Beyond the red carpets and flashing lights, Indian celebrities retreat to sanctuaries designed by the country's (and beyond) most talented interior designers and architects. In this exclusive peek behind the velvet ropes, we'll meet the creative minds who transform dreams into a spectacular reality. Read on to uncover the design secrets that make India's popular stars shine even brighter at home.
Gauri Khan, Gauri Khan Designs
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Gauri Khan Designs was founded in 2013 in Mumbai. A leading name in the interior design industry, Gauri Khan has turned heads for her focus of crafting spaces boasting a luxurious and elegant design aesthetic. Khan has spearheaded the interior design of numerous celebrity homes, including Ananya Panday’s new abode and Karan Johar’s home renovation.
“Design has always piqued my interest,” expresses the designer, “I have a background in graphic design and have worked with charcoal and oil painting, which has helped me refine my skills. But it wasn't until I was designing my house, Mannat, that I realised design is my calling. Striking the perfect balance between adding aesthetics and factoring in the clients' brief, while transforming spaces is Gauri Khan Designs' major USP. Additionally, we possess the ability to elevate any space into an imaginative, thoughtful and compelling environment that feels bespoke, and is a reflection of its people.”
Also read: 6 famous homes and stores designed by AD100 designer Gauri Khan
Sarah Sham, Essajees Atelier
Mumbai-based Sarah Sham is the founder of Essajees Atelier, which is renowned for crafting timeless homes that showcase the clients’ personality. In Sarah’s 15 years of work experience, she has crafted the interiors of several high-profile spaces such as Ishan Khatter’s home.
“My personal approach to work, which naturally influences all of Essajees Atelier’s endeavours, revolves around consistently aiming to provide top-notch décor solutions. This is achieved through close collaboration with our clients and by offering extensive customisation to fulfil their specific requirements. In terms of Essajees Atelier’s signature style, I think the one thing that we prioritise over all else is to maintain a sense of elegance and timelessness in every home we design. We take great pains to create spaces that go beyond passing design trends, ensuring longevity beyond the transient styles that may fade within a few years,” mentions Sarah Sham, interior designer and founder of Essajees Atelier.
reD Architects
reD Architects is a design and architecture studio that has been instrumental in creating the interiors of a number of celebrity homes such as that of Sonakshi Sinha. At the heart of the ethos at reD Architects lies a philosophy that amalgamates contextual, vernacular, and contemporary elements. The Mumbai-based studio’s design language resonates with the surroundings, embracing local flavours while infusing modern sensibilities. Each project, be it residential or commercial unfolds as a narrative crafted from the fabric of its context.
“We view design as a collaborative symphony. Our team seamlessly collaborates with artists, sculptors, engineers, and various design experts. This convergence of diverse perspectives infuses each project with nuanced insights, enriching the design process and ensuring comprehensive solutions that cater to the diverse perceptions of our clients and users. Purpose-driven design isn’t just a concept for us, it’s a philosophy ingrained in every blueprint, every structure, and every interaction. We strive to achieve our clients’ goals through the process of research,” mention Rajiv Parekh, Ekta Parekh and Mithali Raut, founders of reD Architects.
Quirk Studio
Quirk Studio is a boutique interior design firm based out of Mumbai. Founded in 2013 by Disha Bhavsar and Shivani Ajmera, the studio finds its roots in the confluence of the design ideologies of the duo. Striving towards an ethos that shapes people-centric spaces and environments, the design firm has conceptualised the interiors of Aditya Seal and Anushka Ranjan Seal’s Mumbai home. Inspired and influenced by nature, Quirk Studio strives to establish a relationship with the surroundings, weaving a narrative befitting the physical context.
“Our design aesthetic sustains functionality while being classic in its appearance. Every project observes a distinct process of brainstorming that drives the design ideation, which is different for each project we undertake. Our approach is client-centric, process driven to learn and unlearn with every commission, resulting in an ever-growing and evolving practice,” remark Disha Bhavsar and Shivani Ajmera, founders of Quirk Studio.
Rupin Suchak
Interior designer Rupin Suchak designed actor Aparshakti Khurana's Mumbai abode. Suchak is well-known for crafting unorthodox spaces that are dramatic, exhibit the resident’s personality, and push the boundaries of conventional interior design.
“I like to get really involved in everything I do, and give my hundred percent to any project that I am doing. I also have a penchant for exploring madness in design. I do not see things they stereotypically should be seen. For me, design is about having fun and being confident, I don’t want to get bored with something I create. I never want to feel a lack of ownership for what I have made. Hence, right from receiving the brief, for whatever kind of spaces I might be working with, I like to start thinking a little off-beat. I follow this path, hoping the result excites me. For me, each subsequent project has to be better than the other one, especially in terms of the design value and process. I am growing in my design sensibilities with time and I believe that should reflect in every project I do, and of course, it should keep becoming more ‘mad’, in every way possible!” states interior designer, Rupin Suchak.
Phillippe Fouché, SAOTA
Virat Kohli's Alibaug home by Avās Living, created by globally acclaimed architects at SAOTA led by Phillippe Fouché, epitomises a biophilic design ethos, seamlessly blending modernity with nature-inspired elements. Nestled amidst the serene landscape of Alibaug, the overall design and style of the home exudes a modern yet contemporary vibe, characterised by natural light flowing in every corner, clean lines, sleek furnishings, and a calming colour palette.
Shabnam Gupta, The Orange Lane
Over the last few decades, interior designer Shabnam Gupta has had several Indian celebrities for clients, including Aditya Chopra, Rajkumar Rao, Kangana Ranaut, Alia Bhatt and Parineeti Chopra. With a penchant for all things Indian, think bright colours, textures, and intricate aesthetics, Gupta started The Orange Lane, her design solution firm in 2003 that specialises in crafting exclusive home designs and furniture.
Shabnam’s design aesthetic is maximalist and eclectic, with a focus on incorporating traditional Indian artworks and natural elements. On how to design homes, Gupta advises homeowners to “be free to experiment! Try to mix different cultures instead of sticking to a certain theme. If you do this, you will always end up giving a more diverse flavour to your home.”
Kavita Singh, Kavita Singh Interiors
A true doyenne of design, AD100 designer Kavita Singh began her career three decades ago, when she founded her namesake brand of home decor accents in 1977. What began as a humble brand soon grew into a thriving practice—Singh’s tasteful eye was hard to miss, which was informed, over many years, by her deep interest in contemporary and decorative arts.
She collaborated with her niece, Sonam Kapoor, to bring the maximalist vision of Kapoor's Mumbai home to life. “Besides my nani, my aunt Kavita Singh has been the main voice within these walls, alongside my own,” says Kapoor. The pair threw themselves into transforming the contemporary blank canvas into, in Singh’s words, “the homage to Indian craftsmanship that my niece has been imagining for a long time”.
Apoorva Shroff, Lyth Design
Madhuri Dixit and Dr Shriram Madhav Nene’s sea-facing apartment in Mumbai was designed by Apoorva Shroff of Lyth Design to be a union between art and technology. A clear brief helped Shroff create a home that oozes with understated elegance and simplicity. The couple requested "a sanctuary that blends contemporary aesthetics with a minimalist undertone, emphasising straight lines, clean forms, and a sober palette’’. This also convinced Shroff to use a “neutral interior palette that complements the homeowners' vibrant personalities.’’
