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My personal style is: Unpredictably predictable, I’m a Cancerian, I dress for my ever-changing moods. One day I'm Barbara Eden from ‘I Dream of Genie’, next I'm Zendaya from ‘Dune 2’.
My personal style icon: Frankly, no one in particular. I get inspired by personal style but currently one does not get to see too much of that.
An item in my wardrobe that means a lot to me: I am a shoe girl. I love these big five-inch platform heels with black and white polka dot print and a neon pink and blue detail from my Radio Gaga collection. They spruce up every outfit, and the platform gives me the comfort to smile through endless social events.
Shubhika Sharma's favourite black and white polka dot print shoes from Radio Gaga
My favourite souvenir from my travels is: I love buying greeting cards — as cheesy as that sounds. I collect postcards and cards from all over the world to write notes and letters to my loved ones.
The best gift I have received: The gift of age. It is a gift that just keeps on giving.
The best gift I have given: I am a serial gift-giver so it’s hard to pick one, but books have been my favourite gifts to give. I have a knack for knowing exactly the book one needs to help them through a certain time in their life.
Books are Sharma's favourite gifts
The last thing I bought: Shiny, hot pink 2-kilo dumbells. Evidently, my New Year's resolution to get fitter is still waiting to press start.
The last book I read: ‘The Legend of the Goddess’: Invoking Sri Suktam’ by Om Swami. It traces our Vedic roots.
'The Legend of the Goddess’: Invoking Sri Suktam' by Om Swami
The last film I loved: The Emma Stone-starrer 'Poor Things'. It blew me away.
My Spotify list would include these songs: Anything from Madonna to Abida Parveen, my moods dictate every second of my life.
My beauty/ wellness routine is: Daily yoga and meditation. Soaked almonds, black raisins and black pepper on an empty stomach in the morning.
My favourite holiday destination: Places that are seeped in history. Egypt especially, the museums of Cairo and Alexandria have left an indelible mark on me.
A picture from Sharma's vacation album
I love to collect: Cats. Every family member/ friend of mine has been gifted a rescue cat by me, one that they never asked for but are loving parents to now. My office too is home to two rescue cats, Chuppa and Chuppi.
Sharma's rescue cats
My fridge always has: Bread and butter to be dipped in my evening chai.
Minimalism or maximalism: Maximalism always, always.
My home looks like: An eclectic mix of bird feeders, potted plants, paintings and all things that ground me to my roots. My favourite room in the house is one large bedroom converted into a meditation, yoga and reading room. No beds, only pets allowed.
Sharma at her home
My favourite mix of traditional and contemporary is: India. The more I've started travelling within India, the more it blows my mind. For example, Auroville in Pondicherry is my favourite experience of traditional and contemporary coming together to create newness, hope and progress.
My best ideas come when: I lock my phone away in a cupboard, switch on music and drift away into nothingness.
The best way to spend Rs 20,000 is: To buy my mum a sari.
My idea of happiness is: Chai, cats, chats with family and uninterrupted quiet time with my books.
