Made to order

How would you describe your style?
I’d say I take leaves out of different eras of history and give them a contemporary yet practical twist. My designs aren’t as ornate and are customised to suit Mumbai’s life.

Bobby says it all started when you first designed for your bungalow in Juhu.
I’d done a course in interior designing but left it at that as I was pregnant. A friend saw my work at our house and forced me to show at an exhibition. There’s been no looking back since. Now I have a workshop that keeps expanding every year as the demand rises. Many people wonder how someone with a background like mine manages it. But I love my workshop—it’s the place where I retreat,relax,ideate and pass on my vision to my team.

Does being a Deol help?
It does help create a buzz and gets more people to take an initial interest in my work but there’s no sustainability to that interest if your work isn’t good.

Would you be opening a store anytime soon?
I would love to but given my work schedule,I haven’t had the time to fit that in.

Is Bobby actively involved in your work?
He takes a keen interest in it,but isn’t involved in the day-to-day functioning. We both have similar aesthetic sense,so much so that often when we go shopping we’ll choose similar stuff. So there are times when Bobby has suggestions and I take those seriously.

How difficult is it to balance work and family?
Time management is key. I divide my day between my kids,workout and my work. In the evenings,Bobby and I like to spend our evenings with friends. We have a set of friends and we usually have them over every second day. It’s our way of unwinding.

What kind of cinema do you follow?
I’m not as much into cinema as Bobby is but I do watch films every now and then. I watch everything,from a Bond movie to a Dev.D.

Did you like Bobby’s look in Dostana?
Oh yes,that was very different but we all loved it. I wouldn’t mind seeing him in pastels and florals.

At one point you used to style Bobby’s outfits for his films. Do you still do that?
Not anymore. But I help him shop for his regular stuff. Actually,we both help each other shop.

Bobby recently said that he likes to work at his pace and can be laidback about work.
I support Bobby’s decisions and understand his need to set his own pace.I think not being aggressive is part of his charm.