Durga Chulani

She personifies every old-world value. A woman as beautiful inside as outside. Grace, charm, genteel living marks her very being. No wonder she lives as easily at 91!

Text & Photographs: Farzana Contractor

Location: Residence of Durga Chulani

You are a diva in Bombay, a rockstar, a grande dame. How do you think this happened?

No… you are pulling my leg. You have to be careful, you know. The leg belongs to a 91-year-old woman! I am no grande dame, just someone who loves life and everything it offers.

Right, and I can see your sense of humour is totally intact!

To be able to laugh at yourself and generally be happy is what keeps you young. I am always smiling.

And forgiving and moving forward.

Yes, absolutely. To forgive and to forget, keeps your heart clean and peaceful. The only way forward is to live for today, love yourself and forgive everyone and everything. Try and stay as detached as possible.

Words of wisdom, how did you get to this stage?

Look I not only married very young, at 16, but I was married for 49 years to the most wonderful man called Lachu Hari Ram Chulani who was god to me. There is nothing he did not do for me. Right from loving me deeply, encouraging me to grow, fulfilling every need. With him I travelled the world, kept beautiful homes in many cities… I was steeped in unimaginable luxuries. Dressing up well, wearing beautiful jewellery has always been important to me. I thank God for a life full of love, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren; contentment and gratitude have got me to this stage.

Wow, that’s wonderful. I believe by the time you were 20 you already had three children and then after 16 years, your fourth kid popped out! Who we know as Anju Taraporewala. Where in the world was all this happening?

Oh, Anju is my Puttu Jaan. Well, I was born in Hyderabad, in undivided India, went to Tolaram High School there and studied until class IV. No English, nothing. I witnessed the Partition and was sent away to Bombay from there about a year before all the trouble began. After I was married we lived in Lagos, where Lachu did very well, pioneering many industries, creating for himself, name, fame and wealth. Those were the best days of my life. Young, newly married, babies, a lovely husband. A good social life, meeting ambassadors of every country in the world, singing, dancing…

And then it was Hong Kong…

Yes, living in Hong Kong was also good. A lot of partying. A lot more friends.

And a metallic gold Rolls Royce in your home garage!

That is one memory which will never fade. I merely told my husband it would be nice to have a Rolls. And a few months later, the doorbell rang and a French chauffeur was standing there holding out the keys. Asking for Mrs Choolanee. It was so funny. I was very happy but disappointed that the Rolls did not have a bar in it!

You have been through a lot in these 91 years of your life, what stands out?

The fact that apart from the Partition I also experienced WWII. But that I took all of it in my stride. My mother brought us up, all three sisters like boys. And that helped. On the exterior we looked and behaved tough even if on the inside we felt vulnerable and had our doubts and fair share of fears and inhibitions.

You are a friends’ person, you value friendships, you are a social bird, too…

Oh yes, friendship is life itself. I see goodness in everyone. I love meeting new people. Even now I am curious about people. I am out every night except Mondays and Thursdays, when I stay at home, eat vegetarian food, fast, be more spiritual than on other days. It’s a discipline I follow, a routine that helps me channel my inner energies.

What about a physical exercise regime? What’s your day like?

I wake up at 7.45 every morning. Stretch, walk around the house, do some pilates, yoga. I then pray at my home temple. Have a cup of tea, some nuts and fruit. All this until 12 noon. After that I shower and have a glass of lassi. By 1.30 I am dressed and rushing out to play Rummy and Bridge at Radio Club! I return late afternoon, rest a bit and then walk up and down the stairs, one floor. Twice. Keeps me fit and my joints in good shape!

Sounds like a fun life… to sign off, what are your favorite foods?

Caviar. Oysters. Escargot. Even merely saying these words to you makes me feel so young.

Finally, let me guess, your favourite drink is champagne?

Always.