What is your routine before and after office hours on a working day? How do you manage to spare time for your family and yourself on weekdays?
I like an early start. My morning routine includes a brisk walk and some meditation before settling down with a cup of my favorite tea and newspapers. I also like to get into office early for some ‘thinking’ time before the ‘action’ begins. Evenings tend to be shorter with uncertain work hours - which can often include a business event. I prefer an early dinner with family, before catching up with pending reading or relaxing with a recommended documentary or television series.
What is your routine on weekends?
Typical weekends include about half-a-day spent in reading, completing pending admin or household work, as well as a movie or meal outside (ideally both!) with family and friends. I try and include some form of more rigorous exercise. I also love the luxury of an afternoon nap on most weekends!
How many breaks do you take in a year?
We try and take one long break and 2-3 short breaks - mostly extended weekends.
Where do you prefer to go in India and why? What is your ideal vacation like?
We love the outdoors and like experiencing a variety of cultures and cuisines. Historic cities as well as locales renowned for their natural beauty appeal to us, and I love the mountains for their serenity and inspiration. Weather (and fresh air) can play such an important role in a vacation, so we choose accordingly. We recently went on a short trip to Udaipur (in mid-December) and a weekend trip to Amritsar (in October) – both highly recommended for the soul as well as the palate!
What are your major interests and passions?
My interests continue to evolve. My reading interests have journeyed through classics to comics; thrillers to short stories to biographies. Similarly, I can enjoy an animation movie as much as an ‘arty’ classic. My music interests span western rock, world and soulful Bollywood. So you can find me absorbed reading The Alchemist and listening to Kishore da on one day, and flipping an Asterix, giggling to Tom & Jerry or lost listening to Pink Floyd on another. I rely on reviews and recommendations before starting a book or a movie - I feel the time ‘invested’ should be worth it!
Which is your favorite cuisine and the dish that you enjoy the most?
I love exploring new cuisines and greatly enjoy the unique variety of flavours every region has honed over the ages and offers us today. Within Indian cuisine, Awadhi, South Indian and Coastal are favourites, while a tangy plate of street-side ‘Chat’ is always welcome! I enjoy experimenting with local food during my travel, and find the ability of new-age chefs to combine flavours quite fascinating.
Which is your favorite drink or cocktail?
The humble and ubiquitous ‘nimbu-paani’ and fresh coconut-water are favourites for their ability to immediately rejuvenate. Once in a while and largely at home, I enjoy a glass of red wine or a single malt for its rich complexity of flavours.
Tell us about any cause/NGO that is close to your heart and your involvement in it
There are two causes I have been involved with: the first is education for the underprivileged. Better education for a wider section of our youth is an acute need and has enormous social benefit. This is now an organization wide objective for us. Additionally, I have been involved with cancer-care for children, since early detection, treatment and support can go a long-way in saving precious lives.
