“For me, travel means switching off!”

IN JAISALMER FOR THE SHOOT OF HIS UPCOMING FILM, BHOOT POLICE, ARJUN KAPOOR GETS CANDID IN A CONVERSATION WITH AINDRILA MITRA. HE SHARES WHY TRAVEL IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF HIS LIFE AND WHAT HIS IDEA OF THE PERFECT INTIMATE GETAWAY LOOKS LIKE.

What does travel mean to you?

[For me], growing up in a joint family, travel was more about spending time with family or friends. My summer holidays [were about] travelling outdoors with my father [Boney Kapoor]. I have done the entire [circuit] of Canada, including Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto, and Calgary. I fell in love with New York because my friends were studying there at the time. So, for me, travelling is [about making] memories.

If you had to pick a standout holiday in your life, which one would it be?

A cruise that we took to the Bahamas in 1991 or ’92. It was a world tour that my father had organised, and it was my first time to America. I’ll never forget that my father bought me a Swatch watch, and it was when I discovered canned drinks! We stopped at Orlando and went to Disneyland. Then we stayed in New York at an apartment that overlooked the skyline; we ate hot dogs and went to the

Statue of Liberty. At that point, we lived in Lokhandwala [in Mumbai] in a joint-family bungalow. I was six or seven years old, and in retrospect, [it’s special also] because that was one of the last few holidays that my mother and father took together.

Are there any destinations within India that keep calling you back?

I was in Goa for New Year. And I felt that the quality of food there has really evolved, and there’s an interesting mix of people. I was in Dharamshala in November 2020 [for a film shoot]. The new Hyatt Regency Dharamshala Resort (hyatt.com) is an unbelievable property. Dharamshala is a different world—people from different cultures, the mountains, the food, the hospitality, and the warmth—and that [trip] was an eye-opener.

Do you perceive travel any differently in the wake of the pandemic?

I value it more because I know the sanity it brings to me when I am away. Travel for me also means switching off. If I am going to the Maldives, it’s not like I am looking forward to doing everything in the hotel. I would rather just be.

What kind of a traveller are you?

I am a lazy bum! Last year I lazed enough at home, so I am looking forward to going places where I can explore a bit. I want to go to Amani-Khas (aman.com) [in Rajasthan], and to see the Great Migration [in Masai Mara, Kenya].

What is your idea of the perfect intimate holiday?

Taking an apartment in London and living there for three weeks sounds like a great intimate holiday! I want to go to places like Cyprus versus say the Maldives. In Mexico, a property that’s not in the city also sounds like a good intimate vacation idea to me. I’ve not done LA in a long time. But again, I won’t be surprised if I decide to explore South Korea for an intimate holiday. It often boils down to the person you have for company. If you find that right person, you can enjoy an intimate holiday at even the most hectic place in the world.

Are there any hidden gems you’ve discovered on leisure or work trips?

I would say Oman. I went there on a holiday. The Six Senses Zighy Bay (sixsenses.com) was so cool! India too has some interesting places. I would recommend Dharamshala to everyone.