Alia's New Life

Her career may be in the fast lane, but like any other 20-something today, Alia Bhatt chases happiness in more than one place. Right now, Sandipan Dalal finds, shes decorating her new (pet-friendly) home, going on detox retreats with her family, focusing on her fitness with steely resolve and staying open to love.

- Sandipan Dalal, Photographs By Rohan Shrestha

Last year you told Femina you didn’t know how to manage your finances. But this year you bought yourself a home and an Audi Q7. Would you say you have successfully crossed over to adulthood?

Yes, but sometimes I do feel a bit like a child with a lot of money, and my mum (Soni Razdan) continues to handle my finances. Today, I understand that doing up my home is a big responsibility and it’s nothing like doing up my doll’s house. I’m always thinking about the space that is in the process of getting done, and when I’m buying furniture, I’m already getting worried about guests dropping something on the couch. I must tell you that buying my own home is a practical decision because I’ve been living out of boxes, with stuff lying under the bed and over the wardrobe in my current bedroom in my mum’s house. And then I have my work related meetings, which means entertaining visitors at times when my family might not want them around. Mum felt that I should have my own space and that idea got me excited because I could have my own closet, dressing area and meeting room. And I ended up buying an apartment just two buildings away, inside the same gated community (in Juhu, suburban Mumbai) where I grew up. So it’s going to be very convenient and I even convinced my sister (Shaheen) to move in with me (smiles).

Tell us about your new home.