner in Syria. “We
hate the regime!” the men exclaimed. Padnos told them he’d
in fact been held by the opposition. “We hate the opposition!”
they corrected. He smiled gamely. There was a discussion of the
ransom payment that evidently saved him and a joke about the
resultant value of each hair on his head. Padnos ordered a falafel
plate and took it outside to a sunny table on the sidewalk.
He asked Ammar if he’d heard anything about a Jabhat
al-Nusra commander called Abu Hamza al-Homsi. Abu Hamza
had treated Padnos with kindness, bringing him writing paper
and even offering to negotiate his release; Padnos wanted to
thank him. Abu Hamza was dead, Ammar said, killed in fighting
near the Iraqi border. How he knew this was not clear; Padnos
reasoned that perhaps Ammar had been under Abu Hamza’s
command. The boy claimed to know the names and roles and
fates of many prominent jihadists, and many other distressing
things. Ammar leaned across the table and, dropping his voice,
said he’d heard talk of plans for an ISIS attack in Sweden, one
that would target “homosexuals” and would be carried out by
“blond-haired” fighters. Also, he bragged, he was at the top
of his class at school, and this without studying. He took some
falafel from Padnos’ plate and smothered it in hummus, then got
up to fill his glass from a pot of black tea inside. He came back
with a dozen sugar cubes and proceeded to drop them one by
one into his tea, inspecting the concoction like a bored child. In
the end it was too sweet to drink, he concluded.
He brought Padnos to the quiet courtyard beneath Lina’s
apartment. There was a small patio and a wooden table and
chairs, and above them a warm breeze filtered through the
greenery. Before they could sit, though, Padnos was suddenly
and disappointed. Padnos seemed to have exhausted his will to
be a friend to the boy. 
He vacillates between an impulse to extraordinary sympathy
towards Ammar and an impulse to contempt. “Jabhat al-Nusra
put him through the wringer,” Padnos said. Ammar could
make a life for himself in Sweden, he believed, and deserved
the chance. At other times, this magnanimity dissolved. “Listen,
this kid has made his pact with the Devil,” he said. “He has the
jihad in his blood.”
In his most desperate hour, he had placed his salvation in
Ammar’s hands, hoping that the boy’s humanity, however
deadened or obscured, would compel him to deliver his letter.
It did not. “He cared,” Padnos told me bitterly. “But not enough
to actually act.” 
Shortly after Padnos left Stockholm, Lina wrote to him
asking, in a slightly accusatory way, if he thought Ammar had
been a member of Jabhat al-Nusra. Padnos did, of course, and
though in Sweden he’d found Ammar to be charming, their
time together had done nothing to convince him otherwise. 
Lina’s benevolence towards the boy was “impressive, even
moving,” Padnos wrote to her, but also misguided. He seemed
to be angered by it, as if it were the expression of a naïveté he
many of the people we saw in Lesbos participated on one
side or the other in Syria’s civil war,” he wrote. “OK, everyone
announced himself to be a civilian at first and many clearly
were. But many were not. They’re probably all a little screwed
up in the head – from Bashar [al-Assad], from the sheiks, from
the bombs, from years and years of war. What to do?” 
Of Ammar he wrote:
My basic feeling is that it takes years of psychological
abuse to get someone to be a soldier in a formation like
Jabhat al-Nusra. He would have been under a lot of
pressure probably from his brothers and dad and God
knows who else long before there ever was a Jabhat
al-Nusra. When he was in, they would have made him
do things that deepened his commitment to them. Their
whole psychology is about bringing you so totally under
their control that you’re hardly a human being any more.
You’re something else and your only friends are exactly
like you. Violence and prayer and no contact with the
outside world. That’s Jabhat al-Nusra.
That he eventually had second thoughts about the
whole thing is to me a sign of character. Good for him, I
say. That he found a welcoming family in Sweden is also
a wonderful thing. Maybe he can put some of this past
behind him? I hope so.
At best, one may peer into the boy’s universe of experience
and feeling in the manner of an astronomer, noting its brightest
and most definite objects and perhaps making out the contours
of its darkest reaches. Padnos detects in these a menace that
Lina does not. She refuses Padnos’ vision of Ammar, and of
herself. “I have spoken to him so many hours,” she told me of
Ammar. “I have thought about it. But I have landed in – no, this
is not my story of him. I don’t know the truth. But I have landed
in this. And I have chosen now to trust him.”
DECEMBER 2017 – 307
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DECEMBER 2017 — 311

 A NIGHT TO SHINE
All roads led to the Taj Lands End, Mumbai, on 2nd August, 2017 as Vogue celebrated
their 8th annual Vogue Beauty Awards to recognise and honour the beauty industry’s
most coveted products, services and experts. It was a night of shimmer and shine, as
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special, given this year also marked 10 years of Vogue in India. The awards saw some
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glittering ceremony. As one of the most anticipated events on the Vogue calendar, it was
definitely yet another double-tap-worthy #VogueBeautyAwards.

Bachchan,
eta Nanda Bachchan, Jaya Most Beautiful
Ageless Beauty winners Shw Man winner Amitabh Bachchan Global Indian Icon
a’s Sexiest
Navya Naveli Nanda and Indi Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Most Beautiful Couple VBA judge

Vogue’s Priya Tanna Mira and Shahid Kapoor Karisma Kapoor

Most Beautiful Man of the Condé Nast’s Alex Kuruvilla with

Decade Akshay Kumar RAW Pressery booth Vogue’s Nidhi Sharma Punjabi
Trends’ Shimmer
and Shine booth
Condé Nast’s Arjun Mehra
and L’Oréal’s Shalini Raghavan
From left - Indus
try Super Hero wi
Clint Fernandes, nners Aalim Hakim
Ambika Pillai, M , Adhuna Bhaban
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r, Nalini Naegam i, Deepa Verma,
vala, Kanta Mot
wani and Namrat
a Soni

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Lakmé’s Aparna Giridhar

Trends’ Vanya Mishra with Vogue’s Dilshad Arora
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VBA Judge Karishma

Manga Bedi at the Forest
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Vogue’s Anaita Natasha Man of the Year
Shroff Adajania Poonawalla at the Varun Dhawan
The spectacular set-up
Taj Lands End, Mumbai

RAW Pressery’s Anuj

Rakyan and Atiya Mulla Our beverage partner Fratelli Wines
 ENDING 2017 IN STYLE
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314 — DECEMBER 2017
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urban man. Designed in classic and bold
colours, this collection allows you to
look effortlessly dapper, while playing
up your rugged side. From warm knits
and stylish jackets to denims and
signature shirts, this compilation has it
all. You’ll love this biker jacket that has
a detachable hoody, waterproof hand-
waxed cotton and faux leather.
`7,999. Available exclusively at Being
Human Stores across India

Opulently sleeved
Crafted for the connoisseur, the Savile
Row collection is a composition of
sleeves for laptops, wallets of various
configurations and elegantly appointed
pen cases that hold your prized Lapis
Bard writing instruments. Crafted from
premium leather, buffed to a merlot glow,
lined with plush microfiber and finished
with detailed stitching, the Savile Row
collection epitomizes luxury.
Priced `4,000 onwards. Available exclusively
at William Penn stores across India
Srub-a-dub dub
Dull skin doesn’t stand a chance. Beardo
introduces the Charcoal Deep Cleansing
and Exfoliating Face Scrub for men. It
effectively exfoliates and polishes your
skin by removing all types of impurities,
including dead and hardened skin cells.
So go ahead, take our advice and make it
a part of your skincare arsenal. You can
thank us for recommending it.
`350. Available on beardo.in, as well as on
Flipkart, Snapdeal, Amazon and other major
online platforms
Surfs up!
DAVIDOFF Cool Water Wave is an
energizing fragrance that captures
the feeling of plunging straight into
the crashing swells of the ocean.
This aquatic scent opens with a
surge of marine splash accord
and grapefruit notes that mingle
with Sichuan pepper to invoke
the impression of a breaking
wave. Right before it draws you
into the masculine undercurrent
of patchouli and sandalwood, it
reveals the intensity and vibrancy
of birch leaf and juniper
`5,500 (125ml), `4,200 (75ml),
`3,100 (40ml). Available at leading
departmental stores in India, Parcos and
Sephora as well as online on Myntra,
Amazon and Nykaa
Tailored perfection
For those who appreciate style,
Tailorman, a men’s luxury fashion
label, custom creates each element
of your ensemble to ensure that it
emulates your personality. While the
tuxedo, showcased here has a plush
velvet blazer that can be paired with
twill trousers, the Orient Navy Nehru
jacket can be teamed with wool blend
trousers and a crisp, 100 percent
cotton shirt.
`18,000 (Blazer), `6,000 (Twill trousers),
`8,995 (Nehru Jacket), `5,000 (Shirt).
For more information, visit tailorman.com
The resort life
For a ‘live-in-a-resort’ kind of feel,
get a home at Central Park Resorts.
Surrounded by 20 acres of verdant
milieus, expect a spa, a salon, a health
club, a swimming pool, a bowling alley,
a pet hotel, a water park and a business
centre. With no vehicular traffic on the
premises, exquisite water bodies and an
international tunnel driveway, you’ll feel
rejuvenated as soon as you set foot here.
For more information, call
1800-103-6660 or visit centralpark.in
DECEMBER 2017 — 315
OPEN LETTER

stances.
Dear Reader, s in such abnormal circum
n’t exp ect to still be her e, living our near-normal live r. An d bec aus e 201 7 was
estly, we did – let’s recap the past yea
What a year it’s been! Hon – tha nks , Roc ket ma n! one s.
ageddon has been averted the most important
But now that nuclear Arm ing imp orta nt got its ow n hashtag, here’s a look at
Twitter, and everyth
also the year of Trump on
dence to the contrary.
unt rue , des pite the re being overwhelming evi ai.”
you keep saying someth ing his entire concert in Mumb
Alternative Fact: When ’s ina ugu rati on.” or “Ju stin Bieber didn’t lip-sync
people at Trump Thanks to
Eg: “There were a million ose and neutralise Nazis.
foc us on usi ng pea cef ul and political means to opp r-th e-b ed for righ t-wing
ts who the latest monster-unde
Antifa: A group of activis cur ren tly also fun ctio n as
e supremacy, they
their stringent allergy to rac
bla me eve rything on. d thing. Eg:
propagandists to er people, as if it were a goo
ath bra gs abo ut cau sin g pain and suffering to oth oun ts of the ir ow n money!”
Braggadocio: When a soc
iop
s out sid e the ban k just to withdraw small am
ple stand in long line m that even admitting to
a typo
“Look, I made all those peo h a low sense of self-estee
eon e suf feri ng from suc .”
ctance of som ative press covfefe
Covfefe: Refers to the relu “Despite the constant neg
wo rse tha n dea th. Firs t use known to mankind: se of rhythm, and yet whose
is a fate ger s who don’t have any sen
d, ton e-d eaf sin Shah.
Cringe Pop: Refers to the
songs of self-prom ote Eg: Dhinchak Pooja, Tahir
of idio ts wa tch ing the ir songs on loop, ironically.
millions t your actions
videos go viral thanks to the that you can’t even see tha
ecu ritie s clo ud you r jud gment to such an extent e Cou rt try to ma ke us breathe
ins
Delhi Smog: When your you r lov ed one s. Eg: “Ho w dare the Suprem
situation for you and
are contributing to a dire
tox ic air by banning fireworks?” r-the-top behaviour.
moderately less
, or is ind ulg ing in tran sparently embarrassing, ove
s too hard to impress you television or social media
, as if
Extra: When a person trie dis seminated through print,
pag and a and hoa xes y eve ryth ing you
Fake News: Refers to mis
information, pro ideology. Eg: Literall
lead rea der s and to get them to buy into a certain
er to mis
they were legitimate, in ord
d on Wh ats Ap p. ion faced by victims of
rea
le wh o pre ten ds to be sensitive to the discriminat him to indulge
Fake Woke: Refers to a stra
ight, cisgender ma media platform available to
teis m and hom oph obi a, and who uses every social You kno w wh o you are.
institutionalised sexism, rac
ism, cas teist and homophobic.
l wo rld, his beh avio ur is usually sexist, racist, cas uences
in virtue signalling. In the rea consideration the conseq
ent an unp rec ede nte d policy without taking into
hes to implem
GST: When someone rus

WORDS: OVERRATED OUTCAST. IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK

n. s like a sexual
of their dec isio ny and sexism, and yet act
per son wh o tak es a pub lic stance against misogy n. Can be use d thus: “Who is the
Harvey Weinstein: A ys they purport to dis dai
wo me n in the ver y wa
exploiting
predator in their private life,
We ins tein of you r ind ustry?” tly turn into huge
Harvey most of them inadverten
t tha t dep rive s peo ple of so many nutrients that
Keto Diet: A new die
cannot stand. ileged family,
assholes that the rest of us that being born into a priv
has ben efi ted from nep otism but doesn’t believe ant age .
wh o m a huge adv
Nepognostic: A person and connections, gives the
with instant fame, money taphors that
which has provided them old-timey words and me
n des crib es mu nda ne events using a farrago of
who ofte
Sassy Tharoor: A person ipher their meaning.
uire us to fl ip thro ugh various dictionaries to dec son, usually someone for
req
er for eve n a sm idg en of attention from a per a year ago.
Thirsty: When you’re des
perate or overly eag ht and faved a picture from
s. Eg: “I wa s sta lkin g his Instagram late last nig
feeling
whom you have unrequited
he’ ll kno w how thir sty I am for him!” pchat.
No w and are now too old for Sna
set of mil len nia ls wh o were too young for vinyl,
Xennials: A sub
extra, and unleash your
alternative facts, don’t be
the re you go. Alw ays remember to verify your
So, h you.
ver someone messes wit
inner Sassy Tharoor whene
Have a happy New Year!
Love,

316 — DECEMBER 2017

 GQ DECEMB

G Q
L U X E
A D D R E S S E S
2 0 1 8 INDIA

THE
HIGH LIFE
DÉCOR DONE RIGHT

GO NICHE
BOUTIQUE HOMES
ARE BUZZY NOW

KANGANA
UP CLOSE

ING DINO MOREA

A GUIDE TO INDIA’S
PHOTOGRAPHED BY TARUN VISHWA FINEST LUXURY HOMES
contents
26 PHOENIX RISING
Three real estate bigwigs are upbeat about 2018
34 BEYOND BORDERS
Indians are increasingly investing in properties abroad,
finds a Knight Frank report
42 CURB APPEAL
Sharp driveways befitting the slick wheels they house
52 TALKING HOME
Suhel Seth’s home is a thinker’s playground
64 THE HIGH LIFE
Luxe décor pieces that will elevate your living spaces
72 BY INVITATION ONLY
How boutique homes are defying market odds
78 THE HOST
Dino Morea has got the dinner party down pat
88 A QUEEN IN HER CASTLE
Kangana Ranaut lets us into her inner sanctum
103 RAISING THE BAR
Go local or go home
106 THE GREEN LIFE
Homes that prove sustainable luxury is a reality
112 THE V FACTOR
Adman V Sunil is living the best of two worlds
122 BY DESIGN
10 design books to adorn your bookshelves
124 LOO AND BEHOLD
You might want to reconsider the term ‘Potty Mouth’
125 EXPERTSPEAK
126 STOCKIST

THE GQ LUXE ADDRESSES 2018 TEAM

Issue Editor Vidisha Srinivasan
Contributing Art Director Vel Kumar
Photo Director Gizelle Cordo
Photo Assistant Fawzia Khan

Managing Editor Brand Solutions Nisha Samson

 Project Manager Daljit Kaur Aulakh
Contributing Writer Nikhil Inamdar

ON THE COVER
TUXEDO, SHIRT, BOW TIE; ALL BY HUGO BOSS.
POCKET SQUARE BY LACQUER EMBASSY
PHOTO: TARUN VISHWA
 contents
22 SUNTECK
Signature Island, Signia Isles and
Signia Pearl, Mumbai
32 K RAHEJA CORP
Artesia, Mumbai
37 ACE GROUP
Ace Parkway, Noida
38 PHOENIX GROUP
Phoenix Kessaku, Bengaluru
47 COWRKS COWORKING
SPACES PVT. LTD
CoWrks
48 PIRAMAL REALTY
Piramal Aranya, Mumbai
58 RUSTOMJEE
Rustomjee Elements, Mumbai
60 CENTRAL PARK
The Resorts, NCR
70 K RAHEJA CORP
Vivarea, Mumbai
76 RJ GROUP
RJ Lake Gardenia & RJ Brooke
Square, Bengaluru
84 FENESTA
Fenesta Windows & Doors
98 BSH GROUP
Siemens Home Appliances

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 Condé 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 Condé Nast
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 EDITOR Che Kurrien
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 THE powEr AddrEss
for Tycoons
Sunteck Realty’s flagship trilogy of ultra-premium residences in the heart
of Mumbai’s most exclusive commercial district BKC, is becoming an epitome
of power for the globe’s most prized gentry

I
n the past decade or so, the
dynamics of luxury real-estate in
Mumbai has gone through a tec-
tonic change. And it all began
when Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC),
with its wide open roads, spacious
offices, gleaming glass façade build-
ings and ample parking spaces,
became the city’s Central Business
District (CBD). Right in the heart of the
Maximum City, along with its proximity
to the city’s international and domestic
airports, it is easily accessible via
Bandra-Worli Sea Link, Western
Express Highway and Santacruz-
Chembur Link.
Apart from multinational corpora-
tions, Indian conglomerates and giant
banks, this swanky new district began
attracting lifestyle businesses as well.
From the best five-star hotels, premi-
um healthcare facilities and leading
educational institutions to luxury bou-
tiques, fine-dining restaurants and
sport clubs – BKC now has it all!
In fact, akin to international business
districts like New York’s Mid-town
Manhattan, London’s Square Mile or
Hong Kong’s Chung Wang, residential
properties at BKC will see more
growth. Why? Because it offers the
perfect work-life balance via its walk-
to-work culture, something that
Sunteck Realty, one of India’s top
seven listed real-estate companies,
has been quick to identify.
The flagship project of Sunteck is
a trinity of three towers – Signature
Island, Signia Isles and Signia Pearl,

Actual Image
Actual Image
Actual Image
right in the middle of the coveted
BKC. Built across 1.5 million sqft,
these towers harmoniously balance
the everyday needs with an excep-
tional lifestyle, making them fine
examples of sleek design, exacting
engineering, bold character and
incomparable grace.
These bespoke residences, envi-
sioned by Talati and Panthaky
Associated, redefine the very premise
of stylish living. Visualise a grand
lobby with Botticino and Travertine
Italian marble flooring, lush green
landscaped zones designed by Deep
Roots from Singapore, along with
state-of-the-art security and fire-safety
systems – all put together for those
with distinguished tastes. No wonder
then as to why the city’s gentry, from
celebrities like Aishwarya Rai
Bachchan and Sonam Kapoor to
business moguls like Uday Kotak
and Gautum Adani have invested in
these properties. Apart from these
names, there are many who have
moved residences from Nariman Point
and Cuffe Parade to Sunteck’s three
towers in BKC.
Signature Island is the flagship prop-
Actual Image
Actual Image
akin to international
business districts like
new York’s Mid-town
Manhattan, london’s
square Mile or hong
kong’s chung wang,
residential properties
at bkc will see More
growth. whY? because it
offers the perfect
work-life balance
erty of the company and comprises of
64 limited edition duplexes with two
open-to-the-sky atriums. These seam-
less, column-less structures reach
200 ft skywards with a floor plate of
60,000 sqft. The built-up of the build-
ing is approximately 1 million sqft with
limited residences. Each duplex mea-
sures 7,500 sqft and 11,500 sqft, like a
‘Villa in the Sky’. Winning awards, year
after year since 2013, for luxury and
excellence, Signature Island clearly
endorses the fact that it has been
acclaimed for these attributes.
Signia Isles offers lavish four and
five bedroom residences while the
homes in Signia Pearl reflect a
Venetian style. The configurations
here are approximately 5,000 sqft.
All three towers have their inde-
pendent amenities for exclusive
usage by the residents. The premium
facilities offered include the Signature
Club, spread across 60,000 sqft of
terra firma, comprising a tempera-
ture-controlled swimming pool,
a gymnasium, a multi-purpose hall,
a squash court, a jogging track, a
beautifully landscaped 30,000-sqft
garden and a luxury spa. To further
complement the lifestyle of its resi-
dents, these buildings have an exclu-
sive tie-up with the five-star hotels in
the neighbourhood, offering
unmatched choices and benefits.
These splendid residences also
enable clients to design every inch of
their homes to suit their style. With a
22-ft floor-to-ceiling height and a pri-
vate garden with every home, resi-
dents enjoy an incomparable sense of
spaciousness. These features, cou-
pled with exclusivity, privacy, location-
al advantages and built-in facilities
have culminated in Sunteck’s trilogy.
 Phoenix
RisiNg
Indian real estate faced definite setbacks this year.
But industry moguls are optimistic for 2018
WRITTEN BY NIKHIL INAMDAR

