The Art of Packing, Mint, April 2018

Forbes Life, India, March 2016

Like Hassan, the shy and reticent masseur he played in his debut film 1947 Earth, Rahul Khanna is a man of few words. Sitting at a posh coffee shop in South Mumbai, where ForbesLife India meets him for a freewheeling chat, the VJ-turned-model-turned-actor takes his time to choose his words carefully. But when he speaks, a few sentences to each question, the articulate style icon turns heads with his clarity of thought, just like he does on screen, playing the suave Yousaf Rana in The Americans, an espionage series set in the Cold War era. 

Despite father Vinod Khanna being a Bollywood star, Rahul Khanna never grew up as the “star child”. His introverted nature is reflected in his aversion for all things flashy; instead his wardrobe is replete with pieces that are classic and “conservative”. “I want a long-term relationship with my wardrobe. I love the idea of savouring pieces by reusing them over and over rather than discarding them after just one or two outings,” says the 43-year-old.

While Khanna loves owning beautiful and stylish clothes, he says he dislikes the process of acquiring them. “In show business, so much time is spent on trying on clothes that when it comes to my personal wardrobe, the very thought of shopping exhausts me. So I try and do it as infrequently as possible.” he says. But once he finds something he likes, he tends to buy it in multiples, in case he can’t find it again.

Here’s his masterclass on the 10 must-haves in a man’s wardrobe:

Style Hacks

So, super blogger, Miss Malini, got some style hacks out of me!

GQ India, October 2015

I'm pro-bow and take a strong stance on self-tying!

Deccan Herald, India, October 2015

Grazia India, April 2015

THOU SHALT NOT DISSERVE PHONE PROTOCOL

In today’s modern times the cell phone has emerged not just as the seminal communication device, but also as a remarkably effective barometer of character. Everything one needs to know about the moral fibre of a person, one can learn by their public cell phone etiquette.

At this point in human evolution, one would think we all have enough awareness and common courtesy to understand the basic tenets of considerate cellphone usage. Unfortunately, there are far too many lost souls who have fallen prey to the sin of Pitiful Phone Protocol. There are those that don’t disable the clicks on their keyboard, purposely choose to have that annoying whistling alert tone, and even those that eschew headphones and, instead, play music on their phone’s speaker.

Yet, by far the worst perpetrators of this sin are the following...

1. THE TRAVEL TALKER
Native habitat: Airport lounges, security lines, shuttle buses, elevators and premium aircraft cabins.
How to identify them: The businessmen and executives who feel they’re so important, the world should know it. They’re the ones repeatedly being asked by harrowed stewardesses to disable their devices. Even though they will eventually and reluctantly turn off their phones, so indispensable are they, that barely has the landing gear made contact with the runway on arrival than they resume bellowing stock transactions, legal negotiations and marketing plans into their Bluetooth headsets with the same fervour one would plan a military coup.
Suggested penalty: Covered in banana oil and locked in the gorilla enclosure of a zoo with a particularly amorous primate.

2. THE GYM TALKER
Native Habitat: On the treadmills, ellipticals and stationary bikes of health clubs.
How to identify them: Usually the entitled wives of the Travel Talkers who, the minute they step on a cardio device have detailed gossip sessions with their friends, berate their domestic staff and complain about their husbands to their mothers loudly on their cell phones. They will glare at you defensively if you shush them and rebuke any attendant who dares to direct their attention to the large sign in front of them that says NO MOBILE PHONES ALLOWED. Perhaps they believe tongue wagging and jaw flapping counts as cardio? A rare treat is when they become so involved in their conversation that they miss a step, stumble and get bucked off the treadmill like a rider off a temperamental horse.
Suggested penalty: Locked into a laughing stock in a public square and pelted with the very rotten vegetables they were, earlier, chastising their cooks for bringing home from the market.

3. THE MOVIE TALKER
Indigenous habitat: Dark, quiet cinema halls.
How to identify them: The most heinous of cell phone offenders, and the reason I refuse to go to a public movie theatre. They are the ones who think nothing of taking and making calls, reading and sending texts and checking Facebook every few minutes throughout a film.
Suggested penance: Unfortunately, if one has reached this stage, there really is no hope for rehabilitation and, like with a rabid dog or a crippled racehorse, the kindest thing to do is to just put them down.

Trip Tips, GQ India, April 2014

1:30PM, Late Check-Out, Bali

How messy is too messy to leave your hotel room? Also, should one tip housekeeping?
Trashing hotel rooms went out with Led Zeppelin’s farewell tour in 1977. Keep in mind, hotels provide housekeeping, not disaster management. As a bit of an OCD neat freak, my problem is the opposite. I have, in fact, had to start messing my hotel rooms up a bit more because on more than one occasion, housekeeping have left without providing service, convinced that another crew had already been in. As for tipping, it’s nice to let them know they’re appreciated, especially if you’ve done something like clogged the toilet, spilled a glass of wine or requested an advance bed linen change after a wild afternoon of passion. Again, I tend to take it to the other extreme. If they leave me extra chocolates on my bedside, I leave a small cash tip on my pillow. If they lay out all my toiletries on a clean, white washcloth, I write them a cheque. If they organize my laundry in the wardrobe by colour, I pledge them a kidney should they ever need one.

