Of Horses, Fitness And...Watches

His unbridled passion for the best things in life has helped him reinvent himself repeatedly. Arun Marc D’Silva, Director and Co-Founder of Retail Interface — which represents watch brands like Frederique Constant and Alpina — knows how to bank on the exhilarative power of keeping time by his side

- Ashwin Rajagopalan

“If it's not fun to do, it’s not worth doing”. Arun D’Silva’s simple life philosophy has helped him navigate life’s ups and downs. A journey that has kept taking him back to one of the world’s prettiest corners. Arun is the Director and Co-Founder of Retail Interface (that represents premier brands like Frederique Constant and Alpina), a company that has changed the way Indian consumers buy bespoke Swiss watches. The road to Geneva wasn’t always smooth, especially at the turn of the millennium when he found himself at the crossroads.

"I love the challenge of Eventing. It’s the horseriding equivalent of a triathlon"

We all need an anchor. Arun probably found his in sports. Back as a college kid in Punjab, Arun excelled in almost every sport he dabbled in. He was a national-level swimmer, squash player and footballer. Sports might have taken a backseat as he graduated from XLRI (Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur) in the 1980s, but it has always been a part of his identity and his daily routine. It’s why he still makes time to ride almost every single day — he has three horses that he works with. “I love the challenge of Eventing. It’s the horse-riding equivalent of a triathlon.” Arun’s horses in Bengaluru are his constant companions, he never lets his passion for show-jumping and dressage fade, even on a busy work day.

Riding can be a physically demanding sport, it’s why his tri-weekly gym routines help and so does his passion for cycling. “I’m one of the only individuals who has completed the Tour of the Nilgiris on five occasions.” Arun’s pride is justified. 800km in 7 days over tough terrain can test most 20-somethings. “There’s nothing that can’t be done.”