My Mumbai: Milind Soman

Name: Milind Soman
Occupation: Vagabondage
Neighbourhood: Right here, right now

The song that best describes Mumbai
Nirvana, “Come As You Are”.

Your favourite Mumbai sound
Woodpeckers in Shivaji Park, sadly not very often nowadays, takes me to summer in my head.

Your favourite Mumbai movie
Salaam Bombay. Bombay as I knew it, and know it. Unchanged.

Favourite Mumbaikar, living or dead
My mother, very much alive, the only person who gives me a sense of belonging.

To get away from the city you…run as far as I can.

Favourite film journalist
Devyani Chaubal.

The best view in the city
Borivali National Park; surreal Moombai roads during Ganesh visarjan.

Favourite Mumbai restaurant
Not fond of restaurants, but if I had to choose, Gajalee, Oh! Calcutta, Arola at the Marriott.

Favourite bar/club
[The] seedier the better, anywhere serving Absolut, and [with] a good sound system.

Favourite place to get a post-run snack
Home.

Favourite Mumbai fashion designer
James Ferreira.

Favourite Mumbai model (other than yourself)
Sheetal Mallar.

Favourite Mumbai swimming hole
I don’t swim in holes, need a river now.

The one place/thing in the city you can’t live without
Garbage collectors.

What is Mumbai style?
Don’t give a flying fuck.

What do you think of Bal Thackeray?
I think he has balls.

What do you hate most about the city?
The devil may care attitude of the people in power.

What do you love most about the city?
The devil may care attitude of the rest.

Vada pao or bhel puri?
Pao bhaji or bhaji pao.

Tuffs or Nike?
Barefoot.

Best running route in the city
Anywhere that maximum city has the maximum potholes.

The last time you called Mumbai Bombay
Five seconds ago, though I am beginning to like the spelling Moombai.

In 10 words or less, who is Shivaji?
Many things to many people.

Mumbai isn’t like any other city because…then, it would not be Moombai.