Eternal Temptations

Hanging out at the ‘Hangout’

She would like to call it the ‘Hangout’ and has a poster of Bob Marley welcoming you into it. Singer Shibani Kashyap’s residence is a mélange of musical symphonies, a true representation of an artist’s creative aspirations.

On take one, her house appears to be a colourful picture of knick-knacks. A more up, close and personal interaction however, brings out Kashyap’s essence in every corner of the house. She believes that she is hyper-energetic, a complete whacko, vivacious, spiritual and a positively warm person. And random corners in her house reflect the same facets. A soft-board with numerous photographs of hers, a twirling staircase in iron with the most bizarre selection of pieces, a green lounge chair in the shape of a hand, a terrace covered with greens and her bedroom, reflect these qualities respectively. For her, this house in Greater Kailash, in the middle of abundant greens, is a little playground, where she plays to her heart’s content. Not only is her house filled with soft toys, but also has little trinkets that she has made herself, beaded curtains et al.

However, her den is the real eye catcher. Various musical instruments, from a synthesizer to a harmonium, to a violin and multiple guitars, mark the identity of the room. A bookcase in the room spans across all eras of musical excellence. From videocassettes and cassettes to DVDs, the bookcase even has a book on the internationly acclaimed singer Sting. This is where Kashyap has composed a lot of her music, finding solace in the musical conjunctions that are present in the room.

What caught our attention in her house? A glass table supported on violin-shaped legs and an ashtray with a sprawled lady in wood. Kashyap believes that her house is an extension of her personality and her zealous ways. A gypsian wonderland, replete with Kazak carpets and Rajasthani wall hangings, her residence is zone of shuffling energy. Shaad Ali, the Director of Bunty aur Babli, told her that the character Babli was inspired by her house. In fact, Rani Mukherji spent time in Kashyap’s house to absorb the gypsian essence of the place…


Box:

Most expensive accessory: The green lounge chair worth Rs. 37,000
Least expensive accessory: A sarangi picked up from someone on the streets of Jaisalmer for Rs. 400
Has a kazak carpet, soft toys from everywhere, a doll from south Africa
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan composed music on her terrace