T
The crisis simmering within India’s
real estate sector over the last three
› years finally blew up into a full-blown
cataclysm in 2017. Across India,
burgeoning cityscapes suddenly
found themselves in the grip of an uneasy,
unnatural calm. Sky cranes halted, concrete
mixers were stowed away and the chaotic noise
and delirium of urban construction came to a
grinding halt.
Consider these numbers from real estate
broking and advisory services firm ANAROCK
to get a full sense of the scale of devastation:
New launches in 2017 (till the third quarter) fell
more than 50 per cent when compared with the
same period in 2016. Sales declined by around
32 per cent, and across most cities, prices
remained stagnant, with only a marginal positive
change in metros such as Bengaluru, Pune and
Hyderabad. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region,
the National Capital Region, Chennai and
Kolkata witnessed further price destruction as
the triple tsunami of demonetisation, GST and
RERA crashed on to Indian shores.
The full provisions of the Real Estate
(Regulation and Development) Act 2016, came into
effect in May 2017. The Goods and Services Tax Act
was implemented a few months later in July, all
while the ripples created by the demonetisation of
the Indian currency in November 2016 continued
to be felt across the country. This was clearly a year
of far-reaching reforms that had shaken the Indian
economy to its core.
“Some of the most path-breaking reforms in
independent India came into force in quick
succession over the span of a few months.
Described by many as the battery of reforms
against the black economy in an unorganised
sector, policy decisions such as demonetisation,
RERA, the Benami Transactions (Prohibition)
Amendment Act 2016 and GST pushed the
27
already sluggish residential property market to
GQ INSIGHT
the brink,” says Shishir Baijal, chairman and
managing director, Knight Frank India. “But we
believe these were corrective measures long
overdue to transform Indian real estate into a
robust, transparent and thriving industry. The
short-term hiccups the sector is grappling with
will eventually fade away and bear rich
dividends in the future.”
Not in the medium term though. With high
prices stopping end-users in their tracks, anxiety
continuing to loom large over the labour market as
job losses intensify in sectors such as IT, and the
delay and delivery risks of under-construction
projects bogging down investor confidence, a
recovery is “unlikely in the next 12-18 months,”
ratings and research agency CRISIL said in a
recently released report.
But just how immune has the Indian
luxury housing market been to these broad
market dynamics?
That depends entirely on one’s definition of
luxury. The ultra-premium real estate market has
always operated in a stratosphere of its own as
witnessed by the extravagant figures being
offered for trophy assets in Lutyens Delhi and
South Mumbai. There is a class of buyers that is
unlikely to have been affected by the recent
regulatory shocks.
 “The underlying value of an asset for high-
end transactions is linked with the end-user’s
specific needs and financial strength. As a
consequence, this segment is immune to general
market dynamics,” says Ramesh Nair, CEO and
country head of JLL India. “But we need to be
careful while referring to these transactions as
a benchmark for the overall luxury space. The
market for ultra-high-end luxury homes will
continue to thrive as each transaction is unique,
and these buyers will look for nothing but
the best.”
However, the broader premium luxury real
estate market of homes above `1.5 crore – which
now constitutes approximately 4 to 5 per cent of
the overall real estate market today – has seen a
considerable slowdown.
ANAROCK estimates that new project
launches with units costing more than `1.5 crore
recorded a fall of approximately 55 per cent in the
first quarter of 2017, compared to the fourth
quarter of 2016, when demonetisation was
introduced, clearly reflecting the pain the move
had caused. Subsequently, over the course of nine
months there was a decrease of about 24 per cent.
Some believe this is short-term pain for long-
term gain. Luxury real estate is a segment driven
by personal wealth and swift tailwinds from the
LUXE ADDRESSES
2018
 28
burgeoning population of high net worth
GQ INSIGHT
individuals. It’s no surprise then that when we
spoke to India’s top three luxury developers –
Vikas Oberoi, chairman and managing director,
Oberoi Realty; Abhishek Lodha, managing
director, Lodha Group; and Niranjan
Hiranandani, co-founder & managing director,
Hiranandani Group and national president of
NAREDCO – about the past year and the year
ahead, they were cautious but also fiercely
optimistic about what lies ahead.
How has the triple whammy of GST,
› RERA and demonetisation affected the
Indian luxury real estate sector in
2017? Specifically GST.
HIRANANDANI: HNI buyers and their requirement
of luxury housing are very different from
consumers of other segments of residential real
estate. Hence, the impact of various regulatory
laws will also be different for this segment.
While the jury’s still out on how the new
regulatory laws will impact affordable housing
and luxury housing differently, the broad
consensus seems to be that the impact on luxury
housing will be higher. GST was supposed to be
‘revenue-neutral’, but we’ve seen under-
construction projects increasing their cost from
3.5 to almost 7 per cent as a result.
Recently, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley,
while delivering the Annual Mahindra Lecture
on India’s tax reforms at Harvard University, said
there was a strong case to bring real estate
under the ambit of GST. While under-
construction flats are already under GST, the
inclusion of the entire value chain will mean that
land purchase will also come under GST. Such a
move will definitely impact luxury real estate in
the form of price point appreciation.
LODHA: The last 10 months have been truly
transformational for the real estate sector. The
emergence of game-changing policies such as
demonetisation, GST and RERA has paved the
way for the sustainable and long-term growth of
the sector, which, after agriculture, is the second
largest contributor to employment in India.
GST will strengthen the economy in the long
term and will lead to greater demand creation
for all kinds of real estate, including luxury.
Recently, India has moved up 30 spots to reach
100 in ‘ease of doing business’ rankings – this
indicates there will be greater opportunities in
India in the years to come and luxury real estate
will benefit from higher levels of economic
activity and wealth creation.
OBEROI: The GST roll-out in India is one of the
biggest tax reforms in the world in terms of
LUXE ADDRESSES
2018
sheer volume. Although it will
have zero impact on ready
luxury apartments with all
requisite approvals, under-
construction projects – whether
residential, commercial or even
social – may see a marginal
increase in prices depending on
the segment and the location.
At Oberoi Realty, we’ve always
been strong believers in this
government’s transformative
agenda and hence have
adopted a ‘Zero GST Impact’
policy for almost all our
customers. The response so far
has been excellent.
NIRANJAN HIRANANDANI
RERA is seen as being CO-FOUNDER & MANAGING
› hugely empowering DIRECTOR, HIRANANDANI
for buyers. But what GROUP
sort of pressures does it put
on builders and how difficult
has the adjustment process been?
HIRANANDANI: When RERA was first mooted in
India, it came with some positive points and one
major stumbling block. What’s positive is that by
bringing in transparency and accountability, it’s
changed the way real estate developers function,
ensuring a corporate style of working, and
enhancing the confidence levels of home buyers.
The first impact of RERA has been positive even
among HNI luxury home buyers. However, the
aspect of holding the developer responsible
for all delays in possession, including those
over which he has no control, is the sore point
for developers.
LODHA: RERA is a welcome measure which helps
home buyers get more information and reduces
the risks associated with real estate purchase.
Luxury real estate in India is finally coming of
age – we’re seeing projects in the ready-to-
move-in state now – and this differentiates the
men from the boys.
OBEROI: RERA is a paradigm shift for the entire
sector; something we developers and buyers
have been waiting for a long time. It gives equal
consideration to all stakeholders – buyers,
developers and the authorities. Most
importantly, it will protect the rights of the
buyer. Luxury real estate is a high-cost sector
and this regulation will encourage customer
confidence and boost market sentiment.
Though the implementation of RERA is a
boon for both developers and buyers, we believe
the role of the real estate regulator will be critical
in enforcing the law and creating a level playing

VIKAS OBEROI ABHISHEK LODHA
CHAIRMAN & MANAGING MANAGING DIRECTOR,
DIRECTOR, OBEROI REALTY LODHA GROUP
field in the long term. As a company, we’ve
always been known for our transparency and
corporate governance standards. RERA
implementation will also force unorganised
players out, leaving only credible and genuine
developers in the field. We are well positioned to
capitalise on this change in consumer behaviour
and its resulting benefits.
Between 5-30 per cent of all deals
› across metros such as Bengaluru,
Delhi and Mumbai traditionally
involved a cash component. How severe was the
impact of demonetisation on the luxury real
estate segment in particular?
HIRANANDANI: The demonetisation of the `500
and `1,000 notes was clearly aimed at fighting
black money, corruption and terrorism. Of all
regulatory changes aimed at making cash
transactions a thing of the past, demonetisation
was, perhaps, the single largest step that directly
impacted the ‘parallel economy’. The corporate
segment of developers across the Indian real
estate sector has always worked towards
moving real estate transactions away from any
aspect where cash would be involved.
Demonetisation gave a nudge to all developers
to move into institutional financing options and
encourage home buyers to move away from
any aspect that would constitute a ‘cash
component’. For HNI buyers, the impact of
demonetisation was more than just moving
away from the parallel economy. It brought in
more credibility for real estate, while also
making Indian real estate more attractive to
NRIs and global investors.
LODHA: Demonetisation had a significant impact
for three months as most people were focusing
on their core businesses rather than on new
purchases of any kind. However, even in tough
times, the demand for luxury homes continued
to thrive as discerning, affluent buyers are
always on the look-out for a quality product
backed by established and credible developers.
OBEROI: Demonetisation was a complete non-
event across all our segments as we don’t deal in
cash transactions. We believe the result is always
beneficial for everyone when there is stricter
enforcement of the law and heartily welcome the
government’s vision for our country’s
development. We are confident that GST and
RERA, along with other significant reforms such
as demonetisation, will strengthen the real estate
sector and the country’s economy at large.
Finally, what must buyers expect in
› 2018, as the realty market absorbs the
after-effects of these big changes?
HIRANANDANI: Over a period of time, we’ve seen
real estate transactions increasing in numbers,
and the buyer has returned as a result of the
enhanced transparency and accountability. This
definitely suggests that the impact of the new
regulatory regimes seems to be wearing off. I
expect luxury residential real estate sales to
improve, so my advice to HNI luxury home
seekers is to make that ‘buy’ decision. The days
of caution and waiting for the sweeter deal seem
to have ended.
LODHA: Quality, quality, quality! Quality location,
quality product, quality developer – you cannot
go wrong. Genuine luxury offerings have always
found buyers who place utmost importance on
aspects such as craftsmanship, lifestyle and
service standards. At Lodha, we’re expecting
greater traction from our London projects too,
with the weaker pound helping the cause of
Indian buyers.
OBEROI: Over the past few years, the high-end
luxury residential segment has seen sustained
growth, independent of the rest of the market.
The typical home buyer in this category is a
global Indian – well-read, well-travelled and
exposed to a global lifestyle; he wants to
experience a similar quality of life at home.
Hence, as the economy settles down post these
reforms, we feel there will be a growing
demand for good projects from credible
developers with a proven track record of
consistent delivery.
The pillar of luxury
Artesia by K Raheja Corp is the future of real estate – read on and you’ll know how it
would be to dwell in pure luxury. The effect of the Artesia-lifestyle is unexplainable,
it will leave the best of us wide-eyed with its unmatched grandeur

Shot on location

When avant-garde amenities blend with

immaculate elegance, the result would be Resplendent
a dexterous structure that’s embedded Responsible
with sophistication. Artesia, the pinnacle
indulgence
of bespoke luxury residences, is being
designed with exclusivity and class that will
suit the palate of a niche set of India’s respect-
ed business families. It will be spread across an expan-
sive 5.2-acre land parcel with 20,000sqft of building
footprint, so that you’re sure to witness a panoramic
view from the towering 45-storey power address.
Shot on location
 Meticulously craft-
A LABOUR
ed by the maestros OF LOVE LIKE
of design and NO OTHER
architecture,
Artesia will be a
through-and-through
work of art. Whether it is
the vision of the prestigious
K Raheja Corp, the talent of the
UK-based designer, Martin
Kemp or the expertise of
Buregafarnell, the famous land-
scape designers: each brick in
the walls of this modern-day
marvel will have a touch of per-
fection, one that will have you
crane your neck and leave you
spellbound.
Illustrative image

“Artesia will be similar to some of the best Located in the

MAKING A upscale locale
creations one would see around the world, LANDMARK IN of Worli, the
whether London, New York or LA. With the AN IMPRESSIVE property will
use of diverse materials, details and colours, NEIGHBOUR- allow you to
HOOD stay well-con-
we are creating a new language that reflects
nected through
sophistication. Artesia is poised to be an all the arterial roads
amalgamation of detailing that will develop of the Maximum City, whether you
into an overall impression of elegance, are north or south-bound. What’s
more, the apartments will promise
timelessness and international style. While stunning views of the city. Nestled
some furnishings in the common areas will in the heart of the Maximum City at
take you back to the days of Raffles and the Worli, this urban haven has views
British, the apartments are designed to of the Arabian Sea and the Bandra-
Worli Sea Link.
surround you with serenity.”
—The illustrious Designer, Martin Kemp

The common A distinguished audience

DESIGNED TO areas in Artesia needs something to sat- FOR THE
MAKE LIFE FALL will swell with isfy their discerning GLOBAL
PERFECTLY INTO tasteful furnish- tastes. Artesia will be CITY SLICKERS
PLACE ings and eclectic the brick-and-mortar
charms. This is personification of India’s
LOCATION PHOTO CREDIT: MATTHEW EVANS

where Martin Kemp most influential forerunners.

will blend Indian luxury Being globally travelled, they
with artistic European detailing. On the have witnessed a montage of var- Illustrative image

other hand, the world-class amenities
will be interlaced with a vibrant modern-
ism over an enchanting backdrop of
large open spaces. From a majestic
lobby to a lavish podium deck, the resi-
dents will have the chance to revel in
the regalia every second of the day.
ied architectural highlights from
around the world. These sharp
minds need an address that match-
es with their aesthetic sensibilities.
And with the advent of Artesia, they
will get access to a lifestyle cogni-
sant of their luxurious ways of life.
Note: “Artesia - Residential Wing” is being developed
by K. Raheja Private Ltd. (a ‘K. Raheja Corp
group’ company) having MahaRERA Regn. No.
P51900000841 – (https://maharera.mahaonline.gov.in/).
The illustrative images are only for representational
purposes and views expressed herein are personal. The
recipients are requested to verify all details prior to acting
in any manner with respect to this project. The project is
subject to mortgage of HDFC Ltd., whose No-objection
for sale of premises will be taken as required.
 1
GQ HOMES

Beyond
Borders
A case for buying that second home with an international ZIP code
WRITTEN BY NIKHIL INAMDAR

LUXE ADDRESSES

2017
 35

GQ INSIGHT
Billboards with blow-ups of lavish

B
villas and infinity pools
in distant Dubai beckon
commuters on the streets of
Delhi and Mumbai, urging them
to buy their dream homes in
the emirate.
In November this year,
enquiries worth $490 million poured
into the Dubai Land Department (DLD)’s International
Property Show held at a suburban exhibition centre in
India’s financial capital Mumbai. The third edition of this
exhibition recorded a visitor footfall of 5,108 people, 24
per cent higher than last year.
“We’re already excited about our next show in India
next year and believe Indians will continue to remain the
number one non-GCC property buyers of real estate in
Dubai. They’re indeed the biggest contributor to Dubai’s
growth story,” says Majida Ali Rashid, assistant director-
general of the Dubai Land Department. buy property abroad. Also, what’s changed is that while
The DLD estimates that Indians have so far invested the well-heeled continue to invest in real estate in
126 billion dirhams in Dubai realty over the years, and as overseas locations, the average Indian too has begun
the emirate braces for the World Expo 2020, interest in its looking in that direction.”
residential and hospitality projects is heating up after a The report, which takes a granular look at buying
protracted slump in the UAE’s real estate market. behaviour, investment returns and the buying
Once the playground of only the mega-rich – who preferences of Indians investing abroad, states that
snapped up prime real estate on Dubai’s exclusive Palm nearly $112 million have been put into immovable
Jumeirah and the like – the hoardings across major properties abroad by Indian investors in the last financial
Indian metros, and the recent, well-attended expo in year. That is up a whopping 59 times from 2005-06. The
Mumbai, reflect how considering buying a home in cities share of queries received from India has also increased
such as Dubai and beyond, is now increasingly from 11 per cent in 2015 to 15 per cent in 2017 as a slow-
acceptable to a wider class of people in India. moving domestic real estate market pushes the resident
Indian buyer to seek opportunities overseas.
NOT A PIPE DREAM The report throws up interesting findings on 10
Looking Beyond Borders, a new report jointly brought countries that Indian money is chasing – Australia, Sri
out by international property consultant, Knight Frank Lanka, the UAE, Malaysia, Cyprus, Mauritius, Thailand,
India and the International Real Estate Expo reveals, “The USA, Philippines and the UK – and six preferred markets,
Indian government, through policies like the Liberalised giving valuable insights into parameters such as historic
Remittance Scheme, has made it easier for individuals to returns on investment, the rationale for investing in certain
geographies today, and a survey of why certain countries
are preferred for property investment over others.

