Emraan Hashmi's four bedroom-hall-kitchen apartment in Mumbai's Pali Hill has a Zen-like feel to it. “My house reflects me — it's simple and clutter free,” says the actor, who lives there with his wife and child, parents and grandmom. “I love Pali Hill because it is one of the few places in Mumbai which is still quiet and green.
But slowly, the greenery here too is dwindling.”
Emraan was was born in this house and has been staying here for the past 29 years. So, there are a lot of fond memories of school and college.
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“Five of my childhood friends live in my building and a nearby bungalow. Behind our building, there used to be a huge courtyard that looked like a jungle. We would play cricket, football and badminton.”
The house has a lot of woodwork in it. Says Emraan: “I wanted the décor of my house to be in dark wood and white. I wanted a minimalist feel. My bedroom also sports the same décor and has a lovely balcony. I wanted to keep the colour white and break it with a painting or an artefact.”
Emraan's home used to have a lot of antique furniture, but four years ago, the interiors were redone; the wall unit and cabinets in the hall were removed.
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The décor was created by his father, interior designer Bhupi, and Emraan. “We picked up lampshades from Colaba and Juhu. I got a couple of things from abroad as well. There is a yellow ostrich egg from South Africa. I also have an aquarium in the hall,” says the actor.
“The balcony outside my bedroom and hall are my favourite corners. The view from my bedroom is lush and green. There is a very old bungalow visible from my balcony. As kids, we used to think it was a haunted house. When my friends come, we chill in the balcony.”
Cleanliness rules
“We are obsessive about cleanliness at home. The constant refrain I heard as a kid was, ‘Don't jump on the sofa or put your feet on the sofa'. My dad has inculcated an obsession for cleanliness in me. This trait irritates my friends.”
Emraan is not into vaastu, but likes wind chimes. “It sounds nice in the balcony.”
He loves gadgets too; he has two gaming consoles — PS 3 and X BOX. Emraan loves the house so much that his dream is to buy another flat in the same building. “I am so attached to this place. I can't even imagine going out of Bandra, and I am not the bungalow kind. I'd rather buy a penthouse with a sea view.”
bollywood news service