I love to read during my me-time, which is mainly afternoons, when everyone at home is taking a nap. I usually finish my workout and sit with a book on the couch and time just flies! I read a lot of classics — from Tagore to Swami Vivekananda to Bankimchandra (Chattopadhyay). Reading has been a passion ever since I was a kid. My parents read a lot too and as a child I was always encouraged to read. We have shelves stashed with books at home, though I haven’t read them all. I intend to.

One thing you didn’t know about koel...

That she has a great interest in colours and loves brandishing the brush! “I am not a trained painter but, I guess, I have inherited it from Ma, who inherited it from her father. My Dadubhai was an engineer, but painting was his passion. I’m not as good as Ma, though. As a child I would sketch faces. I took up psychology in college and came to know that you can tell a lot from faces.”

Twinkle toes...

I am a trained Odissi dancer. When I was just five, Ma took me to my guru, Sudha Dutta. It’s good that I learned dancing because it really helps me while shooting song sequences. I can pick up any step easily. Dance rejuvenates me. I unwind by practising dance at home. The mornings that I am not shooting, I tie the ghungroo and practise some steps. Also, dance is the best way to stay fit. So many people ask me why I didn’t take up dance as a profession. But for me dance is something that relaxes me... I didn’t want to make it my bread and butter.

I love my backyard garden...

I hardly get time for gardening. Ma, of course, spends a lot of time with the plants. But I love to gaze at the green lawn and the Krishnachura standing tall. When the Krishnachura blossoms, my garden looks beautiful. Whenever I get the time, I do seeding. Watching the seeds grow into plants is the best feeling ever! Sometimes, I also water the plants. In one corner of the garden there’s a small fountain with a Shiva statue. A pair of snakes live there. Ma feeds them milk every day!

Music soothes me...

Music is my best friend. I usually listen to soft, romantic tracks. I also like Indian classical music. Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and Ravi Shankar are my favourite musicians. I also listen to a lot of Tagore tracks at home... and Girija Devi, of course. I love the romantic and sentimental hits of Kishore Kumar too. I like listening to Sir Elton John. His Candle In The Wind is my favourite! Music kind of relaxes me, especially when I’m travelling. I have uploaded a lot of tracks on my iPhone.