A den of my own

Male of the species has been possessive about his cave since his early wandering days. And a spill-over is still quite in evidence. Today perhaps the cave has been replaced by lavishly-decorated cosy corners in urban apartments, but the basic need is the same: a den of his own to unwind. Some man-caves exude attitude, while others are soulful to a fault. To each his own.

“A male-only space of concrete or a plot of land is a great place to grow your kind of trees, fruits and flowers without barging into the female domain. You may dangle a ‘Do Not Disturb’ board outside to convey the message clear and loud, warning trespassers! “ says Palash Sen, popular musician and front-man of Euphoria music-band. But the thorough gentleman and family-man that he is, Sen generously adds an extension to his ‘me’ time with ‘our’ pastime.

“With my hectic schedule creeping into my free time, I guess every single moment spent with the near and dear ones is priceless. In absence of that opportunity, I usually love to be surrounded by my old pals or indulge in nostalgia with an acoustic guitar. After all, music gave me the identity I am known for,” confesses the artiste.

Multifaceted Shantanu Moitra composes music, cooks and goes on treks too to be on his own. Armed with a funny bone and a witty sense of humour, the adventure-freak enjoys his ‘alone’ time inside his car when in town. Not only is it his favourite mode of conveyance but a trusted alter-ego as well. “My Audi car with its Q5 model has been a constant source of energy and enthusiasm for my creativity. It has remained a close companion along a considerable part of my journey. Its unique features creates an ambience suitable for my concentration,” believes the tunesmith with hits like Parineeta, PK, etc. under his belt.

Fashion designer Nimish Shah’s private den has a boyish charm. Designed by his brother, the penthouse has a soothing interior décor. Embellished wooden panels, a large LED TV, a beautiful kitchenette with mini-bar,  a study with a cute cupboard and other bric-a-brac in the room. “I am basically a lounge lizard who wants to work from his comfort zone and relax at the same time. It peps me up to deliver the best shot,” explains the couturier. Nicely furnished with curvaceous ottoman couches and shapely benches apart from a large coffee-table, carpets with graphic prints and black & white photographs strewn across the massive painted walls, the space evokes a quirky sense of funky as well as the traditional.

For reclusive Bollywood singer-scorer-songwriter Mithoon Sharma, his music-room is his sanctuary in serenity. Done up according to his devotional streak, his recording-studio attached with a song-writing suite is his own realm. “I have a place to pen down my lyrics alongwith a piano to practice the notations. It’s here that I find my ‘true self’ and my creative calling,” he reflects. “A musical environment is infectious with its purity. It effectively cleanses your heart,” opines the soft-spoken pianist.

Not much of a social butterfly, the Tum Hi Ho hit-maker prefers to spend time with a dedicated team of musicians or with the movie directors he is presently working with. His pious bent of mind prompts him to begin his day with morning prayers as he believes “art is not only a result of man’s efforts but also a blessing from the Almighty above.”

Sought-after bestselling author and columnist Chetan Bhagat says that the restroom is his pet site to mull over ideas and issues for his books and commentaries. “Silence works best for me and the loo is one place where you can detach yourself from even domestic disturbances,” he says frankly.

Model-cum-actor Abhinav Shukla employs his electronic engineering background to create a work-station in a little nook of his house with lights, battery packs and small chargers. “It’s a do-it-yourself niche for me where I prepare electrical circuits and put all my academic knowledge to use. It’s my favourite hobby,” he confides. “Another cubbyhole is meant for hitting a punching bag to sweat it out and blow off steam to induce a cathartic effect,” Shukla adds.

Television actor and host Karan Tacker and presenter of the reality show The Voice India, chooses his bedroom to reinvigorate himself. “It has to be my bed kicking off with the morning breakfast followed by catching up on quality cinema as am a quite a filmi person and a couple of my favourite sitcoms too,” chips in the 29-year old. Not ruling out the male bonhomie from his roster, Tacker too ‘bromances’ and bonds well with his mates over a tipple and good music. “But the best is when I snuggle up under a blanket in my comfy clothes. Honestly, my room is the finest spot to spend my time. Physically and mentally I have to feel at peace to recharge the exhausted batteries and get ready for a busy grind ahead which this room provides,” he says.   

So now you know why a man jealously guards his den.