CHASING RETURNS IMAGE: GETTY IMAGES (DUBAI, CYPRUS), ALAMY (MALAYSIA)

So what’s been the experience of people who’ve parked
money into dream properties overseas over the last
five years?
According to Knight Frank, resident Indians who
bought overseas homes at the end of the second quarter
of 2012 and sold them five years later, have made gains in
four of their five preferred international markets, except
Cyprus. Here a double whammy of a higher rupee and a
crash in property prices meant investors lost money by
22 per cent.
Dubai, on the other hand, gave stellar returns of over
50 per cent, closely followed by Australia at 38 per cent,
the UK at just over 20 per cent and Malaysia at just under

LUXE ADDRESSES

2018
 36
GQ INSIGHT
15 per cent (all figures have been net adjusted for property
price fluctuations and exchange rate movements).
“Our perception of buying international property has
largely been confined to high net worth individuals buying
luxury housing at picturesque foreign locations. At the
onset, this report looks beyond that stereotype and throws
light on mainstream residential property purchased by
resident Indians from other income groups,” says Dr
Samantak Das, chief economist and national director of
research at Knight Frank India. “The findings reflect healthy
returns on investments for such buyers, which augurs well
for the real estate sector as a whole.”
RIPE TIME TO GO GLOBAL?
Does the stellar appreciation in prices across these
geographies then make it a good time to invest overseas?
The report argues that the rise of the Indian rupee
against a basket of global currencies has, on a net basis,
made it more affordable for Indians to invest in overseas
markets, because, despite a rise in property prices across
the preferred markets, the stronger Indian currency has
outweighed the price appreciation.
The net impact of this? Compared to the second
quarter of 2016, homes on an average in Dubai are
cheaper by 4.2 per cent, by 3.3 per cent in the UK, 7.5 per
cent in Malaysia and 0.3 per cent in Cyprus. However,
property appreciation in Australia has outweighed the
advantage of the strengthened Indian rupee, where one
would have to pay 11 per cent more now than over the
same period last year.
The party is unlikely to last forever though.
“We believe the RBI and the government would not
allow the domestic currency to appreciate further and
will try their best to contain it near the current rates. The
LUXE ADDRESSES
2018
amount by which the INR has appreciated in the past year
is unlikely to repeat,” the report says. “Hence, with the
combination of all of the above – the strengthened rupee,
the prospects of higher rental yields and the potential for
further appreciation in prices of properties abroad – we
suggest it is an opportune time for resident Indians to
consider investing in real estate assets abroad as part of
their investment portfolio.”
TABULATE THE COSTS
Which brings us to the next logical question – what are
the costs attached to investing in overseas properties?
At 32.9 per cent, Knight Frank found Australia to have
the highest tax incidence and overall cost amongst the
countries that it considered. Dubai, on the other hand,
offered the lowest incidence of tax. Malaysia, however,
was the most cost effective for property investment when
tax and non-tax components were taken into
consideration. What Knight Frank’s survey results very
clearly reveal though is that the majority of resident
Indians set aside a budget up to $1.5 million while
considering overseas properties.
A decision on the geography to invest in, however, is
influenced by several factors beyond cost. The UK and
Australia trump several other countries when it comes to
the best ecosystem for children’s education, while return
on investment, for instance, is the highest ranked reason
for buying a property in Sri Lanka, followed by use of the
property as a second home.
The subtle nuances of the Indian investor’s buying
preferences are evidently a reflection of a market that’s
IMAGE: ALAMY
rapidly evolving beyond a select few to incorporate a
wider buyer population that’s now seeking to make the
most of its investments overseas.
S NOIDA’S
ince 2010, ACE
Group India has
been shaping the

SKYLINE GETS
way Delhi NCR
and Noida lives. The group
has been constructing

AN UPGRADE
world-class projects, which
are creative and innovative.
The homes across Delhi
NCR and Noida are a
perfect amalgamation of
ACE Group redefines luxurious homes
luxury, style, quality and
comfort. All their projects
are known for their
locations, luxurious
amenities, innovative
constructions and modern
designs.
ACE Group has various
projects across Delhi NCR
and Noida, but we bring you
two projects that are
redefining luxury living –
Parkway and Golfshire.

ACE PARKWAY
This newly-launched project
is strategically located on the
Noida Expressway, which
ensures that the residents
have pride of place. Spread
in an expanse of greenery,
ACE Parkway brings you
homes that are eco-friendly
and convenient. With just
970 flats, ACE Parkway is
aimed at international buyers
and investors who’re looking
for a great buy in limited-
edition homes.
ACE Parkway has
spacious two-, three- and
four-bedroom apartments ensures that you have a Expressway, you’re Designed by Hafeez
with modern amenities. This convenient life as it’s guaranteed of a lifestyle Contractor, the homes are
project offers you located close to malls, the that makes sure you’re constructed in neo-classical
breathtaking views of the metro station, hospitals and away from the crowds but elevational designs; the
Shaheed Bhagat Singh educational institutions, too. very close to the action. landscaping is done by Ms
Park that has acres and With just 455 flats, you’re Sanju Bose. The landscape
acres of lush greenery. ACE GOLFSHIRE guaranteed peace and has been done with stones
Designed by acclaimed ACE Golfshire is a project serenity. such as granite, Dholpur
architect Hafeez contractor, that’s luxurious with modern And, when you have to and imported designer Bali
its elevations are designed amenities. Surrounded by take some time out, you can panels, which is bright and
in Art-deco theme. The lots of greenery, the spend it in the state-of-the- warm.
landscape is designed by complex has two- and art club, the swimming pool,
renowned Landscape three-bedroom apartments. gymnasium, salon and/or For more information,
designer Ms. Sanju Bose. Conveniently located library, as your children visit ACEGroupindia.com
And, ACE Parkway adjacent to the Noida frolic in the kid’s pool. or call 8882520000
 KAZE - The
Sky Club

A Design
living spaces (of between 6,200 &
7,400 square feet), with double height
ceilings and multiple expansive
sky decks.

symphony
The apartments contain a four
zone kitchen designed using the
modern-minimalist intensity of a
European kitchen, a formal dining
Phoenix Kessaku is an iconic luxury development in area, master suites for adults and
Bangalore inspired by sublime Japanese aesthetics, offering children, guest bedrooms, separate
home-owners the rare privilege of ‘Sky Bungalow living’ vanity & powder rooms, a library and
within the convenience of a gated-community. study, a family entertainment room

i
n Japanese, ‘Kessaku’ means
masterpiece, a work of art that is
exemplified by the subtle
juxtaposition of simplicity with
complexity, borrowed from the idea of
‘shibui’- an aesthetic of unobtrusive
beauty that appears plain but
incorporates intricate detailing within,
to create a timeless aesthetic balance.
Phoenix Kessaku, a dazzling new
addition to Bangalore’s ever-
expanding skyline, is a exemplar of
this sublime concept. Located at No.1,
Dr Rajkumar Road, a premium
address that’s home to the country’s
finest educational institutions, cultural
and recreational hubs as well as
transport links, Phoenix Kessaku five
exclusive towers Sora, Niwa, Mizu,
Faia and Zefa, inspired by the five
natural elements (sky, flora, water, fire,
earth), offer home-owners the rare
privilege of ‘bungalow living’ within the
convenience of a gated-community.
The individual towers each have a
finely appointed, art-inspired foyer,
where an access-controlled private
elevator takes residents directly up to
their personal lobbies. These open
into the expansive cross-ventilated
and staff quarters with separate
service facilities. The ‘by invitation
only’ duplex apartments (12,000 sq ft.)
also come equipped with individual
splash pools.
The design concept, created by the
architectural vision of Seattle
headquartered Callison design
consultants has fashioned a
contemporary paradigm of seamless
inside-outside living, while the
interiors, carefully crafted by Studio
Wrap have a modern eclectic
sensibility, attuned to the taste of the
global family.
At Phoenix Kessaku residents also
 benefit from the bespoke privilege of
the city’s two finest club houses: Midori
- The Garden Club and Kaze - The Sky
Club. Both clubs have an unmatched
bouquet of amenities and it’s a great
place to relax, exercise and disconnect.
From the avant-garde architecture
of the u-shaped building that exudes a
sense of sleek modernism, ensuring
breathtaking, uninterrupted views, to
the choice of exquisite materials, the Double
light accents that fall into a perfect Height Deck
with Splash
symphony, state-of-the-art technology Pool – MIZU
that creates modern conveniences and
top of the line service and experience
from the conceierge from Soho based
Quintessentially Lifestyle, Phoenix
Kessaku is truly a masterpiece. It is an
iconic statement of artful living in
Bangalore, brought to you by an award-
winning developer - Phoenix Mills - with
a fine legacy of crafting some of India’s
most luxurious hospitality, commercial
and residential assets such as St.
Regis and Palladium in Mumbai, and
Courtyard Marriott in Agra.
Infinity edge Pool

Living room Japanese-themed

Sky Bungalows
DISCLAIMER: RENDERING AND ILLUSTRATIONS ARE ARTIST’S IMPRESSIONS ONLY AND
CANNOT BE REGARDED AS REPRESENTATION OF FACTS

360 degree Jogging Track

For more information visit: www.kessaku.in,
or call: +91 9019995555
RERA Registration Number for Phoenix
Kessaku: Sora - PR000416;
Niwa - PR000431; Mizu - PR000441;
Zefa - PR000449; Faia - PR000454
For more details visit rera.karnataka.gov.in

360 degree
Jogging Track
Curb AppeAl
The slickest rides with driveways to match
WRITTEN BY TORA AGARWALA & TYREL RODRICKS
PHOTOGRAPHED BY KUBER SHAH
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT SHREYA BASU

GOMATI HOUSE,
MALAVLI,
SPASM DESIGN
From the walls hewn in locally
sourced grey Kota stone to the
driveway covered in loose stone
chips, everything about this
10,000-square-foot bungalow
by Mumbai-based SPASM
Design – in the hill station of
Malavli, near Pune – shouts
hardy, durable and strong.

MERCEDES-AMG G 63
The Geländewagen, the
G-Wagen and now the G-Class
– only the name has changed
for this Mercedes-Benz SUV
line. But through it all, the
tough looking off-roader
retained the most important
feature: its iconic design.
Unapologetic to the core – it’s
built like a tank (and, some
might say, about as comfortable
as one) – no amount of luxury
accoutrements have
changed the essence of
this storied SUV.
 43

GQ WHEELS
SWARG HOUSE,
KHANDALA,
SATGURU BUILDERS
Rooftops become gardens and rough
grey Kota stone melds into smooth white
Carrara marble – a seamless transition
of forms and materials in a Khandala
home by Mumbai-based real estate
firm, Satguru Builders. With Kandla grey
sandstone flooring in its cantilevered
upper storeys, and a rather futuristic
boundary wall inspired by the ancient
Indian jaali, traditional has never looked
this modern.

PORSCHE 911 CARRERA S CABRIOLET

A sub-five-second time for a 0-to-
100kmph run, unadulterated Porsche
engineering and a chassis built for
agility – the 911 Carrera S Cabriolet is
a convertible that’s every bit as sporty
as it looks.

LUXE ADDRESSES

2018
 3
44
GQ WHEELS

ETHIRAJAN HOUSE,
BENGALURU,
BETWEEN SPACES
Almost as if conspiring with the
weathered Indian road it stands on,
this house by Bengaluru-based firm
Between Spaces is the perfect blend
of rugged and refined. Its accordion-
fold facade – fashioned out of black
perforated sliding-folding metal
shutters sandwiched between two
columns of brick – gives the residence
an armoured appearance, ready for
anything. The ground and first floor
comprise the personal home of one of
the architects, while the second floor
houses their studio.

MASERATI GHIBLI
This saloon was developed by the Italian
marque, with its design spearheaded
by Pininfarina icon Lorenzo Ramaciotti.
More accessible than the Quattroporte,
in at least a couple of ways, the Ghibli’s
not just a pretty face. The eight-
speed automatic is equipped with a
3.0-litre V6 diesel engine – and that
unmistakeable Maserati engine sound.

LUXE ADDRESSES

2018
ARTISTS’ STUDIO,
NOIDA, MATRA
ARCHITECTS
AND RURBAN
PLANNERS
There’s refuge. And then there’s
this 50-foot-tall structure in
Noida by New Delhi based Matra
Architects and Rurban Planners.
Part studio and part home to
the artists who own the space,
the façade created by the two
identical towers is a panorama
of bare concrete – uninterrupted,
undisturbed, undistracted.

BENTLEY BENTAYGA
Named for a portmanteau of
Bentley and (an alternative
spelling of) Taiga – the world’s
largest transcontinental snow
forest – the Bentayga lives up to
both parts of its name. Its ultra-
luxurious and high-tech interiors
are unequivocally Bentley. Its off-
road capabilities will give you the
confidence to leave the pavement
behind. But when in its finely
trimmed leather seat, your foot on
the pedal of one of the world’s
fastest production SUV, going
off-road is probably the last
thing on your mind.
 THE NEST,
BENGALURU,
ARCHITECTURE
PARADIGM
In a tree-lined lane of the
Garden City, a two-storeyed
cuboid by Architecture
Paradigm makes for a peaceful
sanctuary. Enveloping its
eastern facade is a series of
louvred slats whose angles are
adjustable: the overarching
feature of an understated but
expressive home.

VOLVO S90
If you’re a fan of Scandinavian
design, the S90 boasts the
Swedish marque’s trademark
lines in a decidedly more
luxurious, albeit restrained
package. Plush Nappa leather
seats, a 19-speaker Bowers
& Wilkins audio set-up and
an unsurprisingly ergonomic
dashboard – when it comes to
luxury sedans, Volvo’s pulled
out all the stops for the S90.

AT HOME
IN COWRKS
Do you have a ground-breaking idea? Come work at CoWrks
and meet like-minded people
B
usiness parks and regular
offices are passé! CoWrks, a
revolutionary co-working
space is designed for creative
professionals who like thinking out-of-
the-box. They offer you spaces at prime
locations, which ensures that you’re
exactly where the pulse is. These
community co-working spaces ensure
that all its members are inspired and
feel engaged and connected.
WHAT YOU GET
Besides offering you a great
environment, there are meeting
rooms, discussion booths, phone
booths, lounges and more. And, you
also get free WiFi, office supplies and
coffee, too.
Does your coffee
break look as
good as this?
CoWrks is known to host
professionals across genres. Here, you’ll
meet entrepreneurs who head small and
large businesses and professionals,
among others. This ensures that you
network with a very select set of people.
Additionally, they also host events that
promote networking and interaction with
members.
Given that members are spread
across sectors – Real Estate,
Aerospace, Artificial Intelligence,
E-Commerce, Fashion Technology,
Financial Technology and more, you
interact with successful people who are
influencers in their own fields.
AND THERE’S MORE
CoWrks is technology-forward, which
Workspaces that Cutting-edge
let you work the way design that inspires
you want to
is what makes this perfect for
millennials as well. While you interact
and network with people around you,
technology ensures that you interact
with the CoWrks community globally
via the CoWrks Connect mobile app.
At the click of a button, you can
contact another member, reserve a
meeting room, access the event
calendar and the print station, too.
And the Display Management System
allows you to showcase your ideas
and products to the CoWrks
community.
DESIGNED WITH CARE
When you walk through the CoWrks
office, you’ll see that it has a very chic
design aesthetic that encourages
creativity. The designs are made to
inspire and they do just that. Each
space here has a different vibe with a
different message and it aims to stir the
genius in you. By 2020, CoWrks aims
to have a national presence with
150,000 members spread over eight
cities across India and a team that’s
committed to delivering on the mission.
For more information,
visit CoWrks.com
Sidharth Menda,
CEO, CoWRKS
Rooted In natuRe
Piramal Aranya, a premium luxury development that celebrates a close connection between
the natural and built environment, offers a new perspective on premier living in Mumbai.

Artist’s impression
A
ranya, in Sanskrit, translates
into a bountiful abundance of
nature and the fertile
generosity of a thriving forest
ecosystem.
Piramal Aranya, the signature
development of Piramal Realty,
embodies this meaning in its truest
sense through its exquisite
architecture and elegant interiors that
embrace the natural world. Nestled
amidst Byculla’s Victorian Architecture,
Historic Monuments and 60-acre
Botanical Gardens, Aranya, offers a
spectacular array of modern and
cultural offerings for the discerning.

A New PersPective oN
Premier LiviNg
Over the years, Byculla has
transformed into a modern and
culturally rich district. The color and
culture, prosperity and playfulness,
make Piramal Aranya an ideal match
for this historic neighborhood.

ARTiST’S iMPReSSiON
Built across 7 acres, Piramal
Aranya, is a 62-storeyed luxury high-
rise that is set to redefine the art of
luxury living. With a slate of elegant 2,
3, 3.5 & 4-Bed residences, each
apartment at Aranya, offers postcard-
ready views of the lush green 60-acre
Botanical Gardens and the glittering
Mumbai Harbour. The elite 4-Bed
luxury suites offer customers
Characteristic Piramal Realty Dual-
Aspect views of both the gardens and
the sea.

DetAiLeD to PerfectioN
To take visitors on a carefully
orchestrated and immersive journey of
the upcoming signature development,
Piramal Realty has designed the
Aranya Pavillion, a world-class
experience centre - at Piramal Aranya.
We began our journey from the
grand reception lobby. The
magnificence and the exquisiteness of
the lobby instantly captivates you. The
light stone floors and the opulent book
matched green onyx featured walls,
ARTiST’S iMPReSSiON

create a stunning contrast with the

walls clad in understated teak.
Aranya’s focus on the minutest
details is what really sets itself apart
from other luxury projects in the
market. The fine flooring, disability
ramps and large elevators cater to the
needs of all residents, including the
elderly and the differently abled.
It is from here that we were guided
towards the elegant 3 & 3.5 show
apartments. The interior design of the
apartments, integrate vibrant
materials, earthy patterns and warm
palettes that evoke the tones of the
earth. These interplay with precious
woods, and fine imported marble to
capture the understated essence and
elegance of the natural world.
While rich and luxurious, the
refined materials used at Aranya are
chic and environmentally sound, each
element was handpicked to captivate
residents and soothe one’s senses.
Piramal Realty’s design philosophy
is built around incorporating natural
elements into the living experience.
Hence, each residence welcomes you
with an abundance of light, space and
fresh air, ensuring that they are
comfortably cool all through the day
and night.
What I loved the most were the
floor-to-ceiling windows in the
apartments that create a unique
inside-out design dynamic between

ArAnyA is A live exAmple of the brAnd’s cutting The outdoors at Aranya is just as
grand. If you are looking to catch some
edge, intuitive definition of luxury, thAt fresh air, take a stroll through the
celebrAtes nAture, greenery, spAce, light, forecourt of Aranya. It is an exquisitely
ventilAtion, Art, culture And community living, landscaped campus that is home to
And hAs set new benchmArks for luxury living in different flora, colorful birds and
butterflies that flock from the verdant
mumbAi’s burgeoning luxury reAl estAte mArket. spaces nearby.
Additionally, Aranya offers
the indoors and the outdoors. The sofas, comfortable contemporary designated play areas for toddles,
windows perfectly frame the dramatic armchairs and crafted side tables and unstructured playground for older kids,
vantage views against the stunning lamps. The dining room continues walking and jogging tracks, and space
interiors. The carefully selected double several of the design features seen for seniors to interact.
glazed windows, glare-resistant glass elsewhere, such as geometric veneer You can also explore the great
facades and natural materials, panelling, while also providing an outdoors of Aranya, by choosing from
minimize light glare and ambient impressive social space. a string of amenities such as a cricket
noise, providing a tranquil experience. The stylish design elements of the pitch or make a splash in the exclusive
The kitchen is stylishly designed project harmoniously integrate an temperature controlled pool.
with granite countertops, fluted glass, array of luxurious indoor and outdoor
burnished brass cabinets, and pale amenities for all residents. From a A VisionAry
wood drawers. The living room is fitness centre, indoor badminton, CollAborAtion
open-plan and contemporary. A squash courts for the sports With an aim to be the gold standard in
feature wall with hand-painted fabric enthusiasts to a spa and steam room design, quality, safety and customer-
panels depict birds perched high on a for those looking forward to unwind centricity in the Indian real estate market,
tree canopy. There are textured white after a long day. Piramal Realty is pulling all stops to
 ARTiST’S iMPRESSioN