People who cut queues and invade my personal space at the airport make me want to punch them. How do I put them in their place without making a scene?
I’m generally a non-violent person, but inconsiderate people bring out my inner Genghis Khan. I say punching is too lax. If someone cuts in front of you, it’s perfectly acceptable to behead them with your boarding pass and then hold up the decapitated head as a warning to anyone else with the same idea. If you’re more Mahatma than Mussolini, I suggest carrying a large backpack and also hanging a camera with a long telephoto lens around your neck to keep co-queuers at bay. If you’re heading to a beach resort, a large swimming tube around your waist would work well, too.

My Insider Guide to Mumbai, Condé Nast Traveller India

My favourite aspects of our city are the sea, architecture & food. It’s sometimes hard to see from within the tangle of indiscriminate over-development and lack of infrastructure but, surrounded by the mystical Arabian Sea, geographically, this is one spectacularly beautiful metropolis. Tune out the ugly concrete structures and focus, instead, on the stunning Victorian and art deco treasures that south Mumbai is home to. And, from street food to fine dining, Mumbai can satisfy the most fanatic foodie.

Culinary Counsel, GQ India, March 2014

I’ve never understood the big deal about sushi. It costs a bomb and never fills you up. What am I missing?
If chocolate is the crack of the gastronomic world, sushi is the smack: It’s just as addictive, and it will cost roughly the same to support either habit. The first time I was invited for a sushi meal, I politely sampled everything that was served, thanked my hosts and then promptly went around the corner and ordered a hamburger. I wish I’d never gone back and given it another try because, soon after, I found my mind wandering to thoughts of it – and before I knew it, sushi had me so inextricably enslaved, I was fielding calls from my accountant who, after seeing my credit card statements, wanted to clarify if I was just a patron of the local sushi joints or an investor.
My advice? Run as far in the opposite direction as you can. If friends suggest sushi for dinner, say you’re allergic; if it’s offered to you at a party, say it’s against your religion. Do whatever you can to resist its siren song. If not, you’re doomed to end up like me: a wasabi-addled chopstick jockey, desperately picking the last grains of vinegared rice off empty sushi platters for two – that you finished, singlehandedly.

To Groom It May Concern

Kiehl's Ultimate Man Body Scrub Soap
A manly, drill sergeant of a soap. Just lifting it works your biceps and its built-in scrub particles exfoliate you to within an inch of your life. "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the shower!" you can almost hear it taunting you.

Kiehl's Facial Fuel Sky Flyin’ Foaming Multi-Gel
Tingly, mentholy goodness in this genius 2-in-1 invention. It's a facial cleanser and a shave gel in one, which means packing one less product when I'm on the move.

Kiehl's Açaí Damage-Protecting Toning Mist
I'm not sure what this technically does and only just learned how to pronounce açaí correctly, but, holy spritz, is it refreshing! I use it as an aftershave, after a shower or just as a pick-me-up.

Tom's of Maine Simply White Toothpaste
Fresh and natural with a hint of bohemia.

Kiehl's Creative Cream Wax
A great hair product for someone like me who hates hair products. De-fluffs, gives a nice amount of control and, most importantly, doesn't smell like a pineapple daiquiri.

Lotus Herbals Safe Sun Sunblock Cream, Indian Summer Formula, SPF 30
A good case for not judging a book by its cover. It is light, effective and, true to its name, perfect for the Indian summer. I discovered this by accident while on holiday in Goa and its fresh, clean fragrance always takes me back there. I don’t wear sunscreen every day, but this one is ideal for a week at the beach/ day by the pool/ hike in the hills.

Retro British Airways Anya Hindmarch Dopp Kit
These used to be the British Airways first class amenity kits before they changed the design a few years ago. I absolutely love the screen printed vintage aviation photographs. I hoarded all mine from every flight and have been stockpiling extras from friends and family who are willing to part with theirs. I use them to hold my toiletries in my gym bag and also for packing computer cables and phone chargers.

Fogless Shower Mirror
Much as I hate watching pointless bloodshed, I find not looking in the mirror while shaving just makes it worse. My skin’s sensitive and prone to cuts, so I shave in the shower. The steam softens the beard, making it a less gruesome affair.

Art
For some reason, a lot of my favourite art ends up in my bathroom, including a couple of sketches M.F. Husain had given me, a watercolour done by my grandmother on her honeymoon in the 1940s and an antique wood carving.

Candle
After a Bond Girl in a tub, I think a candle adds the most atmosphere to a bathroom.

Suit Up!

My 5 Tips:

1. I rather enjoy time spent with my tailor. Like me, he's a man of few words but is my one stop source for news about important Bollywood happenings. Plus, he shares my views on how a suit should fit. Every few months, I consult with him to see if any parts of me have expanded or shrunk and if my suits need to be adjusted to accommodate that. I recommend anyone who owns suits do the same. Think of it as servicing your suits, much like you would service your car.
   
2. Have your suit professionally cleaned. If you're lucky, it'll be body glitter and lipstick stains that need to come off. If not, red wine and butter chicken. Either way, making sure your suit has visited your dry cleaner before taking it for a spin out on the town, is a good rule of thumb.
   
3. Stuff the body into the deep freeze, wipe off all fingerprints and book passage on a fishing trawler to Guadalajara. Wait, that belongs in a different set of tips...
   
4. Steam your suit if it needs a touch-up. Press your shirt, tie & pocket square. Polish your cufflinks & shoes. I like to lay everything out and take stock before moving onto step #5.
   
5. Assemble it all, give yourself a once over with a lint brush and if you see a nice flower on your way out the door, slip it into your lapel. Then, as Tony Soprano would say, "fuhgeddaboudit!" Go out & enjoy your evening.

(Via Miss Malini & Vogue.in)

Condé Nast Traveller, October 2011