My personal style is: I prefer something comfortable, monochrome and minimal. I can’t really handle colour or fitted clothes. My wife and mother call me 'be-rang', or colourless.
My personal style icon: It has to be Indira Gandhi. She broke stereotypes of how a female politician should dress.
An item in my wardrobe that means a lot to me: It is this old felt beige woollen shawl I got from my mother. I have it from my school days and it's the first thing I pull out every winter.
The woollen shawl that Gaurav Jai Gupta got from his mother
My favourite souvenir from my travels is: A 'Nakshi kantha' wall tapestry from a very popular craft store called Aarong in Dhaka. It hangs nicely in the gallery in my house.
The 'Nakshi kantha' wall tapestry
The best gift I have received: My father gifted me a professional Yamaha synthesiser when I was in Class XI. I played on it all the time and eventually formed a band at NIFT.
The best gift I have given: I once bought some really beautiful etched floral ceramic wall plates from an artist at the annual pottery mela at Anandgram in New Delhi. I got them framed and gifted to a friend.
A floral ceramic wall plate
The last thing I bought: A Comme de Garçons perfume called Black. I am always looking for good smokey or spicy perfumes. Fragrances and music take me back in time. They help me connect with people and places.
The last book I read: I have been reading 'Ramakrishna: As We Saw Him'. It is a collection of accounts and reminiscences of Sri Ramakrishna by his disciples, relatives, and acquaintances.
The last film I loved: It's a British series on HBO called 'Industry'. I binge watched all three seasons. It’s quite realistic and raw; it’s about young graduates working in finance at a high profile bank in London.
My Spotify list would include these songs: I love making playlists or mixtapes. My Spotify list is endless. Artists on loop are Krishna Das, Nathan Micay, and Brandt Brauer Frick, among others.
My beauty/wellness routine is: Honestly I don’t really have one. Though I love a good massage and sauna.
My favourite holiday destination: I am not the one to take a lot of holidays but I love going to Banaras, Nainital and Paris again and again.
I love to collect: Textiles, eyewear and perfumes: I find it very hard to find eyewear that excites me. Last time I found one was at a trade show in Hong Kong where the lady bartered a very cool pair of Kuboraum glasses for an Akaaro jacket .
Gupta's Kuboraum eyewear
My fridge always has: Ice cream. I love hot chocolate fudge from Nirula's. It’s on my speed dial.
Minimalism or maximalism: Definitely minimalism.
My home looks like: It's quite serene, minimal and clean, with basic furniture and essentials and lots of sunlight. Think light, minimal pastels and wood. There are a lot of contemporary woven textiles and plants.
My favourite mix of traditional and contemporary is: What we do at Akaaro. I think it’s an exciting mix of traditional and contemporary with an interplay of skill and execution.
Gupta's home
My best ideas come when: When I am pressed for time. I like working with deadlines and pressure.
The best way to spend Rs 20,000 is: Go to Dastkar Nature Bazaar (a craft bazaar) and indulge. We mostly buy a lot of natural oils, creams, some textiles, and lots of seasonal food items for the house.
My idea of happiness is: Playing with my one-year-old daughter Palini.
