Actor Pankaj Tripathi opens the doorways to his vacation haven, lovingly named Roop Katha, and takes us on a tour of his house. Set towards the luxurious, village-like allure of the outskirts of Mumbai, his house is much less a Bollywood mansion and extra a meditative retreat.
“Ji ji, swagat hai. Aaiye, aapko pilaayenge sattu,” Tripathi says with a heat smile, welcoming the crew of Mashable into his vacation house, which he clarifies is a “naya purana sa” area—new but stuffed with old-world essence.
The actor’s love for the forest and wildlife is clear from the souvenirs dotting the interiors. Pointing to at least one such piece, he shares, “Yeh apna Kaziranga ka hai... jo North East mein jungle hai na… DFO hain jo mujhe present kiye the—yeh bhi, aur yeh elephant bhi.”
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However what really mesmerises is the craftsmanship of the eating desk. “Yeh Mysore ka artwork hai, ji… paint nahin, lakdi hai. Lakdi ko kaat ke usmein aur lakdi daali gayi hai… Rosewood hai, ismein kathal bhi hoga.”
From Mysore’s carved wooden to handspun khadi from Shivamogga, the place his mentor Prasanna ji runs a sustainable textile initiative, the whole lot within the house tells a narrative.
As he guides the digicam by means of his kitchen, he beams, “Yahaan maza aata hai… yahaan se pakodi banta hai, aur idhar baith ke khidki se serve kiya jaata hai. Mujhe khaana banaana bahut pasand hai.” Exterior, his wood-fired chulha awaits evenings of litti chokha, home made rotis: “Lakdi ke chulhe ka alag hello sukh hai.”
“Major fridge ka paani nahin peeta hoon. Major matke ka hello peeta hoon… yahaan chidiya aati hai bahut saari.” He has even counted them, lovingly monitoring the sparrows, and says, “Major unke liye khaana bhi laga rakha hai.”
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“Mera… meri interest hai na thoda—fundamental chidiya dekhta hoon. Khada hokar 10–15 minute paudhe dekhta hoon,” he added.
The title Roop Katha, that means “fairy story,” was instructed by a buddy of his spouse. “Meri patni ki dost ki maa ne yeh naam diya tha… toh tab se Roop Kotha ki jagah Roop Katha humne kar diya.”
From handwoven gamchhas to rustic picket beams, Roop Katha appears to be Pankaj’s tribute to simplicity, a pause from movie star, and a love letter to rural India and its artwork.
