‘Gives you a feeling you’re not in Bombay’: Inside Rajeev Khandelwal’s triplex home, complete with a terrace vegetable garden

“I’m very possessive about my little space,” Rajeev admits right off the bat.

As you enter the actor’s home, the first thing that strikes you is the space. “Most houses are very crowded in Mumbai. Here, we have a lot of space to ourselves,” he explains. Coming from a small town, he always craved room to breathe, and his home reflects that aspiration.

What was once a non-negotiable dream has become a tangible reality: “When we got hold of this property, we said okay, let’s not compromise on the space part. Let’s keep it big.”

And big it is, each of the three levels has its own personality, function, and memory.

In the sleek, open kitchen, complete with a fancy island sink, Rajeev shares a peek into his diet. Breakfast usually includes sourdough, olives, and eggs (“That’s basic, not fancy,” he insists), while lunch is predominantly Indian and often includes vegetables picked fresh from their terrace kitchen garden.

“It’ll be some sprouted dal or some vegetable from the little kitchen garden we have on the terrace.”

While he has left behind his early years of surviving on samosas and Bombay sandwiches, he admits that those street staples were once a mainstay.

Moving upstairs, the second floor offers what Rajeev calls the “important” space: the bedroom. This serene retreat is bathed in natural light and surrounded by greenery, a rare find in Mumbai.

“When you wake up, you hear birds chirping outside… it just gives you a feeling that you’re not in Bombay. This is something I always wanted,” the actor said.

A book-lined wall adds to the room’s personality. Once a prop for appearing “serious” during bachelor days, the collection now genuinely reflects his interest in literature. Even so, he jokes, “Let’s not talk about that wall, that’s a bit of narcissism,” pointing to his vanity wall that displays framed photos and medals.

Two medals take pride of place on that wall. One represents a deeply personal achievement: completing the Bombay Half Marathon in under two hours post-ACL surgery: “I wanted to prove to myself that I was fine. Not just finish the race, but finish it well.”

He clocked in at 1 hour and 52 minutes. Later that same year, he attempted the same feat in Ladakh but finished just over two hours, an accomplishment still worthy of applause.

Descending to the ground level feels like entering a different universe. There’s a full-blown lounge with a bar, reminiscent of a speakeasy. “This is the party area,” he grins.

And sitting handsomely in one corner? A grand piano. “It was always a dream to own a piano. But in Bombay, even if you can own one, you need the space. You’d have to sleep on it,” Rajeev joked,

Music has always been part of his life, and the piano stands as a symbol of aspirations fulfilled, both artistic and spatial.

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