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Down to earth - that's an actor's house for you!
The house of film star Ramesh Arvind is spotlessly clean and full of warmth and
not a fortress. |
 RAMESH ARVIND is a different kind of a star — intelligent, meticulous, and hardworking. He puts his heart and soul in whatever he does, big or small. His house seems to add to his character.
I went to his house expecting a high gate and a high compound with a security guard keeping watch. I expected two or more dogs to guard the house but I was amazed when I opened the gate and went in. There was no guard or dog to stop me.
The house has a hi-tech security system though and the inmates can know who is standing at the front door. Strangers can be asked to identify themselves and those in the household press a remote control to open the door if they want to let them in.
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Reflects character
Ramesh believes that the house one lives in reflects the character of the owner and he was very particular that his house will not have a high gate and compound virtually screening everything from public view.
Six years ago, when Ramesh bought the 40'x60' site with a small constructed house, people said that he had made a mistake of buying a site right opposite Aurobindo School in Banashankari II Stage as the noise from the school will be a nuisance. But Ramesh loves children and he bought the site happily and built the house to suit the needs of his family.
He feels that he is in the midst of the youthful energy of school children though it is a little noisy during the opening and closing hours of the school. Both his daughter, Niharika (13), and son, Arjun (8), study in that school.
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Welcome sight
A canopy with Mangalore tiles and standing on traditional Thirthahalli-type pillars welcomes you at the entrance of the house. The exterior has stones fitted in an attractive style. The house has a small lawn on the left front.
As we enter the house, we see a small sitout used by Ramesh's personal assistant. His work area leads to a big cozy drawing room that exudes warmth. It houses a comfortable light-coloured sofa with a big centre table.
Ramesh's daughter calls it an international square table by placing a car-cum-clock from Chicago, Big Ben clock miniature from England, a figurine with folded hands from Bangkok and a symbolic mother and child figurine from Africa on the four corners.
Ramesh showers praises on his wife, Archana, for being finicky about cleanliness and for keeping everything in its place. She has maintained the house spick and span with a lot of love and careful collection of artefacts and plants and every item shows her artistic bent of mind. The house is a blend of tradition and modernity.
The drawing room houses a TV set, a DVD and a music system. A glass partition encased in wood separates the drawing room from the dining room. The kitchen window, which opens to the drawing room, is also made of designer glass which is attractive.
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The dining
Dining room leads to wash area where vessels are washed and clothes are hung after washing which is protected by grill on all the sides.
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Make-up room
The drawing room leads to a small make-up room used by Ramesh. The area below the staircase is a library. The staircase is in the drawing room leading to two bedrooms and an open family room on the first floor.
The master bedroom is a huge 20'x20' with two distinct wardrobes done as per the individual tastes of Ramesh and Archana. The dressing table has built-in lights and mirrors. Every room in the house has an attached bathroom.
The children share a room that has an attached bathroom with bathtub and other accessories in pink. Ramesh says that the colour scheme has to change now and the Goofy has to change to Hrithik Roshan and Shah Rukh Khan as the daughter is growing up. |
Pyramid dome
The open family room has a pyramid dome supported by wood and everything in that area has the shape of a triangle, like the clock and the wood strips supporting the pyramid. There is a bar counter which is used when guests come.
The flooring of the entire house excepting the family room is of marble. The family room has red vitrified tiles to remind one of the traditional red oxide floor which matches with the wood colour. Egyptian paintings adorn the wall and Egyptian figurines adorn the showcase.
The guest room is on the second floor. It has a computer and a tread mill. The second floor leads to a terrace housing a lot of pots. The Rameshs want to create a terrace garden and the plan for it is ready and will be executed shortly. The walls have terracotta fixed on them.
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Plants galore
One finds indoor plants everywhere in the house and they are inviting and healthy. Every item in the house, be it a furniture or an artefact or a plant, is hand picked with care. The whole house has a classic touch with no pomp and show.
The Rameshs were very clear as to what they wanted before building the house and the architect of the house is Harish of Harish Associates.
There is no garage but two cars can be comfortably parked in the open space of the house on the right side.
The name of the house is `Vandana' which means `thanks' to everyone who made it possible and also to remember Archana's sister by that name who is no more.
A visit to Ramesh's house will linger for long.
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