MY LIFE MY STYLE: Arvind Singh Mewar

House of Mewar

You get your suits from
Pakeman Catto & Carter, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, UK. England is still the best for bespoke Western classic clothing for gentlemen.

Favourite fashion designer
I am afraid I am an inflexible brute when it comes to formal traditional wear. This type of clothing has been made in the palace for generations by our tailoring department.

Favourite spirit
On a regular basis, Red Label Blended Scotch Whisky is my preferred reward after a day’s hard work. On a special occasion, it depends on the mood.

Best gift received
As I acquired my flying license, a Breitling Chronometre Automatic was a special gift from my loved one who wanted me to be in full control up in the sky.

Best gift given
A polo pony gifted as a wedding present to a budding polo player who once told me that it turned out to be the best pony in his entire string.

Favourite cuisine
Cuisine of Mewar naturally! Hot, spicy, non-vegetarian.

Your IT tools
My Vaio, my iPhone and my iPad have become constant companions.

Where do you like to sit when being driven? Upfront with the driver or back seat like a sahib?
Always up front, belted and in sync with the driver, whom I trust instinctively.

On a plane, do you prefer to network, sleep or catch up on films and reading?
When not flying myself, I try to unsuccessfully sleep.

Can you cook? What?
I am no chef but I will not go to bed on an empty stomach. Try me...

Do you fill customer feedback forms? Why?
No!!! The suggestions for improvement are looked as criticism and never reach the person who can do something about it.

Beach or mountain?
Water surrounded by mountains.

What’s your cologne?
Ralph Lauren Polo

Newspapers, TV channels and websites you prefer.
I read and surf through them all! Information Hound.

Favourite champagne
Bollinger

Your sleeping ritual
Early to bed and early to rise keeps a man healthy, wealthy and wise.

Favourite TV show
Master Chef Australia

Books on your bedside
Srimad Bhagavad Gita

What’s your shaving mantra?
With my beard, the mantra is to “let it be... let it grow till the barber begins snipping”.

Who’s your favourite shoemaker?
I have a broad foot and high arch and therefore, cannot wear shoes off the shelf. My shoes are made in London by Herring Shoes, Devon.

Your bathing preferences? Shower, tub or bucket?
Showers, if you please, but not connected to those complicated computerised gizmos which never work the way you want them to.

What’s your weekday breakfast like? And weekend?
Weekday: idli and sambhar; and weekends, a full English breakfast. Pip Pip!

Your current set of wheels?
MG TC 1946

In the car is it sleep or cell for you?
Never sleep, often on the cell but always with an eye on the road ahead. Thank God for mobile car chargers.

God for you is…
Shree Eklingji Mahadev

Favourite restaurant?
The Golden Dragon at the Taj in Mumbai.

Workday lunch is?
Soup and fish for dinner; Indian food for lunch; then 45 minutes of power nap in the afternoon.

At parties do you like to talk turkey or PC?
I listen and laugh and pull my friends’ legs.

Alpha males you know…
Many and get on with them famously.

Your favourite motto
Stay 100 per cent focused on the topic under discussion and have the ability to switch totally at the next meeting.

 

Arvind Singh Mewar
Chairman & MD, HRH Group of Hotels