THE MAKERS

A nightclub surviving for a decade in Calcutta is a big deal. Director Nitin Kohli on how Shisha made it to 10 at 22 Camac Street.

Reinvention. When we first opened Shisha, we thought we’d probably have to shut it down after three-four years because that’s the life span of a nightclub; it’s not like a restaurant that you hand down generations. Interestingly, Shisha reinvented itself every three years on its own!

Belief in customers. When Shisha went upstairs, we realised Calcutta didn’t have that kind of a crowd that would fill 15,000sq ft of party space. With business happening only on a Friday/Saturday night, we were still up for two years. People told us to move downstairs. And we listened. Had we said this (the upstairs) is a huge investment, we can’t shut it down, Shisha would have closed long back. Right now, small is safe.

Consistent prices. Shisha became a place people started to visit not once but twice or thrice a week. So when we increased prices in the second year, we got a lot of negative feedback. Within three months, we came back to our original prices and for a good four years, stuck to the same rates. Today, even 10 years down the line, we have good schemes that won’t hurt the pocket.

A strong gate policy. Yes, we’ve had some really tough days, had calls from you-know-who and there have been Sunday mornings where I’ve actually gone to people’s houses, folded my hands and said, ‘The reason why this happened last night is this, this, this.’ That’s something we have stuck by no matter what. It’s okay even if Shisha is empty; even if there are five people inside, they should feel comfortable.

The team. They get the freedom to do it their way. We’ve never interfered. Which is why even people who have left us still call up and say, ‘Hi sir, how are you doing?’ That’s the relationship we try and build.

THE MILESTONES

2003: Calcutta’s first hookah bar is launched

2004: Introduces concept of platinum members — strictly by invitation

2005: The peak of nightlife in Calcutta with a 4am deadline. Shisha also holds its first New Year’s Eve party Midnight in Morocco at Nalban

2006: Shisha opens in Singapore

2007: Holds Le Souk — Calcutta’s “first night market”

2008: Awarded Best Restaurant Manager by Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI)

2009: Shisha moves to the sixth floor as Shisha Reincarnated — over 10,000sq ft of party space

2010: The first t2 birthday party is held in Shisha

2011: International artiste acts like DJ Juicy M, Sophie and

Andy Moore

2012: Shisha moves back to its original fifth floor spot

2013: Celebrates 10 years;opens island bar

2014: A Wine Theatre will replace the booths in Shisha Reincarnated. Expect a bouquet of quality wines and food pairings

What does Shisha mean to you, the party-goer? Tell t2@abp.in