‘Rekha is my neighbour': Inside Zoya Akhtar's art-filled, sea-facing Mumbai home
'I grew up on the sea. It's a big part of my life,' Zoya Akhtar confesses at the start of her home tour. True to her words, her Mumbai home has sweeping views of the sea and a warm palette of brown, white, and ochre yellow.
'I think Farhan and I both were instilled with a big sense of history,' she said in the tour for Asian Paints' Where The Heart Is, referencing her brother and fellow filmmaker. 'At the same time, we were just allowed to explore the world.'
Her home, which once belonged to her parents in the 1970s, has seen everything—from poetry readings and film parties to everyday madness. 'All the rooms, the walls resonate. It's seen some crazy times.'
The house's aesthetic reflects Zoya's eclectic sensibility. 'It's got old things mixed with new things,' she notes, having picked up objects and art from her travels. In her words, 'It's my style. But the soul of the house—it's elder.'
Her living room, bathed in natural light, is grounded by neutral walls and energised with pops of colour through textiles and art. 'My walls are all white because I like colour coming in with different elements,' she explains. 'If I want, I can change this room overnight.' A favourite feature? A pair of 1950s aviator chairs made of metal, leather and wood. 'They've got a bit of a bounce when you're on them. They break my room up… funks it up a bit.'
While one room is all about hosting, others are about quietude. 'This couch is my second home,' she laughs, referring to her cosy den filled with DVDs ('I will not get rid of them!') and an enormous tree trunk-turned-table that anchors the space. 'This is the room where a lot of the writing happens… where a lot of the hanky happens… where the watching happens.'
Zoya is unapologetically attached to her books and films. 'I don't care about clothes really… but if you take my books and you don't return them, you're not going to be invited to the next dinner party.'
Her study overflows with cookbooks, photography anthologies, and well-thumbed novels. 'I'm not crazy… I will not learn something, but I do like having them around.' A quote that tells you everything you need to know about her priorities: 'I don't want to lose my books and I don't want to lose my films.'
Upstairs, her bedroom faces the sea—her 'sanity in the city.' She uses it only for sleep, calling it her 'sleep sanctum.' A glowing globe sits by the bed, echoing her childhood fascination. 'I always feel like I can travel the world without leaving my room. It gives you perspective… you're just a speck, a dot.'
And then there's the backyard—a rare green escape in Mumbai's concrete jungle. 'I thank my parents every day for this,' she says, crediting her mother for the lush greenery. 'It's nice to have a little patch of grass in the city.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fashion Value Chain
3 hours ago
- Fashion Value Chain
Asian Paints and St+art India Foundation Mark World Caring Day with ‘Project Udaan'
In a heartfelt celebration of World Caring Day, Asian Paints and the St+art India Foundation launches Project Udaan at Arpan Charitable Trust in Vadodara-an institution that supports and educates children with special needs. As the latest chapter under their St+art Care initiative, the project reimagines the school environment for neurodivergent children with conditions like autism, cerebral palsy, and Down syndrome, through thoughtful use of colour, texture, and material. With interactive, sensory-friendly zones, Project Udaan creates a space that feels safe, engaging, and joyful, honouring the different ways children see, feel, and connect with the world around them. Asian Paints St+art India – Project Udaan, Arpan Charitable Trust interiors Born out of a shared vision between Asian Paints and the St+art India Foundation, St+art Care is a long-term initiative dedicated to making public institutions more inclusive, welcoming, and emotionally responsive through the power of art and design. Project Udaan is the third intervention under this initiative, following a vibrant transformation of a children's hospital in Noida and Project Sparsh at a school for the visually impaired in Rajasthan. Each project reflects a deeper purpose-not just to beautify spaces, but to create impact, spark connection, and start conversations around care, inclusion and empathy. Project Udaan draws inspiration from the butterfly, a symbol of transformation, while also echoing this year's World Caring Day theme, 'Celebrating Every Journey.' At Arpan, the school's play area has been reimagined to bring this vision to life. With Asian Paints' carefully curated textures, colours, and interactive surfaces, a once ordinary space has been transformed into a vibrant environment that both soothes and engages the senses. A soaring butterfly mural on the school's faade now stands as a symbol of hope and possibility, a gentle reminder of the beauty of growth and the limitless potential within every neurodiverse child. Developed through a co-creation process with students, artists, and designers, Project Udaan was led by artists Amrit Khurana and Anikesa Dhing. Drawing from her lived experience with autism, Khurana designed tactile, predictable elements that promote comfort and expression. Dhing complemented this with textured contrasts to encourage calm interaction. A hands-on workshop at Arpan, facilitated by Siddhanth Shah of Access For ALL, gave children the chance to explore textures, tools and colours, ensuring their voices directly shaped the final design. Asian Paints' expertise in material and colour innovation brought the vision to life with Royale Play textures, matte pastel emulsions, and tactile Nilaya fabrics and wallpapers. These elements create an engaging, multi-sensory environment that stimulates exploration while offering grounding. The matte finishes reduce glare for visual ease, while sensory rugs, pompom-textured surfaces, and cocoon-like structures cater to diverse sensory needs. Speaking about the initiative, Amit Syngle, MD & CEO, Asian Paints said, 'At Asian Paints, we believe spaces should do more than exist-they should evolve with their users. Project Udaan under St+art Care reimagines how thoughtful design can create an inclusive environment, where walls invite interaction, and colour provides clarity and comfort. By integrating textures that respond to touch and materials that support sensory needs, we've built a space that adapts to children, rather than the other