THE NEED FOR SPEED VARUN JAIN

THE DELHI-BASED SUPERCAR AFICIONADO LOVES NOTHING MORE THAN RACING HIS CARS ON THE TRACK. THE CEO OF INDIA’S FIRST LUXURY VODKA BRAND WITH LOTS UP HIS SLEEVE, VARUN JAIN GIVES HELLO! AN EXCLUSIVE PEEK INTO HIS LUXURIOUS GARAGE AND TAKES US THROUGH HIS COLLECTION

- PRIYA KUMARI RANA

We take an elevator to reach the air-conditioned basement of his Delhi home, a raw space with an industrial finish that can hold up to eight cars. Among them, a few supercars. It also doubles up as a man-cave for Varun Jain, racing car fanatic and founder of Smoke Lab, a premium vodka label. This luxurious garage includes lounge seating, the ubiquitous large-screen television, a music system and a sign that reads, “Drink Responsibly.”

“The cars are the actual props here,” says the 39-year-old, waving at his white Ferrari 488 Pista Spider and yellow Lamborghini Aventador. “It’s a place for my friends, fellow petrolheads, to meet and chill. These are the people with whom I go on drives [or those who are a part of his Cannonball Club, which organises high-speed jinks around the Buddh International Circuit in Noida].”

With a mini-collection of four racing cars — two Ferraris, a Porsche and a Lamborghini, Jain is clear he’s not a car collector per se.

“I only collect for the track. I’m not an old-school car guy who’s into vintage machines. The only classic car I like is the Ferrari F40. My high is to go crazy at the Buddh circuit. I like speed [he hits speeds of up to 280 km/hour in his 2020 Ferrari 488 Pista Spider], but only on the track.”

His other Ferrari is the 458 Speciale, acquired in 2015. Then there’s his Lamborghini, purchased in 2011. It’s a piece of art, a showpiece, that needs to be experienced to be savoured.