John Abraham might be known for his acting chops or love for motorcycles. Who would’ve thought the actor has also built one of the most architecturally celebrated homes in India? Perched on the eighth floor of a Mumbai building, John’s sea-facing residence is a minimalist’s ode to simplicity.
As he says himself: “This is a very, very, very simple and a very basic house. And my philosophy is being basic and being simple, and show what you actually are,” he explains while walking through the living room, which features clean lines and “floor-to-ceiling glasses.”
His home has not only been admired by fans but recognised formally. “This house has been voted as the best home by the Indian Institute of Architectural Design. It’s won an award for the best home.”
As he leads us to the dining space, Abraham reflects: “I wanted a dining area that reflects my philosophy of being close to nature. Which is why I have this dining table; this entire frame is from one dead tree. So there was no logging done for this.”
His gym is also about essentials rather than flashy equipment. “This is where I operate a lot out of… I have these nice, simple ab crunching machines. If I want to pass time, I just pass my time like this,” he laughs, while demonstrating.
And then there’s his love for sound—something most wouldn’t associate with him. “Just to give you a brief on what I’m about: I love speakers. I’m an audiophile. I think in this entire house, I must have close to about 52 speakers. And that’s how much I love sound.”
His wardrobe is another personal archive, featuring a corner just for helmets. “Each helmet is signed by someone… This one has been signed by Valentino Rossi, I believe the greatest motorcyclist that ever existed.”
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A unique favourite? Chess. “A lot of people think motorcycling, or driving cars, or football is my favourite game—but chess is actually my favourite game. And this [chess board] was gifted to me by Viswanathan Anand.”
High above Mumbai’s buzz, his rooftop lounge offers both calm and perspective. “Now we’re at the edge of my home, on the eighth floor.”
Above all, simplicity anchors everything. “I think a home balances beauty and design… It’s important for your home to look beautiful, yet simple. In everything that I have, that comes across in the sparse nature of everything. And more than middle-class, I think it’s simplicity that really plays a key value in this.”
He signs off with a thought that stays with you: “You can have any amount of money in the world. But if you decide that you want to be simple—that’s most beautiful. And that should reflect in the architecture of your house.”