ARTiST’S iMPRESSioN
their marketing collaterals. Since
inception, we at Piramal Realty have
been operating in accordance with the
highest standards of transparency and
integrity and are currently updating our
marketing collaterals to further align
ARTiST’S iMPRESSioN

with RERA guidelines. By reading this,

the customer confirms the information
in this brochure is for informational
purposes only. Nothing stated here
constitutes advertising, marketing,
booking, selling or an offer for sale, or
invitation to purchase a unit in any
create cutting edge and contemporary Maha RERA Registration No. project by the Company. Please get in
developments that embrace a more (Tower A) P51900003324 touch with our sales team for updated
intuitive definition of luxury. As of May 1, 2017, the Real Estate project information, before making a
Aranya’s impressive roster of Regulatory Act (RERA) has come purchase decision. The Company is
visionary collaborators such as Make into effect in the state of not liable for any consequence of any
Architects, BuroHappold, EDSA, Maharashtra. Designed to bring action taken by the customer relying
Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA) about standardisation and on such material/information.
proves how Aranya exemplifies the transparency across stakeholders in
‘Perfect Perspective’ on premier living, the real estate industry, the Act For any information, please contact
for customers that seek an exceptional required developers to undertake our sales team, at +91 22 6216 6216
lifestyle in Mumbai. certain processes, including updating or email: sales.prpl@piramal.com
Talking Home
Suhel Seth’s Gurugram residence will get you thinking
WRITTEN BY SUPRIYA DRAVID
PHOTOGRAPHED BY RICARDO LABOUGLE
STYLED BY GUSTAVO PERUYERA
 53

GQ HOMES
The winter sunlight intriguing 6,000-square-foot apartment in a (LEFT) The foyer has a
140-year-old Afghan kilim
filters into the study residential complex in the heart of

T
– the polished
Austrian teak
wood parquet
flooring a perfect
canvas for the
play of shadows.
It’s the kind of
made-to-order lighting
that every homeowner
probably wishes for, but seldom achieves.
However, that’s not the only thing that
captures your attention in this study. There
are also immaculately maintained floor-to-
ceiling bookshelves on both sides of the
room, punctuated with photographs,
awards, Ganesha idols, limited-edition Coca-
Cola bottles. And plenty of books. It makes
for one hell of a good universe to lose
yourself in.
“More and more books, which is what I’d
like my world to be,” says Suhel Seth, the
peripatetic and proud owner of this
Gurugram. A caricature of Seth – made by
his old friend, the late famed cartoonist and
humourist, RK Laxman – smiles benignly at
us. Sitting behind his mahogany Ralph
Lauren desk with a tooled leather inset, the
managing partner of branding and
marketing firm Counselage and founder of
advertising agency Equus says, “I live most
of the month in hotels, so I wanted to
replicate a similar situation when it came to
the conveniences here. At the same time, I
also wanted to make it feel like a home.”
Which was reinforced by the fact that his
mother, who lives in the flat next door,
ensures he still enjoys a hot, home-cooked
meal. “No food is cooked in my house; it
comes from my mother’s. But a lot of drinks
are served here,” he laughs.
The tech-wired, iPad-controlled apartment
was designed by architects Sonali and Manit
Rastogi of Morphogenesis. “They don’t
usually design apartments, but I wanted them
and Greek Thassos marble
flooring, used through most
areas of the house. A series
of muted canvases by Siraj
Saxena is placed over a
lacquered table from Milan
(RIGHT) The master
bedroom has a bed from
Armani/Casa. Portraits by
Umrao Singh Sher-Gil, artist
Amrita Sher-Gil’s father, line
the wall above
(OPPOSITE PAGE) Suhel
Seth in his study, which has
Austrian teak wood flooring.
The mahogany desk, with
a tooled leather inset, is by
Ralph Lauren. The wooden
shelves and the chesterfield
chairs have been designed
by Puru Das

LUXE ADDRESSES

2018
to do mine,” says Seth. “I felt that they would
appreciate the sense of minimalism I believe
in.” Under Seth’s watchful – and rather
creative – eye, the apartment took a year and a
half to complete. The result: a modern space
that is an example of smart contrasts. A
deceptively sprawling home unravelling itself
methodically, somewhat nesting like the
matryoshka dolls – each tucked inside the
other – placed in his study.
SHOW FLAT
From a bare shell provided by property
developers DLF, Seth decided on just two
bedrooms, one for himself (with a walk-in
closet the size of another bedroom) and a
guest bedroom. He also has a rather indulgent
leather-floored man cave. But the pièce de
résistance is the en suite bathroom, which
features a mirror framed by a stingray-leather
border, an intricately carved marble jaali
covering the basin and a mother-of-pearl wall.
“It’s the only bling in the house,” says Seth.
While the bling may be restricted to just
the bathroom, an artistic aesthetic permeates
the entire space, with a collection that can
best be described as eclectic. An avid art
connoisseur, Seth uses this space to showcase
the enviable works that he has collected over
the years, including those by FN Souza,
Anjolie Ela Menon, Henri Matisse, Marc
Chagall, Jamini Roy and Siraj Saxena. At the
entrance of the home is a life-size fibreglass
tiger, a part of the Artiger fundraising project
that raises awareness about the conservation
of the national animal. The most stunning
piece of art, though, is opposite the dining
table – an oil on canvas depicting Amritsar’s
Golden Temple by Hungarian artist Gyula
Tornai, when he visited India in the late 19th
or early 20th century. “I picked it up at
Christie’s,” says Seth.
The master bedroom has walls lined with
portraits photographed by Umrao Singh
 55

GQ HOMES
In the living room, a Siraj
Saxena canvas hangs above
a sofa also by Das. The trunk
in the corner is from Ralph
Lauren

(BELOW LEFT)
The living room extends into
the dining area, which is
separated by a round centre
table from Milan

(BELOW RIGHT)
The dining table – made
out of a single block of teak
wood – is from Lava East

LUXE ADDRESSES

2018
 56
GQ HOMES

Sher-Gil, father of artist Amrita Sher-Gil. On Seth converted a bedroom

into this walk-in closet
the other hand, the regal foyer that we pass
through on the way to the main living room (BELOW)
has a series of Siraj Saxena canvases pitted The master bathroom has
Greek Thassos marble
against the explosion of colours seen in the flooring
work by Puducherry-based French artist,
Pierre Legrand. An easel by Seth’s friend,
Natasha Singh Kohli, holds a dog-eared copy
of an old Chinese book of symbols. “Instead
of a painting, I thought, ‘why not put a
book?’” explains Seth. A 140-year-old Afghani
kilim brightens up the Greek Thassos marble
flooring, which is used through most areas of
the house.

AN ORIGINAL MAKE
Seth’s home isn’t just a showcase for blue-chip
contemporary art, but also for 21st-century
design and the best in artisanal craftsmanship.
“All the pieces of furniture have been made
from scratch,” he says. Like the Puru Das-
designed bar in the living room, evidence that
entertaining guests at home was part of the
agenda when the design was under way.
Co-founder of New Delhi-based interior
design firm Urbanist, Das is also the man
behind a lot of the furniture in the house, like
the leather-upholstered chest of drawers in
Seth’s bedroom, the chesterfield chairs in the
study and the couches in the living room.
“Puru has done a beautiful job with every piece
of furniture I asked him to create,” says Seth.
Another stand-out piece, though not by
Das, is a stunning dining table from Lava East,
a bespoke contemporary furniture store in
Singapore. The visual drama within is easily
matched by the scenic display outside: Seth’s
fifth-floor home ensures that your vision is in
perfect symmetry with the top of the
manicured treeline. Beyond that is the vast
expanse of a golf course. Ever a stickler for
perfection, Seth has ensured that everything
sits in its allotted space. He knew the sort of
house he wanted to live in and succeeded in
creating a haven that shows off his life and
times over the years – a curated space with the
state-of-the-art sophistication of a hotel and
yet very much a home at its heart.

LUXE ADDRESSES

2018
SUSSanne Khan leaveS her
SignatUre on rUStomjee elementS
Off Juhu Circle’s newest gated community ‘Rustomjee Elements’ offers a priceless
proposition to its residents -an avant-garde urban concept called ‘My Spaces’ that
promises to inspire a flash of individual imagination in you.

U
nparalleled ocean views on
one side, verdant expanses
of lush greenery on another.
Tennis courts and outdoor
gymnasiums to work your muscles,
ballrooms and preview theatres to
stimulate that hidden artist within. A
reading alcove to nourish your tired
mind, and a party venue to let your
hair down. Come along, on a journey
of rediscovery, where an inspired life is
lived, not as a short recess at a resort
getaway, but an enduring reality in
your own home -Rustomjee Elements.
Spread over three acres, just off
Juhu Circle - Mumbai’s official glamour
district - this singular gated community
in the area defines the very idea of
well integrated bespoke living.
Conceptualized by James Law
Cybertecture, the award-winning Hong
Kong based architects whose futuristic
landmarks dot the globe’s skyline, the
project has renowned designer Patty
Mak styling the contemporary interiors.
The expansive green landscaping,
replete with water bodies, pathways,
tropical softscapes and rooftop
swimming pool showcase the
incredible design prowess of
Singapore’s Sites Concept
International. “We have taken this
opportunity to create an exclusive
gated community where beautifully
designed and well-appointed homes
are accented by luxurious amenities,
including a multi-purpose court. All the
trappings of fine living are available
with top of the line safety and security.
Rustomjee Elements is a premier
project especially built for those who
are looking to live in the area of Juhu
and are seeking a high-end lifestyle,”
says Boman R. Irani, Chairman &
Managing Director, Rustomjee Group.
Recently, Rustomjee Elements
received the Occupation Certificate
for five wings - - A, B, D, E and F.
And, given that they’re committed to
bringing you only the best, the group
tied-up with three celebrity designers
to bring you signature, world-class
homes. Sussanne Khan of Charcoal
Project is the latest addition and you
have plenty of stellar design options
to choose from. “We wanted to create
an apartment that has a relaxed quiet
luxury vibe. Very muted and stylist at
the same time. All textures and the
color palette have been used to create
a home that imbibes serenity. You will
see a lot of neutrals, monochromatic
hues with 26 shades of white and
charcoal. It was lovely working with
Rustomjee and I am glad I found my
dream home in this same property,”
says Sussanne Khan who has
designed the apartment using
handcrafted furniture manufactured by
her own brand The Charcoal Project.
When designing the project, the idea
was simple, Sussanne Khan made
sure that the apartments were
designed in a way that will make the
residents feel like stars! She made
sure that the apartments are luxurious
and chic.
A SpAtiAl DimenSion
Beyond the impeccable boutique
lifestyle that the limited-edition
residences here afford, Rustomjee
Elements offers a proposition that is
simply priceless. The project lays a
strong emphasis on an avant-garde
urban concept - ‘My Spaces’ - that is
geared towards propagating the notion
that spaces need to inspire, to arouse
a flash of individual imagination, to
allot the ‘time poor’ a setting in which
they can allow their personal interests,
hobbies to flourish, where they can
simply capture a few moments of bliss
with friends or relive forgotten
memories. All of the amenities at
‘Elements’ therefore, are designed to
help customers find those finer
aspects of life that tend to get lost on
one’s climb to success - the
performance deck for example to
relive your college band days, the
ballroom to waltz away with your
sweetheart, the aqua-gym, the
saltwater swimming pool, the kinetic
sandpit for your children and more.
Every amenity, across projects brings
with it Rustomjee’s inherent design
philosophy of ‘thoughtfulness’ - a
scarce virtue of much value to the
brand’s demography of high profile,
successful people.
A legAcy of truSt
With over two decades of experience
crafting some of India’s iconic boutique
living spaces, Rustomjee has carved a
special niche for itself in the ever-
growing real estate sector, with a
portfolio that includes 14.32 million
square feet of completed projects; 12
million square feet of ongoing
development and another 28 million
square feet of planned development in
the pipeline, spanning across the best
locations of Mumbai Metropolitan
Region (MMR). Their portfolio currently
includes two very large townships,
residential spaces, office complexes,
retail developments, spaces for
healthcare and education spread across
BKC Annex, Khar, Off Juhu Circle,
Kandivali, Borivali, Virar and Thane.
for more information,
visit www.rustomjee.com
call +91 22 6111 6111
oc receiveD for WingS A,B,D,e & f.
 Central Park
reSOrtS - an ePItOMe
OF COnCePt lIVInG
The Resorts, Central Park, an exquisite luxury project in Gurugram has made
‘resort-living’ a way of everyday life in the bustle of the NCR.
I
magine coming home after a
taxing day at work but getting
instantly rejuvenated in an aqua
and terra park with your kids!
Maybe, reliving the thrill of your
childhood at a sprawling 18,000
square feet children’s amusement
area? Or pampering your better half,
with gastronomic delights without
having to navigate the horror of
vehicular traffic?
At The Resorts, Central Park, life is
an oasis of bliss and luxury that defies
the din and hubbub of bustling
Gurugram, yet offers all the
conveniences of being situated in the
midst of this thriving metropolis such
as proximity to the airport, a host of
hotels, educational institutions and
corporate offices. Built with the
philosophy that propagates holistic,
360 degree living, the sprawling, self-
sustained development eliminates
your need to pack off and travel to a
resort to unwind, because ‘resort-
living’ is, in the true sense of the word,
a way of everyday life here.
Get set then, for a traffic free world
within the campus, as a breathtakingly
crafted international tunnel driveway
drops you off at your opulent tower
lobby. Or enjoy the lap of pristine nature
with an invigorating morning run around
20 acres of landscaped greenery, with
no honking vehicles disturbing your
peace.
Tickling your taste buds never got
easier, as a string of restaurants - from
Blue Waters (multi-cuisine)
KalyanaSundaram (South Indian &
Indian delicacies), Da Mauro (Italian
cuisine) to The Bar (Lounge) and Meera
Café (coffee joint) - conjure up
tantalizing meals right at your doorstep
here. The carefully curated list of
services even include a chef on call,
alongside top-class concierge
services, a doctor on call to ensure
emergency medical services and more
practical day-to-day conveniences
such as a car wash to ensure your
vehicles are gleaming as on their first
day out of the showroom.
The property also boasts of a list of
other amenities at hand that allow you
to indulge at will, in all your passions.
From world class facilities that include
a cycling track, cricket nets, golf
putting, billiards, badminton, lawn
tennis, plunge pools and more for the
sports enthusiasts, to exquisite hand-
crafted landscaping with fountains and
a heart promenade to nourish your
mind body and soul!
Designed by one of the globe’s
best renowned architectural firms -
Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum
(HOK) International Limited - along
with Hirsh Bedner Associates,
Singapore and PIA Interior, Thailand,
the concept living spaces within The
Resorts, Central Park are architectural
masterpieces. From customized
ground-level Beau Villas overlooking
private gazebos to the elegantly
appointed Belgravia Residences, or
the ultra-luxury multi-level penthouses,
aptly called the Sky Villas, these
unmatchable offerings promise to
leave even the most discerning clients
awe-struck.
It is no surprise then, that expats
from more than 15 countries call these
exquisite spaces their homes, making
the neighborhood a confluence of
global cultures, giving its residents a
truly cosmopolitan experience. All,
within a super-secure environment
certified by third party agencies like
JLL and DEMA who have a reputation
for stringent audit procedures, that’s
sure to give you back your peace of
mind, and let you reclaim your life!
Over the years, Central Park has
become one of the fastest growing
ultra-luxury realty brands in the
National Capital Region, delivering 5.5
million sq. ft. across luxury residential
property in some of the most prime
locations in Gurugram.
“It is our vision to build the finest
residential properties for the next
generation – with spaces synonymous
with inspirational architecture where
creativity and happiness is nurtured.
Providing residents with superior
infrastructure, modern facilities that
matches their aspirations, a safe and
secure living environment and a
refreshing ambience are the mainstay
of our brand promise to our
customers. As part of our unflinching
commitment to provide finest
experience to customers, we
consciously create homes sprinkled
with hospitality to deliver optimum
quality of life for our valuable
customers,” says Amarjit Bakshi,
Managing Director of Central Park,
about the unique proposition the brand
brings to its customers.
The brand’s core value lies in its
endeavor to upgrade the living
experience of its clients with eco and
child friendly developments such as
The Resorts.
“Nothing has been left out, even
your valet and house help have a
mess and gym facility. Central Park
Resort is a pet friendly place with an
upcoming pet hotel. Housekeeping,
concierge services and many other
sought after services makes us further
our goal of ‘Customer Experience’
beyond real estate,” adds Bakshi.
The group’s foray into high-end
hospitality which began with the
opening of the five-star Le Meridien in
Gurugram, as well as subsequent
projects such as The Aloft, another
Starwood brand hotel at Aerocity,
adjacent to the famed T3 International
Airport and the top end luxury hotels in
Goa that are on the anvil, stand
testament to these towering ambitions.
While the parent company Bakshi
Group’s growing footprint in some
critical sectors of the economy - from
automotive to defense, infrastructure,
foundries and engineering - only
strengthen its credentials as a
valuable company that is building
national landmarks across India
beyond just homes and hotels.
For more information, visit
CentralPark.in, or call 1800 103 6660
All pictures are actual
’MARIA THERESA’
CHANDELIER BY RONY
PLESL, PRICE ON
REQUEST; PRECIOSA

THe
High-
Life
Luxe décor pieces that will
transform your living spaces
 65

GQ LIVING
88 SECRETS
SIDEBOARD VERDE
ROSE BY NIKA
ZUPANC, PRICE ON
REQUEST; SCARLET
SPLENDOUR

‘BON JOUR
VERSAILLES’ LAMP,
`28,500 ONWARDS;
FLOS LIGHTING

GLOBE BOOKENDS, PRICE ON

REQUEST; SIMONE

FLORIDA OFFICE TABLE,

`2,45,000; IDUS UNIQ

LUXE ADDRESSES

2018
 KARTELL FREE-STANDING
WHIRLPOOL BATHTUB,
`10,32,000; FCML

DRAGNET ARMCHAIR
BY KENNETH COBONPUE,
‘VALENTINA’ LAMP,
PRICE ON REQUEST; IDUS
`55,350 ONWARDS;
FIREFLY
 67

GQ LIVING
BED LINEN FROM THE ‘THEOREME’ COLLECTION BY NINA RICCI, PRICE ON REQUEST; SURPRISE HOME LINEN

‘THEA’ RUG FROM THE ‘CHAOS

THEORY BY KAVI’ COLLECTION,
`3,88,800; JAIPUR RUGS

‘MELODY’ CARPET,
`48,000; QAALEEN

LUXE ADDRESSES

2018
‘MEDIEVAL TIMES’ ‘REFLECTIONS’ COLLECTION,
DECORATIVE AND SNACKS `2,102 PER METRE; D’DECOR
PLATTER, `740; INDIA CIRCUS
 69

GQ LIVING
FIDELIO DRINKS CABINET,
`30,98,084; POLTRONA FRAU

‘PINE FOREST’ UPHOLSTERY, `4,800

PER METRE. ‘SATIN LAKE’ DRAPERY,
`3,900 PER METRE; BOTH FROM THE
VOYAGE COLLECTION; ATMOSPHERE

DOWNDRAFT COOKER
HOOD, `2,79,990.
INDUCTION HOB,
`3,29,990; MIELE ‘SAHARAN DUNES’ FROM THE VOYAGE
COLLECTION, `5,600 PER METRE; ATMOSPHERE

LUXE ADDRESSES

2018
TOWERS OF POWER
Making a statement in the city with its inimitable style, Vivarea
by K Raheja Corp is not merely another luxury address in the mix,
it is a destination of extravagance, elegance and enamouring style,
where the discerning gather together to live the good life

