My personal style is: It is about dressing up. For one can never be too overdressed or overeducated as famously said by playwright Oscar Wilde.
My personal style icon: There are many. Perhaps because my own style is schizophrenic as I dress differently for my different moods.
An item in my wardrobe that means a lot to me: A Dhakai Jamdani khadi muslin dhoti. It wears like a cloud and makes me feel like I am on cloud nine.
Manish Saksena wearing the Dhakai Jamdani khadi muslin dhoti
My favourite souvenir from my travels is: A metal panther made of iron and weighing 10 kilograms. I lugged it back in my hand baggage from a flea market in Amsterdam. I had to have it, it spoke to me.
The metal panther
The best gift I have received: An all-paid, two-day vacation that forced me to take a break from my back-breaking travels.
The best gift I have given: It has to be a piece of jewellery created by me just for the glint of the gems shown in the eyes of the receiver.
The last thing I bought: Is a Varanasi wooden toy, called Babbar Sher, that sits roaringly securing my books.
The wooden toy
The last book I read: Is 'Before the Coffee Gets Cold', by Toshikazu Kawaguchi in just one breathless sitting.
The last film I loved: It was 'Good Luck to you Leo Grande', for its playfulness, eroticism and skepticism, all culminating in acts that define us humans.
My Spotify list would include these songs: Less heard songs. 'Hasne ki chah ne kitna mujhe' from Avishkar; and 'Jesus to A Child' by George Michael.
My beauty/wellness routine is: Water and whisky. Cheers.
My favourite holiday destination: Has to be to the Maldives. It gives meaning to the song 'Jab taare zameen par chalte hain, akash zameen ho jata hai. Us raat nahin phir ghar jaata, woh chand wahin so jata hai'.
I love to collect: Books and textiles. The books adorn my walls as textiles adorn me.
My fridge always has: Cream cheese and shirmaal.
Minimalism or maximalism: Alternately, as it is fun to surprise oneself. Different aspects in my life adhere to either of these philosophies.
My home looks like: A maximalist's dream. I love to juxtapose and clutter with an order that is very very carefully careless.
Saksena's home
My favourite mix of traditional and contemporary is: In food. In spite of being a purist, give me all the tingling unexpected flavours in food to devour.
My best ideas come when: I am up early and lazing in bed as it is too early to start the day.
The best way to spend Rs 20,000 is: At a spa. No two ways about this.
My idea of happiness is: Freedom. For that opens opportunities unhindered.
