Shah Rukh Khan’s vanity van has a little gym in it; have designed two vans for Deepika Padukone, says Vinita Chaitanya: ‘Things cost in millions’

She added that Deepika was among the first actors to take a keen interest in designing her vanity van. “She really got it and wanted it a certain way. For me, it was great fun—except that I had to go to the middle of nowhere to work on the van with the technicians. But it was fascinating, especially learning how actors actually use their vans.”

During her research, Vinita discovered the nuances behind vanity van requirements. “There’s a large van and a smaller van—the smaller one is for closer commutes, while the larger one is used on bigger studio sets,” she explained. As part of this research, she also stepped inside Shah Rukh Khan’s vanity van while he was filming with Deepika Padukone.

“What was interesting was that while researching other vans, I walked into Shah Rukh Khan’s van for the first time. They were shooting a film together,” she recalled.

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Comparing the two, Vinita noted that Deepika had very specific requirements, while Shah Rukh’s van was designed for comfort and functionality. “His van was fabulous—it even had a little gym inside. He’s such a cool guy,” she said.

While Vinita did not reveal her fees, she admitted that she does not work with fixed budgets. Recalling a light-hearted incident, she said, “I don’t know how many millions things cost—I’m terrible with numbers. Even today in Dubai, I saw something while shopping with a client and told them, ‘Don’t ask me the price. You check if you can afford it, and if you can, that’s what I want you to buy.’”

Explaining her approach to budgeting, Vinita added, “I don’t budget—the homeowner does. Everyone comes with a number they’re comfortable with, and if I feel I can deliver within that, I take up the project. Sometimes budgets aren’t realistic, honestly, and I feel I may not be able to do my best. I still try.”

She further shared that while she has worked with accessible brands like Ikea in the past, most of her current clients are less price-conscious. “People who come to me are either collectors or own homes ranging between 15,000 to 30,000 square feet on average. I only take up six projects at a time.”