way around. While we continuously reinvent ourselves to create beautiful homes for our consumers, we extend the same passion and empathy to create beautiful and safe spaces for all, with our partners at St+art India.' Arjun Bahl, Co-founder, St+art India Foundation, added, 'With St+art Care, we extend our vision of making spaces more open, accessible and engaging. Project Udaan transforms art from a decorative element to an interactive experience, creating familiarity and comfort for neurodivergent children. This initiative is about rethinking how creative interventions can transform everyday spaces into something more intuitive and inclusive. At its heart, Udaan embodies ArtForAll, where design is a language that speaks to everyone, regardless of how they see or experience the world.' Project Udaan – A space for neurodivergent individuals by Asian Paints and St+art India Witness the unique Project Udaan by Asian Paints and St+art India in this YouTube video: About Asian Paints Limited Since its founding in 1942, Asian Paints has become India's leading and Asia's second-largest paint company, with a consolidated turnover of Rs. 33,797 crores (Rs. 338 billion). It continues to uplift spaces, transcend the boundaries of colour and design, creating a positive impact on the lives of customers. The organization operates in 14 countries and has 26 paint manufacturing facilities globally, servicing consumers in over 60 countries. Asian Paints has always been a leader in the paint industry, innovating and introducing new concepts in India like Colour Ideas, Beautiful Homes Painting Service, Colour Next, and Asian Paints Beautiful Homes Stores. Asian Paints manufactures a wide range of paints and coatings for Decorative and Industrial use and also offers specialized painting and interior decor solutions. The decorative business portfolio also includes the SmartCare range for waterproofing, WoodTech products for wood finishes, and the Adhesives range for all surfaces. Asian Paints also offers a wide range of Home Dcor products and is one of the leading players in the integrated decor space in India, offering Modular Kitchens and wardrobes, Bath Fittings and Sanitaryware, Decorative Lightings, uPVC windows and doors, Wall coverings, Furnitures, Furnishings, Rugs, etc. About St+art India Since 2014, St+art India Foundation has been working across the country to reimagine public spaces through art, making creativity more accessible and inclusive. In a country where art is often confined to galleries and a select audience, St+art fosters new ways of experiencing art-bringing it into the everyday lives of people and bridging socio-cultural divides. Through art districts, festivals, and public interventions, St+art has transformed urban landscapes across 25+ cities, creating meaningful engagements between communities, artists, institutions, and local governments. Over the last decade, the foundation has facilitated 500+ artist collaborations, producing over 600 murals and installations in India's major cities. These projects have not only revitalized cityscapes but have also provided platforms for cultural exchange, dialogue, and collective expression. With seven art districts and 25+ festivals to its name, St+art continues to champion the idea of ArtForAll, ensuring that art is not just seen but experienced, interacted with, and shared.
Scroll.in
3 hours ago
- Scroll.in
‘In Transit' trailer: Docuseries looks at what it means to be transgender in India
Streaming The four-part series, directed by Ayesha Sood and produced by Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti, will be out on Prime Video on June 13.
NDTV
21 hours ago
- NDTV
Dil Dhadakne Do: Zoya Akhtar, Farhan Akhtar, Anil Kapoor's Shout Out To The Film As It Completes A Decade
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. Farhan Akhtar commemorated the 10th anniversary of "Dil Dhadakne Do" on social media. Director Zoya Akhtar reflected on the film's lasting impact and thanked the cast and crew. "Dil Dhadakne Do" explores a family's dynamics during a 10-day cruise for a wedding anniversary. Mumbai: Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti's Dil Dhadakne Do had released in theatres on June 5, 2015. Farhan Akhtar celebrated the 10th anniversary of his film today by sharing cherished moments from the journey. He captioned the post, "Celebrating 10 years of laughter, love, and family ties. #10YearsOf DilDhadakneDo." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Farhan Akhtar (@faroutakhtar) Marking a decade since the movie's release, director Zoya Akhtar took to social media to reflect on the laughter, love, and unforgettable memories that continue to resonate with fans and the cast alike. Calling it the best crew, Zoya wrote, " Dil Dhadakne Do. Big love to the best crew and the most amazing cast. And a big thank you to that life changing experience. #10Yearsof DilDhadakneDo." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Zoya Akhtar (@zoieakhtar) The family comedy-drama film Dil Dhadakne Do, directed by Zoya Akhtar, starred Anil Kapoor, Shefali Shah, Priyanka Chopra, Ranveer Singh, Anushka Sharma, and Farhan Akhtar, with a voice-over narration by Aamir Khan. In the 2015 comedy-drama, Farhan Akhtar played the role of Sunny Gill, the love interest of Ayesha, which was portrayed by Priyanka Chopra. The film revolves around a dysfunctional family that invites their extended relatives and friends on a 10-day cruise to celebrate their parents' 30th wedding anniversary, leading to moments of conflict and eventual reconciliation. Anil Kapoor, who portrayed Kamal Mehra, also took to Instagram to mark the film's milestone. In his post, he described the movie as one that only grows younger, making our hearts race louder with every viewing. Sharing a string of pictures from the shoot of the film, the Animal actor wrote, 'Can't believe it's been 10 years of Dil Dhadakne Do — a film that only gets younger while making our hearts beat louder every time. #10YearsOf DilDhadakneDo.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by anilskapoor (@anilskapoor) Not many are aware that Zoya Akhtar originally envisioned the film as a family drama focusing on the bond between a brother and sister. Her aim was to portray a genuine sibling relationship, steering away from the exaggerated and unrealistic depictions often seen in Bollywood. She later collaborated with her close friend and frequent partner Reema Kagti to develop the script, while Farhan Akhtar crafted the dialogues.