Opulent entrance

View of the towers

ed – in design, amenities, luxury and A VIVAREA WAY OF LIFE

A WORLD OF LUXURY
A powerful sculptural statement,
Vivarea by K Raheja Corp has not
only changed Mumbai’s skyline, but
it has been crafted to transform your
lifestyle. It strikes an impressive bal-
ance between understated luxury
and trustworthy resilience. An amal-
gam of the Spanish word ‘Viva’
meaning ‘forever’ and the Greek
word ‘Rea’ meaning ‘strength’, this
is where havens of tranquility
inspire you to expect the unexpect-
life. It is where avant-garde architec-
ture reflects the city’s unfettered
aspiration and unstoppable drive. It is
where the best-in-the-world home
concepts come to fore, only to com-
pel you to redefine the meaning of
living luxuriously. It is where you will
be spoilt with spectacular views of
the Mahalaxmi Race Course and
Arabian Sea thanks to its carefully
handpicked location. It is where
immaculate landscapes come to life
as a result of expert craftsmanship,
making each and every corner of the
14 acres that ensconce the 5 towers,
a work of art. With the vision ‘to cre-
ate amongst the finest lifestyle home
developments for Mumbai’, Vivarea
has left no stone unturned. It has
challenged what most perceive as
luxury and created a landmark that is
so uniquely distinct in its functionality,
that nothing else compares.
Right from its conception, Vivarea has
been a destination designed to leave
even the most discerning in a state
of awe. With its ‘by invite only’ resi-
dential offering and dedicated atten-
tion to every intricate detail, it has
created its own exclusive lifestyle,
enticing a community of likeminded
people to dwell harmoniously togeth-
er, doused in utter luxury. Home to
elegance and contemporary styling,
life’s finest amenities, state-of-the-art
infrastructure, cutting-edge technolo-
gy and strokes of serenity have been
integrated with a finesse that is hard
to replicate. The brand has raised the
bar so high, that only it can outdo
itself. With three towers completed,
250 families from the corporate
world’s who’s who have already
made Vivarea their address of power.
The fourth tower is underway and will
be completed by 2018. Upon comple-
Jacuzzi
WITH THE VISION ‘TO
CREATE AMONGST THE
FINEST LIFESTYLE HOME
DEVELOPMENTS FOR
MUMBAI’, VIVAREA HAS
LEFT NO STONE UNTURNED.
IT HAS CHALLENGED WHAT
MOST PERCEIVE AS LUXURY
AND CREATED A LANDMARK
THAT IS SO DISTINCT IN ITS
FUNCTIONALITY, THAT
NOTHING ELSE COMPARES.
tion of the project, with 5 iconic towers,
around 400 families will be living in
harmony at this expansive haven.
LUXURY FROM THE
INSIDE-OUT
Ultimately, the question that comes to
surface is what makes a house a
home? Is it a living room with an
ocean view or a kitchen conceived for
entertaining, a modern layout that
allows for an airy, open flow or dis-
crete rooms that lend an indelible
charm? Vivarea offers all this and
more, capturing your imagination with
their unexpected intimacy and pitch-
perfect design. Featuring a floor to
ceiling height that gives each home an
exquisite, expansive feel, and layouts
that have enough inspiration to spark
an endless number of ideas for cus-
tomising, decorating, reinventing, or
simply enjoying your home, this is
where time stops, and life begins.
Cinema chamber
Gymnasium
A DESTINATION OF
INFINITE EXPERIENCES
As soon as you arrive, and pass
through the gates, where an exclu-
sive entrance for residents awaits,
you will be enveloped in unimagina-
ble luxury. Manicured gardens,
soothing water cascades, lush open
spaces – that’s just at first glance.
From temperature-controlled pools
for a relaxing swim to paved jogging
tracks and a fully equipped interna-
tional standard gym for fitness enthu-
siasts, there is something for every-
one, all within one address. This is
still only the tip of the iceberg of lux-
ury. Vivarea boasts of a lavish spa,
private soiree decks, a cinema the-
ater, a clubhouse and sports zone for
residents and an exclusive play area
for kids with a sandpit. They go the
whole nine yards and have even
made exclusive provisions for senior
citizens with a dedicated green walk-
way and a senior citizens’ corner.
With its architectural sophistication,
endless amenities, sprawling green
spaces and an enviable location,
Vivarea is unquestionably Mumbai’s
ultimate towers of power. All you have
to do is arrive.
For more information, visit
krahejacorp.com
Note: Bldg no 1, Tower A, B & C of project ‘Vivarea’
has received full occupation certificate on 18.07.2013.
‘Building 2 - Phase of Project Vivarea’ , a seperate
phase is being developed by Genext Hardware and
Parks Pvt. Ltd. (a K. Raheja Corp Group Company)
having MahaRERA regn no. P51900008014 – (https://
maharera.mahaonline.gov.in/). The recipients are
requested to verify all details prior to acting in any
manner with respect to this phase of project. This
project is subject to mortgage of HDFC Ltd., whose No-
objection for sale of premises will be taken as required.
 72
G Q S PA C E S

By
invitation
only
Boutique homes are the new
playground of the Indian elite and
they’re defying the slowdown in India’s
real estate market
WRITTEN BY NIKHIL INAMDAR

LUXE ADDRESSES

2018
 As you take a certain winding road in a

A
quiet part of Parra in north Goa,
chalet Villa Capella, reminiscent of a
Mediterranean fort, will slowly come
into sight. Modern yet rustic, Villa
Capella has a swimming pool that
Albany Cottage, set in
spills into palm-fringed paddy fields, picturesque Coonoor, is
a subtropical garden area with a developed by Isprava
sloping pergola and charming bedrooms
connected by quaint bridges. The flooring is custom
designed and the furniture is bespoke.
“It’s an amalgamation of everything we love, in a
destination everyone loves,” says Nibhrant Shah,
founder and CEO of Isprava, the developer of luxury
homes and villas that brought this property to the
market. “We carefully handpicked the spot for its idyllic
calm and proximity to the beaches, popular bars and
restaurants,” he adds. Unsurprisingly, Villa Capella has
been sold.
Back in 2013, Shah, who’s worked in New York and
London, quit his cushy investment banking job to place
a bet on luxury real estate in India. More specifically, the
niche boutique segment. Four years hence, his fortuitous
gamble seems to be paying rich dividends, even as the
country’s broader real estate market remains beleagured
by multiple regulatory storms.
Isprava has built and sold several stunning
properties, and boasts of an impressive portfolio of
upcoming homes set in ambient spots in Goa and the
Nilgiris: The colonial-style Albany Cottage, with
panoramic vistas of the Nilgiri Hills, and Amberley, just
25 minutes away from the Wellington Golf Course, are
both in Coonoor. In Goa, the developer has the beautiful,
creeper-enveloped Loto Bianco, and Villa Vivré.
Isprava’s product was impressive enough to have
convinced the likes of Anand Piramal of Piramal Group,
Nadir Godrej, managing director of Godrej Industries, as
well as a host of senior investment bankers and hedge- The imposing
facade of Lodha
fund managers to put their money into this fledgling Altamount
startup. Buyers who’ve snapped up these dream homes
have equally impressive backgrounds – the founder-
promoters of Infosys and SpiceJet, famous sporting
icons and a clutch of other celebrities.

THE RISE AND RISE

OF BOUTIQUE HOMES
Shah’s success is part of a much bigger trend in India’s
luxury residences market: The increase in the number of
boutique homes that cater to the growing class of HNI
and ultra-HNI buyers. This is a category that’s held its
own and defied market dynamics even as luxury housing
collapsed in the aftermath of demonetisation.
“While most developers have been concentrating on
The bathrooms at Lodha
volume in the luxury segment, there is a category of Altamount spell pure luxury
builders that’s cashing in on this rather specialised niche
 74
G Q S PA C E S
– the boutique luxury homes. They are also known as
‘limited-edition’ residences, and for good reason,”
explains Anuj Puri, chairman of ANAROCK Property
Consultants. “Such homes continue to sell well even as
volume luxury properties lag far behind. This is
primarily because there is a distinct scarcity quotient
attached to them.”
There is more, however, to these properties than the
supply insufficiency premium they command. “Boutique
developments are renowned for their elaborate attention
to detail, and developers won’t settle for anything less
than creating homes that will be considered works of
art,” says Mona Jalota, director - international and NRI-
(residential services), Colliers International. In terms of
the price points, they often have a lump sum value
attached to them as the “price does not account for a per
square foot basis.” Unless contracted for interiors with
the developer’s designer, these usually come as bare
shells so owners can custom-design them.
Located in the toniest neighbourhoods of Indian
metros, these boutique projects are usually operated on
a low-volume, high-margin model, especially if they are
second home offerings.
“Many builders who create boutique luxury homes
are highly specialised and cater only to this particular
market segment. They find this format a unique business
proposition, since it’s possible to construct and deliver
boutique luxury projects within six to eight months,
while volume luxury projects take much longer to
complete,” says Puri. “Other players work on boutique
homes as a lucrative second business, while continuing to
focus primarily on high-volume, mid-income housing.”
If Isprava falls into the former bracket, Prestige, Lodha,
LUXE ADDRESSES
2018
The living area
at Priviera by
Oberoi Realty
Omkar, Sobha Developers, Oberoi Realty and the Nahar
Group are some marquee names that’ve made a boutique
play on the sidelines of their core mass-market offerings.
PLAYGROUND FOR TYCOONS
Priviera by Oberoi Realty, in Mumbai’s coveted Khar
locality, is a 15-storeyed boutique luxury development
with just 12 expansive four-bedroom apartments, one on
each floor. The flats offer 270-degree views and facilities
including an infinity pool, multiple levels of parking and
large car lifts to accommodate a fleet of luxury cars.
Singapore-based architect Guz Wilkinson, who
specialises in resort-style boutique homes, has designed
the project, while Sussanne Khan has done interiors for
two of the apartments.
Lodha Altamount is another development coming up
on what can ostensibly be called Mumbai’s Billionaire
Row. Situated opposite Mukesh Ambani’s towering
Antilla residence and surrounded by several consular
offices, this 40-floor skyscraper, with an apartment on
each floor, is as elite as it gets. The CEO of a certain tax
advisory firm is said to have paid a whopping `1.35 lakh
per square foot for a piece of this real estate that once
housed Washington House, the former US consulate
in India.
For someone with a smaller budget – relatively
speaking – the ‘villaments’ by the Nahar Group, situated
in the heart of the Amrit Shakti Township in Powai,
Mumbai, offer the luxury of a villa while still being part
of an apartment complex. “Our sample villaments are
furnished with global interiors – Balinese, Victorian,
vintage – and exude an immediate sense of grandeur.
They make for the perfect mix of palatial and
contemporary living,” says Manju Yagnik, vice
chairperson, Nahar Group.
Prestige White Meadows in Bengaluru, One
Avighna Park Sky Villas in Mumbai, Aliens Sky Park
in Hyderabad and Gera Greensville in Pune are other
boutique developments coming up across the country.
“The success of such projects, however, depends on
the developer’s ability to understand luxury living at
an intricate level. This includes the ability to source
the perfect materials, engage the right kinds of
contractors, architects and labour, in addition to
investing large capital into the project,” says Puri. Not
something that could be every builder’s cup of tea.

UNDERSTANDING THE NICHE

“Like all other investments, it’s essential to check the
credentials of the developers, ascertain the quality of
their work and predetermine if the property is
genuinely a boutique luxury property, or just a space
with a few amenities thrown in,” advises Jalota.
It’s also critical that “‘common areas’ meet the
quality requirements and their maintenance remains Plush interiors
at the Nahar
the onus of the developer, since boutique luxury Group villaments
properties often only have a few members who may
not necessarily come together to form a cooperative
society,” she adds.
Moreover, investors must also understand that
such properties rarely have a calculated return on
investment even though they may enjoy price
appreciation over the years.
As the concept of boutique luxury homes gradually
grows and evolves in India, the definition of what really
constitutes ‘boutique’ is speckled. Some say it’s luxury
that cannot be defined by a price tag alone. Others
insist that to qualify for this tag, a project must be of a
certain minimum size (10,000 square feet), situated in
a prime location with unparalled views and privacy,
and house not more than 5-10 units. While there is
merit in these classifications, they cannot be taken as
gospel truths, given the widely diverse contexts of the The villaments by
Nahar Group come with a
Indian market. private garden
What’s most critical is that in a real estate market
which is a high-volume numbers game, a boutique
home distinguishes itself with its intimate, non-cookie
cutter, idiosyncratic style.
“It’s an experience that arrests attention, going ANAROCK’S
beyond the superficial and ostentatious, instead Boutique Recommendations
evoking emotion, passion and inspiring a feeling that
✱ Prestige White Meadows, Bengaluru
stays with you. While still encompassing
all the regular amenities, it goes a step further to ✱ One Avighna Park - Sky Villas, Mumbai
provide something extraordinary. When you ✱ Lodha Bellezza - Sky Villas, Hyderabad
experience the offerings of boutique luxury, you will ✱ Omkar 1973 - Sky Bungalows, Mumbai
discover that it’s more than ordinary five-star living. ✱ Priviera By Oberoi Realty, Mumbai
It’s meant for the refined, the curious, the ones who
✱ Aliens Sky Park, Hyderabad
truly love to indulge,” says Shah.
That’s a tall order, but the discerning will rarely ✱ Gera Greensville, Pune
settle for less. ✱ Sobha Clovelly, Bengaluru
 Bengaluru’s
skyline is changing
Karan Shetty, the CEO of RJ Group is giving
Bengaluru some iconic residences

Project: RJ Lake Gardenia;

Location: Old Madras
Road, Bangalore East
 Tell us aBouT youR JouRney in Real esTaTe.
When I was 16 years, I worked in a construction site to understand the layers of
planning and execution of high rise projects.

1 Most of my uncles were prominent doctors and they needed land to build
their hospitals. During this time, I learnt the nuances of land acquisition and the
sequence of dealing with multiple government agencies for clearances.
I believe that real estate is the most stable wealth creation option every investor
has. And, since I’ve trained as an architect, I could visualize concepts. Then, I used
my construction background to create signature homes of the right quality.
Mr. Karan Shetty,
CEO of the RJ Group
Tell us aBouT youR FiRsT pRoJecT
Our first residential project under the RJ banner was RJ MANOR at Koramangala,
Bengaluru. As soon as I joined the business, we launched one of the tallest WhaT aRe The FacToRs

2
residential project called RJ Lake Gardenia, which was designed in-house. This
project has a few unique concepts such as The Sky Garden Apartments, which is
a villa in an apartment. This unit has a triple-height private garden.
I was one of the youngest architects to design such a tall building in the
country but the hard work was worth it. Being young has its advantages in terms of
perceiving a concept without being biased by the conventional buildings we see.
ThaT inFluence youR
locaTions FoR
pRoJecTs?
As a group, we’re focused
towards the East of Bengaluru
due to the growing demand
5
for affordable, luxury urban
housing. We choose these
WhaT’s youR peRcepTion oF The do you have a areas because our concepts
Real esTaTe indusTRy? paRTiculaR sTRaTegy and style of development is
The real estate industry has been getting When concepTualizing appealing to clients living in
more transparent since the implementation a pRoJecT? this particular area.
of RERA. Business has changed and most Our strategy to create a great Most of the people living
people associate this transition as a product at the right location at

3 slowdown. Soon real estate will be

complemented with a lot of online buying
and the implementation of artificial
an affordable price. Our
construction approach is
design-centric and we ensure
in this part of Bengaluru,
have moved to the city in the
last decade, which means

4
intelligence. The more transparent the that every buyer should want
industry gets, the better the climate of real to own our villas and
estate gets. apartments because of the
uniqueness of design.
Our approach towards
sales is different - we don’t
Project: RJ Brookesquare;
Location: Brookefield, promote financial schemes.
Bangalore East
Buying a home is a private
affair and customers want a
personal touch. Our sales
team meets clients to
understand their
requirements. Since we offer
6 profession, Karan learnt the
design customisation for
each of our units, it makes it
more appealing for clients to
meet our team and
customize their homes.
The pRoJecTs
While the group is doing multiple projects, we present you with two
noteworthy projects.
RJ lake gaRdenia is the group’s flagship project that’s located in Old
that we cater to clients with
aspirational value.
The aRchiTecT
Behind RJ gRoup
While the RJ Group has been
changing the way Bengaluru
lives for the last 30 years,
Karan Shetty, the young CEO
of the group is defining the
group’s future. An architect by
tricks of the trade from his
father, Mr. Rathnakar Shetty.
His design entry was selected
to design the Bangalore
International airport in his last
year of Design School.
Besides this, he is
spearheading quite a few
projects across Bengaluru.
WhaT makes youR
pRoJecTs diFFeRenT

7
Madras Road, Bengaluru East. This project is one-of-a-kind since it’s
FRom The ResT?
surrounded by a lake, which ensures that the views are iconic. This 27-storey
Our projects stand out - The
tower has 171 three- and four-bedroom sky units.
buildings have to look better
RJ BRooke squaRe has 49 limited edition villaments, located in Brookefield,
than our signage. Due to the
Bengaluru. It’s surrounded by 28 acres of Unilever BrookeBond Campus. All
uniqueness in design, our
these units are vastu compliant. The duplexes have private gardens and the
products have become head
penthouses have private terraces.

8
turners when people are
For more information, visit RJBuilders.in driving by.
 78
GQ LIFESTYLE
PHOTOGRAPHED BY
TARUN VISHWA
STYLED BY
VIJENDRA BHARDWAJ
The HosT
The dinner party has an almost scientific rhythm to it: You walk in the door, you
have a drink, some appetisers, you mingle, eat, then have dessert and another
WRITTEN BY drink – it’s just a pleasant, civilised, great way to live. And man about town, debonair
MEGHA SHAH actor, entrepreneur and serial-party-thrower Dino Morea has perfected it
Y ou have to say he looks good. So
good, in fact, it’s hard to believe
that, at 41, Dino Morea is no longer
the dazzling tyro who broke
through in the late Nineties, oozing
his boyish charm, fizzing with freshness
going from Gladrags megamodel to
college-girl crush with films like Pyaar Mein
Kabhi Kabhi and Raaz. Not that he’s lost the
charm or the energy, but he’s a serious
entrepreneur now and a father of two dogs,
Maximus and Ganpat. He’s invested in
restaurants, an e-commerce website and even
a networking app, all while witnessing heady
highs and a long slump in films. You’d think
he might show at least some signs of wear
and tear, even just out of politeness.
It’s genetic, of course, the pulchritude, being
one of three brothers (Nicolo, Dino, Santino)
born to an Italian father and a Malayali mother.
But he works at it, too, playing football and
working out – apparent in the slim hips, the
broad chest, the dynamic way he has of crossing
a room, at speed, approaching you in a half-
crouch, offering a hand to shake and a
solicitous, “How are you?”
It’s a Tuesday afternoon in November and
we’re sitting in his partner Ketan Kadam’s
green, open-aired office in Mahalaxmi, where
he’s fine-tuning the details of his latest
business project – packaged sugarcane juice.
But it’s not just his looks; Morea is a natural
conversationalist, refined and a discerner of
fine things – and he doesn’t even know it.
Maybe he knows it a little. “I throw the
best parties,” he says. He does, if the pop-up
LUXE ADDRESSES
2018
nightclub Playground at the Four Seasons,
with enviable guest lists, which he began a
few years ago, is anything to go by.
How often do you entertain?
I have a decent space in Bandra with a great
garden, so I enjoy throwing parties often. I’ve
designed it in a way that my dining room
opens up and becomes an outdoor area. So I
entertain at least twice or thrice a week. I have
three distinct groups who I want to entertain.
My film friends or colleagues from the
industry, business partners and
acquaintances, and friends.
What elevates a good party to a great one?
Alcohol is one of the most important aspects.
It’s worth thinking carefully about. If it’s a
large party, I’d bring in a bartender and ask
him to make a different martini or, if it’s an
afternoon brunch, some nice Bloody Marys.
There is no shame in offering a selection of,
say, three beverages, and that’s it. And if you
don’t want to pay too much attention to
cocktails, make it champagne. It also depends
on the time of day, evenings require whiskies
and good vodkas.
How do you stock your bar?
If I’m doing cocktails, it’s imperative to stock
up on extras like bitters and olive brine. Olives
to make a dirty martini or Campari if you’re
making negronis. For Bloody Marys, you need
Worcestershire sauce. I’m a fan of Japanese
whiskies like Hibiki and Yamakazi. For vodka,
it’s always Beluga. I like Stoli too. It has a bad
 SUIT BY PAUL SMITH.
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POCKET SQUARE BY CANALI.
WATCH BY VICTORINOX.
SHOES BY JIMMY CHOO
 TUXEDO, SHIRT, BOW
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SHOES BY JIMMY CHOO
 81

reputation because it’s cheaper, but I find it

GQ LIFESTYLE
quite enjoyable. There are always beers in
my bar and some good red and white
wines. When in doubt, buy more red than
white. White wine drinkers generally don’t
mind switching to red; red drinkers
generally do mind switching to white.

