Inspired By India

- Huzan Tata

We walk through the majestic gates of The Leela Mumbai, enjoying its expansive beauty as we proceed towards the main hotel building. But nothing prepares us for what lies beyond — hidden away behind the hotel parking lot is the bungalow where the Nairs live, dark green creepers trailing down the sides of the building. An equine sculpture greets us just before we step through the large wooden doors while large porcelain vases guard the entrance. The winding staircase, where an intricately woven red velvet carpet regally adorns the wall, leads to the first floor. Waiting for us here, in a black skirt and houndstooth jacket, is Amruda Nair, Leela heiress and presently joint managing director and chief executive officer of the Qatar-based Aiana Hotels and Resorts LLC, that’s set to launch its first property in India in the next quarter.

“My mother and I share a passion for art and a lot of the paintings and sculptures you see around are from our travels. That’s one thing that we’ve always had in common. She pretends to listen to my opinion when picking out these things, but it’s pretty much all her!” explains Nair about the acquisition of the beautiful artefacts surrounding us. We’re sitting in the living room, and while Nair elegantly poses for our camera, I spend my time looking around the space, where hues of yellow, gold and cream abound. I spot paintings by stalwarts like Gieve Patel and Nayanaa Kanodia, several East-Asian works from Japan and China, and a modernist sculpture of Mahatma Gandhi. The piles of books neatly arranged on glass tables under a gorgeous chandelier — from tomes on Mughal architecture, Raja Ravi Varma and Anjolie Ela Menon, to titles on travel, Indian culture and old Bombay — reveal that the family takes their passion for art and culture quite seriously.