House That! Chef Sanjeev Kapoor reveals why he chose his home in Juhu

Celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor tells Anita Raheja-Heena Agarwal that he chose his home in Juhu because he needed open spaces for landscaping.

Where does celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor, the adventurous entrepreneur and television personality, the mastermind behind the popular food show, Khana Khazana, live? What does his kitchen look like? Hear it from the soft-spoken chef himself…

“Initially when I was working with Centaur, I was staying at Andheri East, but once I decided to shift and have my own property, like anyone else, I had to go through the entire process of house hunting. After seeing some 100 odd properties, things finally fell into place and I moved to Juhu in 1999. At that time, it seemed like the ideal choice because my wife’s parents stayed here and my daughters too, studied at a school in the vicinity. So, the proximity was one major reason for me to stay in Juhu. A decision I am glad about even today. We shifted to Juhu in 1999 and to the current house we live in, in 2005.”

Green haven

It is a duplex, about 1500 sq. feet on each level. Buying a house in Mumbai is no easy task. Thankfully, I was lucky enough to meet good people and agents who helped us to get some really good deals and hence, I could finally zero in on one place which was spacious enough and fitted my budget too.

I chose this place because I need open spaces so that I can have my choice of landscaping done in it. Also, not to forget, another major aspect which I kept in mind while buying my property was that it should be off the main road so that I am away from the noisy roads. This one fit the bill perfectly. It is close to the airport which helps, because I do travel a lot. Even though it is right in the middle of a bustling Mumbai suburb, it is quaint, serene and there is so much greenery around – it really helps me to stay connected with nature. A home should be a place where you unwind.

Personal reflection

My home reflects my personality. I like subtlety. Hence, my home décor is simple yet classy. All the walls are in colours that are soothing and not loud. The furniture is minimalistic yet comfortable and completely functional. When I am at home I want to relax and unwind, not just bodily but also mentally. The décor of my house has been designed by a very dear friend, Ajit Shilpi. He did a beautiful job and it turned out just the way I had imagined it to.

We did have a couple of meetings and discussions about the overall look and feel of the house. We wanted to keep a balance between the design and aesthetic elements in the house. It was very easy to communicate exactly what I wanted, because I had a keen interest in architecture before I decided to become a chef. We got most of the furniture made and designed based on our requirements.

Fave haunt

There is a tie for the favourite part of my house – between the den and the terrace. I have had some great times, just sitting with the entire family and watching a film or just chatting. My terrace is the best place for me to enjoy a cup of chai in solitude – especially on a rainy day!

While I do love art, I am not big on collecting pieces. However, I do have a huge book shelf – filled with some prized classics, which are no less than art! I like collecting paintings – I have a few at home and few at my office. Besides I get a lot of souvenirs from the places I travel to.

Entertaining hub

The star attraction for my foodie friends is the open kitchen. My wife and I have a great time hosting our friends at home – be it for casual get-togethers or festivals, birthday and celebrations. We do most of the hosting in the den and living room. The open kitchen and dining area adjoining the living room is where the entire buzz is, when friends are over. It is the star attraction for my foodie friends!

I feel very connected with nature in my house. Not just my terrace but even the area around my house is full of greenery and open spaces – quite a rarity in a place like Mumbai. It reminds me every day, of the importance of protecting our environment. I am not possessive about my house, but I like my personal space. If I were to describe my house in three adjectives I would say, ‘comfortable, functional and positive’.