What about food?

People prefer to snack more than have a
heavy dinner at a party. French fries,
popcorn, vegetables with a dip, chips and
dip, that sorta stuff. And a cheese platter.
Always a cheese platter. If we want to eat
well, I’d get some takeaway or order some
shawarmas. The idea is to keep it simple. If
you’re entertaining a VIP, maybe the
standards are different. But for normal
humans, cook stuff people like to eat.
They’re not looking for a seven-course
meal. Adding a great ingredient can really
liven things up. Sometimes from my travels
I’ll bring in some really good salmon, and
serve salmon and cream. Or if I find some
new type of cheese, ham and cheese rolls.
During the season, I might find a good
truffle oil and serve it with French fries.

How do you curate your guest list?

Since I’ve been doing Playground, my guest
lists are pretty cool. But when I’m doing
stuff at home, I try and keep it as eclectic as
possible. Also, consider the mix. Artists and
writers in the same room as investment
bankers can be a wonderful thing. But
could also be positively weird if all of them
are strangers to each other. The best dinner
parties are the ones where 60 to 70 per cent
of the guests are established friends, and
the rest is new blood. Once you make a list
you’ll know, “Hey, they all get along, they
don’t get along, or, they get along great”.
It’s really not rocket science.

And what if you’re a part of the 40 per

cent that doesn’t know anybody?
For people who find it tough, you just have
to make the effort and take that first step.

BANDHGALA SUIT BY ROHIT

GANDHI + RAHUL KHANNA.
POCKET SQUARE BY THE TIE HUB.
WATCH BY VICTORINOX. SHOES BY
CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN

LUXE ADDRESSES

2018
 82

SUIT BY ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA.

SCARF BY EMPORIO ARMANI
GQ LIFESTYLE

“WHEN
HOSTING A
PARTY AT
HOME, I KEEP
THE GUEST From my experience, it’s as easy as
walking up to someone, introducing
LIST ECLECTIC. yourself and striking up a conversation.
Say, “Hi. Nice to meet you. Where are
ARTISTS AND you from?” Everybody likes to be given
that respect.
WRITERS IN What are your go-to places for
THE SAME entertaining outside?
I host most of my parties at the Four
ROOM AS Seasons, it has some good spaces and
great cocktails. If it’s a smaller dinner
INVESTMENT party, it would be Wasabi or Olive.

BANKERS How do you avoid the awkward bill

dance?
CAN BE A There should be no fighting over the
bill. But you also shouldn’t pay in
WONDERFUL advance. If you take someone out, at the
end of the night, you should pay. If
THING” somebody else insists on paying the bill,
“Okay, fine, you take me out today, I’ll
take you out tomorrow.” If I’ve been
invited, I don’t expect the other person
to pay, I’ll always offer. But it’s important
to not make a scene and keep it casual.

How do you add a personal touch to

your hosting?
Personal is always about attentiveness,
right ambience, good food and good
booze. Keep in mind some people don’t
drink and that’s okay. You just got to
make sure that the food is really nice.
Have some sodas and juices for them to
sip on. But ultimately a good party is
one where there is good conversation.
Have fun yourself, make people laugh.
Give them conversation from which
they take something back. That’s what
makes for a memorable evening.

LUXE ADDRESSES

2018
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ASSISTANT STYLIST
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LOCATION PRIVIERA BY
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 Fenesta -
Your WindoW to
Better HealtH
UPVC windows and doors designed by Fenesta go a long
way in mitigating the hazards of pollution, by insulating your
home against microscopic air and sound gaps.

W
ith a third of India’s 1.32
billion people residing in
cities, it should come as
no surprise that the major
urban sprawls of Mumbai, Pune, Delhi
and Kolkata are having to grapple with
noxious air pollution. The smog that
enveloped the capital this winter was
lethal enough to be declared a health
hazard. It lead to riot like situations in
up-market localities of Delhi, where
women fought to buy the last of the air
masks. Still, the flimsy gear couldn’t
change the brutal truth - that breathing
the grim, gray, murky air of Delhi this
winter, was equivalent to smoking 50
cigarettes a day.
A dirty haze shrouds the skies of
most Indian cities in perpetuity these
days. The post-apocalyptic
atmospherics of this reality, are
compounded by chemical odors and
deadly levels of noise pollution that
almost always exceed permissible
limits. Ironically, it is in these very
cities that the best of India’s luxury
housing development is also taking
shape, which brings to the fore a
critical question - what are you doing
to prevent these toxic elemental
impurities from entering your precious
home?
The house you inhabit may be
equipped with best of luxuries that the
world has to offer, but if you live in a
polluted city, the air you breathe will
not only affect you in the open, but
also when you are within the four walls
of your home. Indoor air pollution is

hazardous to your physical, mental
and emotional well-being, and if your
home is not insulated to prevent
outdoor air from coming in, merely
staying indoors will not protect you
from the environment outside.
Windows and doors, suitably
designed for these climactic conditions
peculiar to India thus, play a crucial
role in mitigating the hazards of
pollution, plugging the microscopic air
and sound gaps through which outside
atmosphere enters your home.
Fenesta’s branded products - doors
and windows that come in a wide
range of designs - use a new-age
material called UPVC that eliminates
these openings significantly. This eco-
friendly, green product has been
gradually replacing traditional
materials like wood and aluminum
across the world.
Traditional wooden doors expand
in size during summers and
monsoons, besides being under the
constant threat of termites. The iron/
wood windows do not insulate sound
entirely, whether it’s from vehicular
traffic, overhead aircraft or noise from
railway lines, industrial units and
loudspeakers. These fittings also
require frequent repairs and
adjustments, all of which allows
outside particles to infiltrate the
indoors without much difficulty.
Fenesta uses cutting-edge
technology and innovation in its
product design to ensure maximum
comfort and minimum maintenance.
Their products are rust-proof, sound-
proof, air-tight and don’t easily fade or
warp, requiring no painting and
thereby reducing VOC (volatile organic
contents) in air. The superior
engineering and installation process
uses advanced sealing that ensures
that leakages and seepages are
avoided altogether. The tight
insulation helps reduce air-
conditioning costs, and cut your
electricity bill, making your home not
just smart but also efficient.
Substituting wood and aluminium
for UPVC is also a green choice, not
merely because it helps conserve
natural resources, but also because its
manufacturing process requires far
lesser energy, and the material is
easily recyclable.
The brand has a range of latest
designs available in the market - from
designer and premium doors, lift and
slide, slide and fold, and the villa series -
that are available in pristine white and a
myriad foil colors. The design also has a
hurricane bar that withstands winds up
to 245 kilometers per hour, and a rain
track that prevents the ingress of
rainwater - innovations to counter the
adversities of a stormy monsoon.
Fenesta’s bespoke products,
crafted keeping the finest quality in
mind are guaranteed to restore
serenity in your life and safeguard you
against the swelling tide of disease
and toxicity that looms in the air.
For more information, log on to
Fenesta.com, or call 1800 102 9880
At the entrance to Kangana’s
home, the flooring is
custom-made marble inlay;
a photograph by her friend
Prasad Naik adorns the white
brick wall; the chandelier is
from Good Earth and the small
table from Bioscopewalli.
The doors are by Richa Bahl
Design Studio

(OPPOSITE PAGE)
Kangana – and Pluto, her
German Spitz – in her drawing
room; the leather sofa is from
Andrew Martin. The plates on
the wall from Anthropologie
and Good Earth. Some knick
knacks have made their way
from Parisian flea markets
ON KANGANA: PRINTED COTTON
DRESS BY PERO
 89

a quEen in

GQ HOMES
her casTle
Kangana Ranaut lets us into her inner sanctum
WRITTEN BY DIVYA MISHRA PHOTOGRAPHED BY SIMON WATSON
INTERIORS STYLED BY SAMIR WADEKAR STYLED BY AMI PATEL

LUXE ADDRESSES

2018
 90
GQ HOMES

In March, Kangana Ranaut Kangana’s bedroom features her favourite spot in the house: her reading
nook. On the top shelf a Charlie Chaplin artwork from Prasad Naik. The
turned 31, marking 15 years in painting on the second shelf is by contemporary artist Richard Lewis. On shelf

I
the industry. Over the span of
her career, she has essayed a
variety of roles, some
particularly offbeat. A
gangster’s conflicted moll
(for which she won her first
Filmfare award); a shape-
shifting human-chameleon
hybrid; a feisty stuntwoman; a bride-
to-be caught between her love for two men; a neurotic
dacoit-plus-politician; a double role in a film and
recently, a gambling addict. Her slew of awards is proof
of how fine an actress Ranaut is, but even greater proof
is how the Indian audiences seem to have conflated the
characters she plays with who she is. Now that, we
think, is talent.
“So, what’s she like?!” asked an excited friend, after
my interview with the actress, expecting to be regaled
with stories of drama and debauchery. Sadly for my
friend, I had no such accounts. No empty bottles of Jack
Daniel’s clinking around, no dolls stuck with pins,
hidden in dark corners – not even the obligatory
shirtless man Friday (though there was a decorously
three an artwork by Colombian artist Antonio Caro
dressed bodyguard who smiled a shy greeting at me
when I entered). Ranaut is rather... normal – softspoken
to the extent that I’m worried my recorder won’t pick up
her voice, observant, pragmatic, and, unusual for
someone in her line of work, very self-aware.
COLOUR ME HAPPY
The day we are scheduled to meet is hot and sunny, but
I’m shivering. The cold is courtesy the seemingly
industrial-strength air conditioners that blow the arctic
into the marble-floored, high-ceilinged lobby of the Khar
apartment complex Ranaut has made a home in. But the
freeze lasts only up to her door, and as I step out on the
fifth floor, into the open, sunny balcony of the actor’s
home, I am immediately warmed – both by the absence
of air conditioning and the happy colours she’s used to
do up the space.

LUXE ADDRESSES

2018
 In Ranaut’s dressing room,
the flooring is from Bharat
Floorings and Tiles; the chair
is from Bioscopewalli
 92
GQ HOMES

LUXE ADDRESSES

2018
The photograph hanging in
the lobby is by Prasad Naik.
The tiles on the floor are from
C Tribhovandas & Co.

(OPPOSITE PAGE ABOVE)

The Frida Kahlo screen and
the ‘Erotic’ dining table are
both from Bioscopewalli.
Ranaut had the upholstery
specially aged to resemble
the mattress coverings –
made from wornout items of
clothing – by women in the
mountains. The light above
the table is by Richa Bahl

(OPPOSITE PAGE BELOW)

The niches in the drawing
room are a signature Richa
Bahl design motif; the fan
was sourced from Mumbai’s
Chor Bazaar.The Marilyn
Monroe light was designed
by Ranaut, and produced
by Bioscopewalli; the
gramophone and mirror
cupboard from Bioscopewalli.
The daybed from Le Mill
 94
GQ HOMES

“MY IDEA OF A PERFECT

HOUSE IS A PLACE THAT
TAKES ME CLOSER TO
MY ROOTS, WHILE I LOOK
INTO MY FUTURE”

I enter the house through a bright blue door, which,

she says, is a nod to her Himachali roots. “You know,
there you have blue, green, orange houses with red
doors, and it’s a very pretty sight, with a lot of
accidental charm,” she says, laughing softly at the
memory. “Like, in my ancestral home, one section is
done up entirely in maroon – maroon walls, maroon
tiles on the outside and white interiors.”
But coming around to an aesthetic of authenticity is a
process, and Ranaut admits to initially succumbing to
the lure of “apparent” luxury. Her initial years in Mumbai
were spent in a one-room apartment in Versova – a
neighbourhood popular with the species known as
“Bollywood strugglers”. After the success of Fashion in
2008, and then Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai in 2010,
she bought an apartment in a Santacruz high-rise,
which, design-wise, bore the stamp of her sudden
wealth. “I had new money, and my only instruction to the
designer then was that he use the most expensive stuff
ever,” she says sheepishly, adding, “But after a while, it
started to feel like a hotel. As actors, we travel a lot, and
stay at five- and seven-star hotels, and coming back to
another five-star felt too cold and sanitised.”
Ranaut decided to move, and her plan was to find a
duplex that she could share with her parents. But the
drastically different requirements of both parties – she
needed a place where she wouldn’t be mobbed; her
parents needed a place they could go for walks around,
and socialise with other people – meant she would have
to consider other options.
She acquired this four-bedroom, fully furnished
apartment with “the most expensive” marble floors in
2013, and then “broke everything down, because while
it was very beautiful, it had no originality or any sense
of belonging.” The restructuring was accomplished
with the help of interior designer Richa Bahl, whom
Ranaut met when she was working on Queen (2014); at

LUXE ADDRESSES

2018
 The wooden armchair
is from Le Mill; the cane
chair from Bioscopewalli;
the rug was picked up
in New York.
 96
The flooring in
GQ HOMES
the balcony is
from Tiffany Tiles
the time, Bahl was married to the film’s director. Ranaut
asked the designer to help her set the tone for the
space. “I’m a mountain girl, and I wanted a bit of a
mountain flavour, with a lot of greenery and colour.”
The house, with Bahl’s help, now features rustic-
looking walls, wooden beamed ceilings, and slate tiles
on the floor, “like in my great grandmother’s ancestral
house,” Ranaut adds happily.
The ‘lived-in’ look confuses some visitors though,
and she recalls an incident when one of her relatives,
dismayed at the dusty appearance of the walls, offered to
clean them for her.
BREAK TIME
The structural changes essentially comprised combining
two of the bedrooms into one, which is now Ranaut’s
bedroom and dressing room; and what was once a
swimming pool is now a garden. “I felt really guilty
about wasting so much water in a city like Mumbai,”
she says. Now, seen through the drawing room’s large
windows is the lovingly tended garden that splashes
the house with greenery in the mess of concrete that
is Mumbai.
In one corner of the drawing room is a small temple,
which Ranaut designed herself. Fashioned out of stone
and concrete, it resembles the kind of temples seen in
smaller towns up north.
LUXE ADDRESSES
2018
An artful screen in
the balcony from
Bioscopewalli.
“I’M A MOUNTAIN GIRL,
AND I WANTED A BIT OF
A MOUNTAIN FLAVOUR IN
MY HOUSE, WITH A LOT OF
GREENERY AND COLOUR”
Situated in clear sight in the drawing room, it says
more about her than all the screaming headlines ever
could. “My idea of a perfect house is a place that takes
me closer to my roots, while I look into my future,” she
says, running her fingers through the fur of her German
Spitz, Pluto, who is unselfconsciously lolling around next
to her on the Andrew Martin sofa.
Scattered through the home are quirky frames,
artefacts, art photographs and room dividers with
artwork inspired by famous women artists. “I like gung-
ho women,” says Ranaut, her careful and quaint choice
of words inexplicably charming. What is conspicuously
absent, though, is a clear connection to her line of work.
There are no awards on proud display, no movie posters,
no dismaying propensity for blown-up self-portraits
(a sad truth in many film stars’ homes). Ranaut is clear
about separating the professional from the personal;
and this house, to her, is undeniably personal.
Kangana Ranaut, in what she refers to as her “work space”.
The flooring is from Tiffany Tiles; the furniture has been
custom-made by Richa Bahl Design Studio, and most
of the frames on the wall have been purchased in New York

ON KANGANA: COTTON PEACOAT, SKIRT; BOTH BY CHRISTIAN DIOR

 5
REASONS WHY
WOMEN LOVE MEN
WHO CAN COOK
Be the man with a pan!

N
Domino range of gas hobs ever underestimate the sexiness of a man who can cook. Someone once
said, ‘if you’re looking for some sugar, spice and all things nice, then you
need a man who cooks. If he knows his way around the kitchen, it’s
guaranteed he will know the way around you and around the most intimate parts
of your life.’ Well, this holds true. Cooking is an art - if you’re able to crack it, you
come across as the ultimate performer, who can be hands-on in more ways than
one. And of course, there’s not a woman on the face of this Earth who would
mind that.
Siemens kitchen appliances help you experience your kitchen in an
extraordinary way. While you might be up for a little learning, some part of you
might dread the whole process. But can you Imagine a world where functional
doesn’t mean boring, and outstanding becomes the standard? Where cooking
doesn’t take as long as you think it does, and even the difficult seems seamlessly
possible… Well, Siemens Home Appliances are dedicated to turning your vision
into reality. And with the help of their state-of-the-art products, you can very well
transform into the man of her dreams.
Now that we’ve established that women love to watch a man stir up a storm in
the kitchen, today, we’re exploring the psychology behind it, and breaking down
A futuristic oven 5 reasons why men who cook, are more desirable to the ladies, than others.
We’re also giving you tips and tricks that will help you work wonders in the
kitchen. Take note, gentlemen. You can thank us later…

1express
IT SHOWS YOU’RE CREATIVE
Women love artistic men who can
their feelings via creative
mediums. Cooking requires an
experimental trait, and if you’re a man
who can mix it up in the kitchen, and
plan new things, she’ll be thrilled!
Wall-mounted chimney hood
PRO TIP: The stepflame technology
in Siemens burners, provides control
over nine levels of flame, offering
revolutionary precision, that gives
users full control of the heat that is
required. If you’re attempting to cook,
you might as well go-pro and use
products that will make your life
simpler. There’ll be less scope of
burning, over-cooking or
undercooking.
by offering her some coffee that you
can make with the Siemens coffee
machine. The sophisticated iQ700
Coffee Center makes beverages
ranging from a strong and aromatic
ristretto to an impeccably made, milk-
froth cappuccino - all available at the
touch of the oneTouch Function. She’ll
be impressed and how!
3 IT SAYS YOU’RE
ADAPTABLE AND READY
TO IMPROVISE WHEN
NECESSARY!
No one likes predictability and
monotony - in the kitchen or in the
bedroom. If you cook, she’ll assume
you’re used to switching it up when
necessary and that you’re hands-on.
Cooks are often prepared to deal with

2 IT TELLS HER YOU’RE whatever it takes to deliver an

SENSITIVE
Men who put in the effort to prepare a
meal for someone else, are able to
successfully show off their romantic
side. For women, effort is the key.
A chic dish-washer
PRO TIP: A good way to start off, is
unforgettable experience. Target
acquired, right?
PRO TIP: Take her around your
kitchen, all the way to your Siemens
wine cooler, and let her choose from
the wide variety you have to offer. The
wine cooler can store up to 98 bottles,
so don’t be stingy and stock up!
4 It says you aren’t
stereotypIcal
The old cliché that says, “A woman
belongs in the kitchen” is dead and
gone. If you want her to believe that
you’re progressive and don’t belong to
the stereotypical lot, we suggest you
slip on an apron and learn the art of
making a salad.
Pro tiP: Use the opportunity to
show off your knowledge of how
different foods have different storage
requirements and temperatures. A
subtle way of telling her you know your
stuff is by talking about your top-class,
super cool Siemens refrigerator, that is
obviously your new BFF, now that
you’re on chef-mode.
5 stay-In romantIc dates
are a possIbIlIty
The whole dining out dates are dated.
If you know how to cook, you can
always opt for a more intimate setting
indoors, and create a meal that she’ll
relish. Apart from putting your
thoughtfulness on display, there’s a
greater chance of you getting lucky
with this set-up. It’s tried and tested!
Pro tiP: Don’t forget to turn on
your Siemens chimney while you
cook. It’ll absorb all the extra smoke
and help you execute your plan –
silently and stylishly.
If your culinary skills suck, and you
can’t seem to wrap your head around
how you can be this man, you’re in
luck. To help you better your skills, or
even start from scratch, we have just
what you need – Siemens appliances.
These are the ultimate life savers, and
will allow you to cook like you’ve never
imagned. You best believe - Your girl
will be in for a treat, quite literally!
For more information,
visit siemens-home.bsh-group.
com/in/, or call siemens toll free
number: 1800 209 1850
 I N A S S O C I AT I O N W I T H

WOMAN OF THE YEAR

ANUSHKA SHARMA
Our Woman of the Year is feisty and fearless – with a reputation for playing
by her own rules. She’s been lauded for her powerhouse performances as
an actor, whether it’s as a stubborn wrestler or an avenging wife. And as a
producer, she’s constantly seeking to push mainstream boundaries, using
her clout to break new voices and explore fresh narratives. Respect.

