IN CONVERSATION WITH NOZER WADIA

Nozer Wadia believes that this interview is unnecessary (but we did it anyway)

- SHRITI DAS

My little gripe with Nozer was simple: the world was missing out because one man was reluctant to share his work and experience.

I wanted access, but he had chosen absence – not out of arrogance, but intention. Six months after a 7 AM meeting with Nozer, and a trip to his home in Alibag, I realised that what I saw as withholding, he saw as integrity. He is a man dedicated to his craft, unapologetic about his methods, and exacting in his beliefs.

At 72, Nozer remains a paradox: fiercely private and wholly uninterested in legacy-building. For him, media profiles, like this one, are unnecessary. And yet we are here, at 7 AM in his office as he asks Mrudul Pathak Kundu, Editor, ELLE DECOR India, “So, why do you want to write about me?”

Mrudul replies with a question, “Why not, Nozer?”

“Do what you want.”

“This is what I want.”

“Fine.”

“Fine.”

They both look at me, and I take a deep breath, and prepare for what is coming our way. Nozer is a tough man – a stickler for perfection, punctuality and precision. His no-nonsense demeanour is what makes him intimidating and endearing in equal parts. Larger than life, incredibly witty and armed with a delightfully inappropriate sense of humour, you’ll be laughing with him, and also be slightly scandalised at moments. Six months later, I discovered his streak of spontaneous madness, which only makes us fall in love with him all over again. Cue: Nozer jumping into his bathtub in Alibag, daring us to click. Mrudul did not hesitate. “Baji, let’s shoot,” she smiled at our photographer Bajirao Pawar.