CELEBRITY BITES | ON A PLATTER
CELEBRITY BITES | ON A PLATTER
Ashmit Patel
He’s fit and at it, back on the big screen with his latest, Sector Balakot: A War Economy. Ashmit Patel talks movies, food, travel, love of animals and his side gig as a DJ across clubs in India and abroad
Text & Photographs: Farzana Contractor
Location: Nara Thai, Mumbai
So a big red meat lover has turned vegetarian?
Yes, for a few good reasons. Health and environment. My own and that of the world.
Yes, and we believe you are a huge animal person?
That I am, and don’t know why I did not do this earlier. But when it dawned on me that we kill little kids and calves, force feed ducks and what not, I had to do it.
Is the switch very serious? Hard and fast?
Unfortunately no. But I will get there. My travel schedule, especially when off the beaten track, does not allow me my vegetarianism! Then I am forced to eat whatever is available.
Any other drawbacks?
Well, with the lack of protein, it is difficult to put on muscle. But I do make up with lentils, seeds, nuts, dahi, paneer and so on.
Difficulty must be on film sets, when on location shoots?
Yes, exactly. But luckily my maa offers me the luxury of her cook, Subhash. He travels with me often and looks after my dietary needs. I do have a delicate stomach. It’s hereditary.
Talking of which your dad, Amit Patel is one of the biggest foodies around…
Oh yes, that he is. In fact my entire family is. Only difference is when dad wakes up, his first question is what is on the menu today! While eating breakfast, he will be discussing dinner!
You are a well-travelled person, did that have an impact on your culinary lifestyle?
Majorly, Paris and London are the two cities Amisha, my sis, and I were exposed to as children. Paris especially, where my uncle lives, married as it were, to a French woman, and a great cook! She spoiled us silly. You name it, we ate it. Steaks were my delight! I even tasted and relished escargot there, when I was just a child.
If I were to ask you your favourite food, it would be…?
Dal, chawal, a sabzi or two. And dahi, a must. I can eat it everyday. And in fact, do!
Restaurants?
I go out, but it’s not de rigueur. I love Thai food, I like this one, Nara Thai and absolutely love the Thai Pavilion. I still have to go check out Ananda Solomon’s Thai Naam. Food is why Thailand beckons and we go there often. My dad’s influence.
Have you ever cooked?
Yup, while I was inside the house of Big Boss! Dolly Bindra taught me. Mutton, which I did not eat and dal, which I subsequently cooked at home during the lockdown. But cooking Indian food is rather complicated. All those spices and tadkas and marination, peeling and chopping… I am okay at rustling up stuff from the fridge. Besides, Subhash is always around. He is a whiz, picks up recipes from YouTube, too. He worked with our cook of four decades, Leelabai, a gem, who passed away.
Which is your favourite Indian destination?
Goa! I can say that without any hesitation. I love the food there, the people, the small lodgings tucked away here and there. I prefer South Goa.
Coming to your films, Sector Balakot is about to release…
Yes, it’s a good one, with a strong social message, that war is so futile, as is terroism and the economic devastation in its wake, which is so crippling.
Our favourite film of yours has always been Banaras.
It’s also close to my heart. It appealed to my intellect. The songs were amazing.
Talking of music, we learn you have been making forays in that world, music production and what not.
Yes, my company is called Ashram Collective. Baby steps now, but with big plans. Right now we are doing a remix with Rang Dalo, from Banaras.
Music is your creative outlet then?
So happened that after Jai Ho, with Salmanbhai in 2014, while I was waiting for some good movies to come my way, my creative outlet felt strangled, so I started to DJ, do gigs, selectively. I enjoyed it so much, it became an alternative career!
You don’t say!
Ya, it’s fun. Started with a Canadian friend who played the djembe. He fused this African instrument, live, while I turned discs. Turned out to be a huge success.
Where do you DJ?
All over, wherever, whoever can afford me. Not that often in Bombay, but mainly in good clubs all over India, on weekends. Just got back from Siliguri, will you believe it? Super club there called Error! Then took a connecting flight via Bangalore to Goa for another gig. I am beat! I need to sleep...
