Wow! Meet The First Lady Of Bollywood, Gauri Khan

A ‘Savvy Woman’ has self-defined goals and views, and is unafraid to follow her dreams. My spirit, when I’m working towards something, remains undeterred… no matter how challenging the path towards achieving the target may be. This attitude is the reason why I identify myself as a ‘SAVVY Woman’.

- Andrea Costa Bir

MY CHILDHOOD & GROWING YEARS 

My father was a Major in the Indian Army and my mother, an inspiration in the way she handled the house and how she’d be the perfect hostess! I studied History in college and visiting various historical sites in India had a deep impact on me, making me value our rich heritage very deeply. You see some of this in my design today - like the side tables with the Konark Sun Temple motif. I’ve also studied art and love the creativity that’s so present across Indian art.

MEETING & MARRYING SHAH RUKH 

I was too young when I got married, and it all happened so fast – when we got married, there was no time to dream. Before we knew it, we had moved to Mumbai and I remember Azizji being kind enough to give us his home. At that point, we didn’t even have any furniture. In fact, for a year, all we had in that house were mattresses. I remember my mother visiting and saying, “Is this where you’ll sleep?! What about a bed?!” Well, at that time, even a bed was a luxury!

Over the years, we grew to decide what we would need and understand our preferences…

HOW DIFFICULT WAS IT TO LEAVE MY HOME IN DELHI AND MOVE INTO A NEW HOME AND A NEW CITY LIKE MUMBAI?!

Well, I think it’s easier to adapt when you’re young. As you grow older, you get more set in your ways and find it more challenging. We were very young, so it just happened! But to overcome my home sickness, I’d go to Delhi and mum would visit us here.

COMING INTO MY OWN DESIGN SPACE…