Theatrics of cinema and colour at actor Vidya Malavade’s Mumbai home by Ishwar Rungta

“Steaming, warm masoor or prawn pulao and a generous serving of kokum curry has been my family’s Sunday lunch for a long time,” actor Vidya Malavade tells ELLE DECOR India as we slip into her new home in Mumbai on a weekend deluged with the ASMR-perfect sound of the typical Mumbai rains. A departure from the expected checklist of city apartments, Vidya’s home designed by Ishwar Rungta of his eponymous firm judiciously brings a bundle of inspirations together on a canvas, who collaborated with Richa Pandit of Design Diaries.

Cinema comes home

The paramount idea was to intersperse the actor’s routine of cinema and arts with the home’s calculated spatiality. A three-bedroom that also trickles into a balcony watching the city whizz by, the space carouses in classical maximalism with a touch bohemian. This quest of realised eclecticism led to corners that evoke nostalgia for a home lived-in for years yet distinctly new and modern. 

“We curated an urban oasis that not only reflects her personal aesthetic but also serves as a stylish backdrop for social gatherings and content creation, meeting the dual purpose of relaxation and professional shoots,” explains Ishwar.  The study room that doubles up as the actor’s yoga and recreation centre is layered with ornamental interiors that ground you in focus and fascination. “This intimate setting is conducive to casual conversations and script reading, maintaining a clutter-free environment for varied activities,” states Ishwar.

Colours and collectibles 

He adds, “Vidya wanted her love for vibrant colours and patterns to be seen throughout the house. She has her own collection of books, antiques and frames which are highlighted on the walls.” Stand-out visual references are peppered astutely that define the identity of the home and of the dwellers.

Vidya, who shares her life with her canine Mishki too, ensured to make the home as airy and open to the outdoors for a sense of constant breeziness. While the evident tropical motifs in the study-yoga room merge with a deep green wall, elsewhere plants are strewn together with traditional-esque furniture and soft colours in the living room. All of it adding a subtle allure day through night. “The yellow sofa, a vibrant pop of colour, assumes a central role, acting as the hero in this living space.

A traditional classic centre table, aesthetical vintage chairs, and cream-coloured floral curtains with Indian-inspired patterns create a tapestry of colours and patterns,” explains Ishwar. For Vidya, who ardently practises a spiritual and yogic way of life, the home wears a synonymous mood.

From the primary bedroom stamped with a statement wallpaper of Roman architecture and vintage mirrors to accent chairs and cabinets diligently reclaimed by the actor. Her favourite corner though? The heart of the living room — the joyous yellow sofa that often becomes the spot for her musings, readings and spending time in solitude and with family!    

Now read: ADND’s new studio in Mumbai scripts an experience rooted in history and materiality