As one of the most versatile young actors in India with a National award to show for it, Rajkumar Rao leads a pretty busy life. After a hectic day of film shoots, promotions and hosting popular award shows, he can’t wait to rush back home. In this episode of ‘Asian Paints Where The Heart Is’ season 4, Rajkumar Rao tells us what attracted him to his new house and takes us on an exclusive tour of his home and down memory lane.
Having grown up in Gurgaon, Rajkumar has been living his dream in the city of dreams for the past eleven years. And after living in four different houses, he was instantly attracted to and connected to the energy this house exuded. He says there was tremendous hard work needed to earn this beautiful house which was made with a lot of love and patience. He cherishes coming home at the end of the day and feeling completely at peace as the house brings a sense of calm in the otherwise frenzied lifestyle of an actor.
As a self-confessed homebody, the gorgeous split-level house, is where Rajkumar entertains guests, with parties and work meetings hosted on the upper level and the lower level dedicated to a private living space. The sitting area is cozy and he likes hanging out here alone with a cup of coffee or a book and soak in the panoramic view of the city from the spacious balcony that the sitting area opens to. Another favourite spot is the study alcove with a wall-high bookshelf and a comfortable swing where he likes to stretch out, listen to music, read books, scripts, watch movies and most importantly play with his beloved dog Gaga, an adorable Yorkshire terrier.
As with his work, detailing is something Rajkumar loves to get into even when it comes to his home. And he didn’t shy away from experimenting with colours, textures and designs. The contrast is also striking with dark blue walls for his sitting room and pale earthy grey for his dining area. From soft cotton cushions to classic leather sofas and bold abstract art, every décor item and furniture was handpicked and have special stories behind them. One such story is of how he acquired the beautiful life-size Buddha statue that sits serenely behind him in the balcony surrounded by green. He was strolling down an obscure street in Thailand, when he came across the mosaic Buddha sculpture sitting at a shop window display and immediately felt a pull towards him. The same sense of calm overcame him and he knew he must bring him back home.
Growing up in a joint family with sixteen people, Rajkumar has always lived in homes surrounded by a lot of people. This was also the case when he first moved to Mumbai and was sharing a small flat with two of his friends, having no room and sleeping on the floor. But he would always look back fondly as they have very special career milestones attached to it, like signing his first film and receiving his first National award. The words ‘Never forget why you started’ is printed artfully on a door and is a constant reminder for the reason Rajkumar became an actor; the genuine love for his craft. The array of trophies won over the years have been displayed on an open shelf and is a tangible testament to his dedication to his work and the love and respect he has garnered because of it.
Step inside the stunning home of the talented actor in the sixth episode of Asian Paints Where The Heart Is Season 4.