GOWN BY JULIEN MACDONALD.

BRACELET BY HERMÈS. SHOES
BY GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI

PHOTOGRAPHED BY ERRIKOS ANDREOU

OCTOBER 2017 — 305
 1

Raising The Bar

From Nagpur orange bitters to a machine that converts blocks of ice into the perfect whisky
glass-sized spheres, shop local the next time you want to splurge on your home bar
WRITTEN BY KARINA AGGARWAL PHOTOGRAPHED BY JIGNESH JHAVERI
104
GQ LIFESTYLE
S
So you’ve got the essentials:
You have all the core spirits
and the tools to make
your basic cocktail. You’ve
even scored that special-
edition Duty-Free-only
scotch and that obscure
Caribbean Rum. All that’s
missing is some indie cool,
sourced right from the
not-so-remote corners
of the country. We’ve
gathered some of the best
local flavour that crafty
individuals have been quietly
brewing.
1. PORT SIDE
Fast infusions are in.
Honestly, even if they
weren’t, this stunning gadget
would be hard to resist. The
Porthole Infuser was first
designed by Martin Kastner
for award-winning Chicago
bar The Aviary. Looking at
the attention it was getting
from guests led him to
make the sleek accessory
commercially. The vessel’s
detachable walls allow you to
fill it with any type of herbs,
spices or fruits that you want
to infuse into your cocktail.
Top it up with the alcohol,
and then leave it be – for an
hour or up to several days. In
India, it’s available through
The Vault.
PRICE: `12,900
vaultfinespirits.com
2. ICE-CAPADES
If you’re a malt maniac,
you’re likely privy to the
slow-melting magic of an
ice sphere. There are a
bunch of silicone sphere
LUXE ADDRESSES
2018
trays out there, but if you
really want to up the ante,
The Rock is what you need.
The mechanical ice-maker,
supplied by a Delhi-based
company, sculpts down a
large ice chunk within a
few seconds, to create the
perfect sphere that will last
through multiple drams.
PRICE: `50,000
info@roverseas.in
3. SWEET SOMETHINGS
No matter how indulgent
the evening, there’s always
space for those post-dinner
tipples. We’re suckers
for Divás Coffee Cream
liqueur, the closest to a
local Bailey’s we’ve ever
had. This version, made by
Sheryl Vas at her home in
Goa, manages a beautiful
smoothness and balance
of whisky and coffee. She’s
still working out the kinks
when it comes to bottling,
but has the recipe down
pat. We’re torn between
pouring it over ice cream
or just sipping it on ice.
Chocolate Mint and Honey
liqueurs are available on
order too. Another Goan
baby, Licor Armada, is a
spiced liqueur that follows a
heritage Portuguese recipe.
Although the source of the
ingredients has changed,
Oscar De Sequeira Nazareth
has largely stayed true
to the recipe. It’s great to
tinker with in cocktails, but
with flavours of cardamom,
cinnamon and orange, it also
makes for a great nightcap.
PRICE: Divás Coffee Cream:
`1,000 for 750ml, `600 for
375ml (in Goa). 98221 20558
Licor Armada: `840 for
750ml (in Goa)
licorarmada.com
4. A BIT OF BITTERS
Only a veteran of the wood
will know that it isn’t really
a bar without those tiny
vials of bitters. Thus far
we’ve had to scout for
ours on foreign soil, but
now we have Valentine
Barboza on speed dial. The
hand-crafted Valentino’s
Premium Bitters, made in
small batches, mostly use
2
locally sourced ingredients,
and are made for export.
But if you ask nicely,
Barboza may share some
of the 11 bitters that make
up his range. Try the Black
Walnut, Pecan Coffee and
Key Lime flavours.
PRICE: `950 onwards.
95520 02530
5. ORANGE COUNTRY
What do the margarita,
The Rock sculpts the
cosmopolitan and
perfectly sized ice sidecar have in common?
sphere for your whisky Orange liqueur. It’s a bar
staple, and we’ve found
a happy solution to our
dwindling Grand Marnier
and Cointreau levels
in DesmondJi’s local
equivalent. You’ll recognise
the name from the tequila-
3 like agave spirit it makes
in India, and with great
success. For this recipe,
Nagpur oranges are the
key to the zesty sweet
syrup used to balance the
concoctions. DesmondJi
also bottles a blue curaçao,
for when you’re looking for
some colour.
PRICE: `1,400 (in Mumbai)
desmondji.com
6. X MARKS THE SPOT
Completing your bar set is
like buying shoes: There’s
always that one pair, that
particular hue, that you
Licor Armada is a spiced
liqueur with a heritage don’t own. Yet. But BarX
Portuguese recipe is on it. The Delhi-based
brand sources a range
of accessories, and the
latest to have caught our
eye is the atomiser, more
colloquially known as the
mister. The only thing to
make your martinis better
is a quick spray of peaty
Laphroaig as garnish.
PRICE: `300. Barx.co

7. JUNIPER JUICE
That the land of the Gin 5
& Tonic has not a single
worthy gin to speak of is
a travesty. Was a travesty.
Launched in August this
year, Greater Than is the
classic London Dry gin,
with botanicals from
around the world. The
second one, Hapusa
(pronounced hapushaa),
meaning juniper in
Sanskrit, is the world’s
first Himalayan Dry Gin,
and slated to be launched
this month. Both have
been crafted by distiller
Anand Virmani. With the
plants foraged from the
mountains and mango,
ginger, gondhoraj and
cardamom as botanicals,
this gin is truly Indian. 6
PRICE: Hapusa: `2,600
Greater Than: `900 (Delhi).

T FOR TONIC
“It’s high time somebody
put the Indian in Indian
Tonic Water,” say the
folks at Svami. Fresh off
the launch of their nitro 4
coffee, the Mumbai-based
tastemakers (Gateway
Brewing Co’s Rahul Mehra
and coffee-nazi Sahil 7
Jatana) are now hoping to
change the tonic game.
They’ve started with two
variants – Aromatic and
Yuzu & Juniper. Both are
well-crafted, easy on the
sugar and subtle on the
carbonation. Science may
suggest that a proclivity for
gin & tonic is a sign of a
psychopath. We just think
it’s a sign of good taste, and
we’re sticking to that story. SILVER ICE BUCKET,
TONGS, COCKTAIL SHAKER;
PRICE: `80 ALL BY GOOD EARTH
The
Green
LIfe
Luxury living and ecological
consciousness aren’t
mutually exclusive
WRITTEN BY NIKHIL INAMDAR

Greensleeves, Bengaluru,
an environmentally sustainable project
developed by Total Environment

Sustainable luxury, a term crafted for
s
brochures, can seem like an awful
oxymoron. Nevertheless it’s a
buzzword in premium real estate
today. Mindful. Intelligent.
Sustainable. Conscious. There’s a
choice of surrogates to the adjective
that describes a home that’s
ecologically responsive yet exclusive
in its bespoke offering.
But certain attributes of luxury – artificial
lakes and expansive golf courses, elevated
lobbies and centrally air-conditioned
apartments, private elevators and imported
fixtures, custom-made furniture and energy-
guzzling amenities – can appear brutally at
odds with the environment. Except that they
needn’t be.
“It’s a myth that luxury and sustainability
cannot co-exist,” says Jaimin Desai, head of
design and sustainability at Mahindra Lifespace
Developers Ltd. “On the contrary, both can be
incorporated via integrated design and the
adoption of eco-friendly construction methods
and building materials.”
“In fact, luxury can aid sustainability, rather
than deter it,” insists Rajendra Chandorkar,
executive vice president - architecture and
design at Oberoi Realty. “Premium housing
absolutely needs to be responsible. It’s no longer
merely about opulence and iconic facades.”
THE DESIGN DIFFERENCE
At Oberoi Realty’s flagship development Garden
City in Mumbai – with luxury towers and villas
spread across 80 acres of landscaped greenery –
the push towards sustainable living hinges upon a
concerted effort to use structural design and
technology that enables residents to cut energy
costs and retain maximum green cover. Common
living areas generate solar energy, the lawns use
recycled water and a large chunk of the land has
been kept open by building vertically.
Inside the apartments, double heightened
glazed windows provide ample natural light, cut
heat and minimise ambient noise, making the
flats energy-efficient. “We’ve used no beams or
columns because the intention was to have wall-
to-wall windows. That is expensive, and so it’s a
luxury, but also makes your home more
sustainable,” explains Chandorkar.
For truly ‘green’ luxury credentials,
Mahindra Lifespaces is going a step further,
ensuring that the entire lifecycle of their luxury
projects – from planning and design to the ‘end-
of-life phase’ – is sustainable. Their approach is
integrated, which means that at their Gurugram
107
project, Luminare, even the walls and roofs are
G Q S PA C E S
energy-efficient
“Low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints
and design-enabled cross-ventilation provide
healthy home interiors, while parking areas are
equipped with electric charging facilities.
Furthermore, our green supply chain management
policy promotes the procurement of materials,
goods and services from nearby suppliers who
favour clean technology,” says Desai.
According to Gunisha Sanyal, the chief
design officer at Hiranandani Communities, the
entire industry has made great strides in turning
towards materials such as glass facades, lights,
air conditioners, roofing materials and tiles
which are luxurious, yet sustainable.
CONSCIOUS CONSUMERISM
This shift has, for the most part, been driven by
changing consumer behaviour. “Easy access to
information has made people across the globe
more watchful of what they leave behind for
future generations. The fact that we have
countries uniting to fight environmental
degradation speaks volumes about the issue.
Luxury buyers too are concerned about the
environment and are increasingly seeking
sustainable luxury,” says Aakash Ohri, senior
executive director - business development at
DLF Home Developers Ltd.
Globally, the eco-property movement was
once “hijacked by the ‘woolly jumper brigade’,
those who interpret eco-friendly as anti-
consumerism, rather than reality,” Thomas
Lipinski, an award-winning Polish architect and
founder of building firm, Green Structures, told
the Wall Street Journal in 2011. It’s now being
seen in a more nuanced light. The fundamental
shift in the consumption patterns among high
net worth individual and ultra-high net worth
individual buyers, from conspicuous to
conscientious, could be providing the tailwinds.
“The strength of both words, luxury and
sustainability, is being harnessed to make change
come about without the stigmatisation of one
lifestyle or another. We can live an enhanced
luxury lifestyle in the course of making a
difference,” says Sanyal. The perception about
sustainable offerings being quality-compromised
is a myth, she believes, as only a luxury budget
can afford some of the latest green technologies.
“Even today, there are some exquisite products
out there which rival the finest luxury items, yet
change the lives of local communities as well as
respect the environment. As the industry
becomes more conscious of the responsibility,
sustainable luxury will move to the forefront.”
LUXE ADDRESSES
2018
108

So is there good reason to believe that Set amidst nature,

G Q S PA C E S

demand for luxury eco-homes will soar? the bedroom

at Luminare,
Research from Sotheby’s International Gurugram, a
Realty, published by the Thompson Reuters project by Mahindra
Foundation, shows that more than 20 per cent Lifespaces
of emerging luxury consumers – with investable
assets of between $250,000 and $1 million – in
countries like the US, Britain, the UAE, India
and China are eyeing such properties while
making their investment decisions.
The Top Of The Pyramid report, published
by Kotak Wealth Management every year, goes
a step further in corroborating these findings.
According to the report, “socially conscious
and environmentally-friendly ultra-HNIs are
increasingly adopting ‘green’ building
practices to minimise the ecological footprint
of their homes while maximising comfort”.
As a go-green lifestyle becomes “coveted
The deck at Luminare offers
and fashionable” among the elite, it has led to brilliant views of the city
higher investments in water-conserving
fixtures, rainwater harvesting technologies
and insulated roofs. “A Pune-based ultra-HNI
family is marketing a line of energy-efficient
pumps, while a leading developer in
Gurugram is focused on making energy-
efficient buildings by using wood instead of
aluminum for doors and windows, to reduce
CO2 emissions,” the report finds.
Total Environment, a Bengaluru-based
design and luxury real estate developer, was
one of the first to make sustainable luxury its
USP. Inspired to create ‘sensitively designed’
spaces, in 1997, they introduced the concept of
cantilevered terrace gardens to bring the
outdoors inside and take the indoors out. The
attempt at Total Environment, as is evidenced
by its name, is to give architecture a “character
that is essentially grounded in nature.” Which
means the use of natural construction materials
like wire-cut bricks, exposed form-finished
concrete, or landscaping such as creeper-
covered pergolas. They also boast of relying on
technology to “deliver advanced homes of high
quality, long life and efficiency.”
In fact, the rapid improvement in
technology – whether it’s renewable solutions
or smart, automated fixtures – is at the
forefront of the shift to sustainability in high-
end housing.
At Oberoi Realty’s Exquisite project,
for instance, smart elevators use predictive
analysis to decode patterns for precise times
at which residents exit and enter their homes,
so that they can park themselves on the
right floor at the right time and reduce
energy consumption.

LUXE ADDRESSES

2018
 “A really good eco-home will involve not
just (new) technology, but also the oldest
forms of technology,” Hugo Thistlethwayte,
head of international residential business at
Savills, told the Thompson Reuters
Foundation. It’s a bit of feng shui meets
artificial intelligence.

BEYOND GREEN GIMMICKS

In an environment where a low luxury
footprint can become a marketing gimmick for
certain developers, it’s important to fully
understand how to separate the wheat from
the chaff. As the government – in a bid to
improve its ‘ease of doing business’ rankings
and achieve housing-for-all targets by 2022 –
waters down environmental norms (projects of
20,000 to 150,000 square metres are now
exempted from seeking prior clearances from
the State-Level Environment Impact
Assessment Authority), it is critical that buyers
choose projects with developers who espouse
stringent voluntary certification standards.
Oberoi Realty follows the two-stage
certification process from global green
building ratings agencies such as Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).
“They give us a pre-certification on the basis of
the commitments we’ve made and a certificate
with grades post completion, depending on the
extent to which we’ve lived up to our
commitments,” explains Chandorkar.
Desai says Mahindra Lifespaces began
Duplex spaces at Exquisite adopting green certifications across projects
by Oberoi Realty have since 2006 and has worked closely with
double-height living rooms certifying agencies to develop a framework
for the process. “Today, there’s a wide range of
rating agencies such as Indian Green Building
Council (IGBC), GRIHA, LEED and EDGE;
however, we follow an unbiased ratings
process,” he adds.
The IGBC, part of the Confederation of
Indian Industry, has an ambitious target of
registering 10 billion square feet in green
building footprint by 2020. Reports suggest
that it’s at the half-way mark already, reflecting
that sustainability is not merely a promotional
ploy, but an authentic movement underway
across all segments of Indian real estate. It’s a
particularly welcome trend for consumers of
luxury given the notoriety associated with them
when it comes to upholding (or not) their
commitment to the planet.
But indulgence done right, as India’s
largest luxury developers are increasingly
The poolside at Exquisite demonstrating, can be guilt-free and in
consonance with nature.
 3
114

He confesses to not being

GQ HOMES

H
sentimental about his home.
But V Sunil – veteran adman
for brands like Royal Enfield,
Indigo, Incredible India and
Make In India – appreciates
how the meditative calm of
his residence counterbalances
his otherwise chaotic schedule.
We meet on a particularly cold,
grey day in New Delhi. “I wish you had
chosen a better day; there’s usually so much sunlight
here,” he says, pointing to one of the four courtyards in
his home.
Its entrance is rather grand; large wooden gates
open out to a long passage that links the aforementioned
courtyards – two at its start and two where it ends. “Our
original plan,” Sunil tells me later, “was to build this
house on stilts and have a sprawling garden on the
ground floor. Thankfully, we didn’t do that; it would’ve
been super impractical.”

SOUTHERN COMFORT
The dull weather proves to be less of a dampener than
he imagined; after all, it’s not every day you come across
this kind of space, with this amount of greenery in New
Delhi homes. The warm lighting accentuates the wooden
floor and ceiling, making the space where we sit
particularly compelling. It’s no surprise that this is
Sunil’s favourite part of the house. And it is here, over
steaming hot cups of masala chai, that Sunil starts
talking about his earliest memories of home. Not one to
romanticise the past, he matter-of-factly speaks about
growing up in Kannur, in north Kerala, with his family –
parents, two sisters and a brother. The oldest child in the
family, he grew up in this city famous for its pristine
beaches and handloom industry, in an old, sprawling
house that overlooked tremendous greenery, streams,
paddy fields and coconut trees. “Ours wasn’t a typical
Kerala home with a central courtyard and rooms around The asymmetrical dining table – originally a block of wood from a felled tree,
carefully treated and crafted – was a friend’s idea. Sunil purchased the chairs
it, but it was still very charming,” he says. from Krea; the ceiling lights are by artist and designer Alex Davis. The black-
Sunil remembers seeing, through his childhood, and-white painting is by Sumedh Rajendran. Sunil commissioned a local
some superbly talented carpenters, goldsmiths and carpenter to create the Qutab Minar sculpture
craftsmen creating – at very reasonable costs – stunning
furniture and handicraft items. That aesthetic, along with
all the natural beauty around him, shaped his own sense
of design, and it is evident in this space. “I wanted
touches of Kerala. I wanted to bring the Kerala-
courtyard-style living into my home,” he says. “OURS WASN’T A
While most of the courtyards are a lush green, one of TYPICAL KERALA
HOME WITH A CENTRAL
them has a table in distressed wood in a space lined with
pebbles and gravel. It’s a home where, by his own
admission, “nothing is too frilly”. “There should be strength
in design,” Sunil says, adding, “I prefer chunky, big pieces.” COURTYARD AND ROOMS
The dining table also embodies this. A rugged, solid piece AROUND IT. BUT IT WAS
STILL VERY CHARMING”
of asymmetrical wood – he picked it up on one of his trips
to Kochi. The same room has an impressive Tanjore

LUXE ADDRESSES

2018
(TOP LEFT) To the right of the dining room is a courtyard – the house has a total of four – with artefacts like the antique stone temple lamp and engraved metal urn,
both purchased from Heritage Arts, Kochi. (TOP CENTRE) A stone Nandi sculpture at the entrance points to the interior. (TOP RIGHT) Foliage adorns the entrance.
(BELOW) A first-floor balcony; Sunil picked up the wrought-iron furniture in one of New Delhi’s neighbourhood markets
118

painting that’s offset by a shiny brass lamp – “a gift from

GQ HOMES

The open kitchen is housed

on the ground floor; the my friends”.
wood-and-teal island Sunil’s home is a favourite among his friends, many
showcases ceramic jugs
and a tea set that Sunil of who come to stay here. “My place,” he laughs, as we
picked up while travelling climb the stairs to the first floor, “runs like a hotel. Even
if I’m not there, my friends are assured of good food
and comfort.”
Looking down from the first floor, and later, the
terrace, you notice that the space is relatively spartan, yet
tremendously fluid in the arrangement of art and
furniture. The art in Sunil’s home, as befitting one of the
trustees of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, is particularly
arresting – Indian contemporary pieces juxtaposed with
traditional and folk art.

OPEN-AIR THEATRE
While the ground floor of this Kerala-inspired home has
a spacious kitchen, dining room, and living room (along
with the open seating arrangement at the end of the
corridor), the first floor encompasses a gorgeous den-like
space, and a couple of guest rooms. However, the pièces
de résistance are the outdoor shower areas. Well-planned
and spacious, with a hint of green for that authentic
coastal feel, they are more inviting than shower areas
have any right to be.
Sunil’s work philosophy is to generate a “complete, full
experience” for brands; his home reflects a similar syntax.
It projects warmth, radiates energy, acknowledges

The courtyard as seen from the

dining room; Sunil picked up the
postbox while on a trip in south India.

The colourful tiles in the master

bedroom’s en-suite were
sourced from a tile-making
studio in Puducherry

LUXE ADDRESSES

2018
 The teal staircase connects the three floors. The ground
floor houses the dining room, living room and kitchen. On
the first floor are the master bedroom, guest rooms and a
host of spacious balconies. The terrace has, among other
things, a traditional yellow London telephone booth
 121

craftsmanship (particularly from south India) – and salutes

GQ HOMES
Indian folk art and emerging contemporary art, while also
putting in perspective his own life’s journey – from being
an advertising guru to now heading Motherland Joint
Ventures with his business partners Mohit Dhar Jayal and
Rahul Bhatia. The enterprise operates in lifestyle-related
product categories, including consumer products and
urban regeneration projects; the first of the latter being
the JDH Urban Regeneration Project in Jodhpur.
Experiencing the eclecticism of this home, balanced
perfectly with its old-world charm, has been extraordinary,
and I realise that the warmth in this space is not just
courtesy, but also the sun, which decides to come out as I
get ready to leave. It is Sunil’s own affable nature and keen
aesthetic sense that give this home its energy – one that’s
strong, grounded and positive.

(ABOVE) All the bathrooms open out to private outdoor shower areas. Most
rooms in the house are equipped with ample wall storage
(BELOW LEFT) The living room; Sunil bought this figurine – inspired by Jeff
Koons’s Balloon Dog – at the Design Museum, London
(BELOW RIGHT) This decorated four-poster bed, in a guest room, is from
Sharma Farms in New Delhi; the artwork is by a Gond artist
(OPPOSITE PAGE) The den on the first floor features ikat-patterned upholstery,
pendant and table lamps bought at a New Delhi market, and a painting by a
Rajasthani artist, picked up in Jaipur

LUXE ADDRESSES

2018
122
GQ READS
LES DINERS DE GALA
Salvador Dalí produced
many masterpieces in his
life, and one of them was a
cookbook. Les Diners de Gala
was semi-autobiographical,
based on the lavish dinner
parties of Dalí and his wife,
Gala. This year, Taschen
reprinted the book, which
originally came out in 1973.
You might not actually
attempt any of the 136
recipes (do you really want
‘thousand-year-old eggs’?),
but you’ll certainly feast on
the surreal paintings and
collages that fill the book.
GRAPHIC: 500 DESIGNS
THAT MATTER This stocky
red book is a compendium
of the 500 most important
pieces of graphic design,
ever. There will most
assuredly be room for
debate, but who could ever
resist perusing such a
superlative list?
LUXE ADDRESSES
2018
By
Design
10 books every design enthusiast needs to have
on his bookshelf
AMERICAN REVOLUTION
BICENTENNIAL
STANDARDS MANUAL
In 1974, Bruce Blackburn
designed a red-white-and-
blue, star-shaped
wheel logo. The icon was
for the upcoming United
States Bicentennial, and
the idea was that the
symbol would appear
across celebratory
materials, from postage
stamps to buildings. To
ensure his logo looked its
best in any situation,
Blackburn published a set
of visual guidelines. This
year, Standards Manual –
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS SURVEYED Want to know how much the same folks who
the average graphic designer makes? Or which Pantone reprinted the MTA and
colour most designers prefer? Graphic Designers Surveyed NASA manuals – revived
can fill you in on some, if not all, of those statistics. Blackburn’s original.
Publishers GraphicDesign& quizzed 2,000 designers from
the US and the UK to compile some facts and figures about
the industry.
THE WORLD OF CHARLES AND RAY
EAMES Charles and Ray Eames
designed several iconic chairs, but
their contributions to design – and,
really, to society – go far deeper than
furniture. During World War II, the
husband-and-wife team pioneered
advances in materials. They
reimagined the office space entirely.
WORDS: MARGARET RHODES
They walked the walk, too, by
building their home in the image of
their modern ideas about design.
The World Of Charles And Ray Eames
is a monograph filled with images
and tales from all these projects,
and more.
 LOOK INSIDE
Look Inside is an ode to the
cutaway graphic. This book is for
the especially curious, as it
invites readers to peer inside
structures as small and specific
as a tape cassette and as huge
and multi-layered as Earth itself.
The pages contain inside views of
historic buildings, pieces of
machinery and even a few
entries that are purely
fantastical. Beautiful reminders,
all, that something always lies
beneath the surface.

RICHARD SAPPER EDITED BY

JONATHAN OLIVARES
Richard Sapper, the brilliant German
industrial designer behind iconic
designs like the cubic Brionvega radio,
THIS BRUTAL WORLD passed away on the last day of 2015.
For years, the brutalist style of Luckily for his admirers, the forces and
architecture was despised. Now, it’s circumstances that shaped his work
experiencing a comeback, thanks in are not lost. Sapper had spent more
no small part to Peter Chadwick. than 40 hours in interviews with
Two years ago, the London art furniture designer Jonathan Olivares,
director started tweeting out photos who recorded them and put them in
of forgotten brutalist buildings. print. Those interviews fill the pages
Today, he’s the author of a handsome of Olivares’s book, along with
coffee table book from Phaidon photographs of Sapper’s designs
that’s dedicated to the raw, concrete throughout the years.
style of architecture. The tome
highlights recent work as well as
older buildings that have since been
demolished. In that sense, the book
doubles as a form of preservation.

DESIGNED BY APPLE IN CALIFORNIA

This is every inch the Apple product. It
took eight years to develop, is bound in
linen and printed on “specially milled,
custom-dyed paper with gilded matte
silver edges.” Long-time Apple A DESIGNER’S ART
photographer Andrew Famed graphic designer Paul Rand
Zuckerman’s captured all also wrote and published books. One
450 pages of products such book, A Designer’s Art, was
in the company’s especially literary. Finished in 1985, the
signature style: high- book looks at design intellectually.
definition hero shots Rand’s essays in the book cited
of technology, set on a academics. Prints of his logo work for
white background. IBM, ABC and Westinghouse, along
This is product porn with indie work for magazine and book
at its least apologetic. covers, supported his arguments. The
manifesto went out of print in 2000, but
late last year, design critic Steven
Heller revived it.
124
LoO
LAST WORD
and BeholD
There’s more to a clean bathroom than meets the eye, insists Radhika Vaz
As a comedian, I have been
A
accused of what some people call
“bathroom humour”. I have no
beef with that (wait, am I banned
from using that expression now?),
but I have always thought the
phrase made no sense. You see, I
believe the bog should actually be the
cleanest room in the house. Having lived
my whole life in hostels and rentals, when it comes to
bathrooms, I am used to taking what I get. I make the
most of it, of course, by installing (a more architectural
sounding word than ‘hanging’) a few quirky pictures on
the wall and stacking the place with reading material.
Old issues of Hello! and People, from my trips to phoren,
and a picture book titled Images You Should Not
Masturbate To is what will greet you should you pay me,
or rather my lavatory, a visit. Just to put it out there: For
me a bathroom has always been functional.
Don’t get me wrong; I love a carefully and aesthetically
planned crapper, and in my mind the bathroom is the new
living room. In this competitive world we live in, a killer
commode palace is now where one can gain a little ground
on the Joneses. Let’s face it; a posh loo is better than the
most souped-up BMW, and a more understated
way of telling everyone you are better than they are.
From Jacuzzis to rain showers to toilets that
will wash your bottom unasked, if you can think of a way
to waste water, trust me, the sanitaryware industry got
there before you did. Only the wealthy can afford to
squander away our limited H2O, and so today the number
of bathrooms rather than bedrooms is what tells me how
money you are. Plus, as a socialite, your bathroom better
be on point, because when you entertain, that is precisely
where the real fun goes down. Oh c’mon Prudey, they
don’t call it a powder room for nothing.
But back to me and my low-budget lifestyle. Having
never had the opportunity to build from scratch or even
just renovate my own place, when it comes to bathrooms,
hygiene rather than style has been my calling card. Even
when I check into a hotel, I care less about the view and
more about the loo. I can forgive tacky furniture, hideous
light fittings and a colour scheme that incorporates every
hue in the rainbow and then some. But I will not tolerate
a bathroom that looks like I need to wear shower shoes at
LUXE ADDRESSES
2018
all times. I am usually a pretty accommodating person,
but all I need to see are water spots on a mirror and I will
call housekeeping immediately. It goes without saying
that I extend this fanatic need for clean to my own
bathroom, thus driving myself, and any cleaning person
who has ever worked for me, completely mad. And while
this may sound excessive, as a woman I feel I have no
other choice.
Let me explain. All my life, I have believed that the state
of a person’s bathroom tells you at least a little bit about
them, and a clean toilet tells me that – despite all of your
other fault lines – you are probably not harbouring a
communicable disease. I agree; this system isn’t foolproof.
But it’s the closest thing I can get to a snap judgement, and
for this reason I am expecting to be judged right back. In
the good old days, we women didn’t have careers and so
validation came in three forms: our ability to look good,
cook well and keep a good home – and by good, I mean
clean. Over the years, I have done what I can with MAC
foundation and a regimen of squats and bench press. I am
also convinced that cooking is not a skill one can develop,
but a talent that I wasn’t blessed with. Cleaning, however,
is different. Anyone can do it; it’s literally the pinnacle of
unskilled labour. So if there is one nod to femininity I can
at least pretend to make, this would be it. For this reason,
dirt has always been my bête noire, and the bathroom is
where I wage my war against it.
The female of the species has always been expected to
be cleaner than men, both in mind and body and most
definitely at home. And despite the loud feminist voice
inside my head, I can’t seem to shake this last one
entirely. Forget bathroom humour, most of us don’t want
to be caught dead using the bathroom. For this reason,
we will never spend a night with a new boyfriend, and if
we do, we disappear well before that call of nature. It is
also the reason why so many couples eventually insist on
separate toilets. I don’t blame them; a shared shithouse is
where romance goes to die. I mean, how is a decade-long
marriage supposed to survive skid marks? Or long curlie-
wurlies stuck to a nice white bar of L’Occitane en
Provence soap?
For me, as a member of the female species,
cleanliness is not next to godliness; it is, in fact, right next
to femininity. So the next time you call a lady a potty
mouth, think again.

?
WHAT IS YOUR
FORECAST FOR THE
LUXURY REAL ESTATE
SECTOR IN THE
COMING YEAR?
Ashish Shah
COO, Radius Developers
“2017 – what a year! The
overhang of
demonetisation with GST
marred the fate of several
business, and real estate
was no different.   Roughly accounting for 4 to 5 per cent of total housing in real estate in India, a small
Real estate projects require us to
foresee what the demand would be like in
3 to 4 years. As developers we’ve had to
take a hard look at our business, and
sharpen our ability to adapt and understand
what the consumer wants. Above all we
need to determine what a home buyer
defines as luxury. Is it location? Size?
Amenities? Branded residences?
If the location isn’t genuinely good,
calling it luxury wouldn’t sound
authentic. Size – not much here either,
because the configurations can’t be
changed once we begin construction.
Amenities and branded residences can only
work when genuinely integrated into the
design and not used merely as a badge.
Therefore, future insights are very critical
at the outset.
 Today’s luxury consumers are smart.
I believe they want to remain somewhat
elusive yet want to integrate. So we need
to use the ‘Day in the Life of A Resident’
approach and plan accordingly, and that
works for us, because it gets all the
slots right.  consolidation for the real estate sector, and the outlook is definitely
2018 will be a solid year as the economy
improves and the positive effects of GST
start kicking in. International capital is
flowing in large amounts, with an
improvement in the macro environment. It
will be the year where smart will prevail
over the much-misused word ‘luxury’.”
125
Gayatri Ruia
EXPERTSPEAK
Director, Phoenix Mills
“2018 looks promising for the luxury real estate sector. The luxury
market is growing rapidly, especially in Bengaluru, with more people
choosing to buy high-end real estate.
A lot of people are upgrading from independent homes to luxurious
gated communities. These offer them the convenience of an apartment,
with the space of a bungalow, with state-of-the-art amenities.
 True luxury is all about curated homes, timely execution and superior finishes with a
high level of services. The product has to stand out in the clutter – it has to be holistic and
unique with location advantage, landscape, amenities all coming together to create a
unique luxurious experience. As seen with our uber-luxury offering, Phoenix Kessaku, the
checking of all these boxes results in an increased demand for our product.”
Shishir Baijal
Chairman & Managing Director, Knight Frank India
“India’s housing market has been witness to an avalanche of reforms
over the past 19-odd months. Rolled out to set a new order in the
beleaguered industry, the path-breaking regulations crippled
momentum in an already sluggish market. While mass housing
segments bore the biggest brunt of the time-bound onslaught, the
reforms-driven wave ostensibly eclipsed the glitter familiar with the
luxury residential business as well.
but steady supply of uber-luxury homes will continue to maintain their share in the urban
skyline. Despite the overall gloom, residential luxury homes being delivered on time
continue to hog significant interest and command a premium. In fact, properties close to
completion have many takers.
The definition and demand for luxury housing varies from city to city. While it grew at
a gradual pace, India’s luxury market has seen seamless expansion. From approximately
$3.66 billion in 2007, the luxury market more than doubled to $7.58 billion in 2012. Today,
Indian buyers are well versed with global trends, and their spending power has seen
steady growth.
According to Knight Frank’s The Wealth Report 2017, the number of uber-rich Indians
grew the sixth-fastest between 2015 and 2016 with projected growth promise of racing up
to the third spot in the world over the next decade. Currently, India accounts for 2 per cent
of the world’s millionaires (13.6 million) and 5 per cent of world’s billionaires (2,024).
The next 12 to 18 months are likely to be the ‘under observation’ period for the real
estate sector. Industry stakeholders should spend it reorienting businesses in line with the
new order. India’s strong economic fundamentals still put it among the fastest growing
economies in the world. The need of the hour is to put our heads down and allow the
consolidation process to take its due course.”
Vinod Rohira
Managing Director - Commercial Real Estate & REIT, K Raheja Corp
“2017 has been the year of positive disruptions, which will result in
positive. Most spectrums of the luxury sector will comprise 4 to 5 per
cent of the real estate development market. This pie is set to grow with
global professionals – industrialists, large business families and new-
age entrepreneurs – seeking homes for their changing lifestyles, and the
needs of younger generations, going beyond just the pin code. Very few developers
understand luxury and the consumers seeking it, so now is a transformational time when
new benchmarks will pave the way in putting Indian luxury real estate on the global map.”
LUXE ADDRESSES
2018
126
STOCKIST
●A
Atmosphere Mumbai, 022-2283 1877;
Delhi, 011-4155 3233; Bengaluru, 080-
4112 0820; Chennai, 044-4206 8303;
Hyderabad, 040-6598 7360
●B
Burberry Mumbai, Palladium,
022-4080 1990; Delhi, DLF Emporio,
011-4652 9850; Bengaluru, UB City,
080-4173 8826
Brooks Brothers Mumbai, Palladium,
022-4347 0926; Delhi, Ambience Mall,
011-4087 0787; Bengaluru, 080-4208
8717
●C
Canali Mumbai, Palladium,
022-4009 8685; Delhi, DLF Emporio,
011-4604 0731; Bengaluru, UB City,
080-4173 8997
●D
D’Décor Mumbai, 022-6678 2000/20;
Delhi, 011-4143 6677; Bengaluru,
080-4123 6677; Chennai,
044-2833 2355
●E
Ermenegildo Zegna Mumbai,
022-2285 7000; Delhi, DLF Emporio,
011-4606 0999; Bengaluru, UB City,
080-4173 8805
●F
FCML Mumbai, 022-4926 1200; Delhi,
011-2637 2701; Bengaluru, 080-4116
9343; Chennai, 044-4217 6167
Firefly Mumbai, 022-6660 8959
LUXE ADDRESSES
2018
Flos Lighting Mumbai, 98197 47617; Palladium, 022-6658 9960; Delhi, DLF
Delhi, 99993 06667 Emporio, 011-4604 0744; Bengaluru,
UB City, 080-4173 8882/3
●H Poltrona Frau Mumbai,
Hugo Boss Mumbai, Palladium, 022-2261 4848; Delhi, 98107 55442
022-2491 2210; Delhi, DLF Emporio, Preciosa Mumbai, 70451 45575
011-4604 0773; Bengaluru,
080-2520 7200 ●Q
Qaaleen Delhi, 011-6900 0130/131
●I
Idus Delhi, 98715 00042 ●R
India Circus Mumbai, 90828 48076/, Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna
98704 27069 Mumbai, 022-2648 5622; Delhi,
DLF Emporio, 011-4654 7462
●J
Jaipur Rugs Delhi, 72300 05522; ●S
Jaipur, 0141-398 7400 Scarlet Splendour
Jimmy Choo Mumbai, Kolkata, 033-4050 1000
022-3027 7070; Delhi, DLF Simone Mumbai, 022-7111 7700
Emporio, 011-4660 9069; Surprise Home Linen Mumbai,
Bengaluru, UB City, 080-4173 022-2649 3047
8404
●T
●L Tommy Hilfiger Mumbai,
Lacquer Embassy Palladium, 022-3072 8807; Delhi,
lacquerembassy.com Ambience Mall, 011-4087 0041;
Bengaluru, Brigade Orion Mall,
●M 080-2268 2091
Marks & Spencer Mumbai, The Tie Hub thetiehub.com
022-6666 9807; Delhi,
011-4670 6550 ●V
Miele Delhi, 011- Victorinox Watches
4690 0000 Mumbai, Swiss Gallery,
022-2352 0903; Delhi, 011-
●P 4150 1080; Bengaluru,
Panerai Mumbai, Zimsons, 080-2206 7925
022-2288 5052; Delhi,
Johnson Watch Co.,
011-3231 5645;
Bengaluru, Ethos
Westminster, 080-4163
6912
Paul Smith Mumbai,
Breguet, the innovator.
The Marine 5827 chronograph
Having become a member of the Board of Longitude in Paris in 1814,
Abraham-Louis Breguet was appointed Horologer to the French Royal
Navy by Louis XVIII the following year. This prestigious title, embodying
exceptional scientific competence, is now perpetuated through the Marine
collection and the Marine 5827 chronograph, which features a central
chronograph minutes and seconds. History is still being written...

C h e n n a i: The Helvetic a 044 28464095/9 6 K ol kata: Ex clusiv e Lines 033 22820626 M umbai : Time Av enue 022 26515757/5858
N e w D e l h i : J o h n s o n W a t c h C o , C o n n a u g h t P l a c e 011 41513 110 / 41513121 – J o h n s o n W a t c h C o , S o u t h E x t n 011 2 4 6 4 2 2 9 9 / 416 4 6 7 6 6
B R E G U E T I N D I A N E W D E L H I + 9 1 11 4 6 0 9 2 9 0 7 – W W W. B R E G U E T. C O M