Babil Khan’s Mumbai home is warm, artistic and truly lived in. Filmmaker-choreographer Farah Khan recently visited the house in Lokhandwala with her cook, Dilip, for her vlog. She called it “one of the most beautiful residences” they have seen so far. Babil lives here with his mother, Sutapa, and younger brother, Ayan.
A corner for Irrfan Khan
The first thing visitors notice is a special corner for the late actor Irrfan Khan. It has his black-and-white photograph, fresh tuberoses and a framed poster of ‘Qissa’, one of the finest films of his career. A side table in the living room also holds his portrait and a ‘Qissa’ poster, decorated with candles and white flowers.
Living room with a wooden swing
Before reaching the door, Farah Khan and Dilip walked through a porch done in red and golden tones, with indoor plants and antique decor. Inside, a large wooden indoor swing with thick ropes sits between the dining and sitting areas. The room has big grey sofas with silver patterned cushions, stylish coffee tables, books, a small stone pond and minimal showpieces. An antique carved wooden panel shaped like a jharokha adds a traditional touch to the main wall.
Dining area and ping-pong table
The dining area has a long wooden table with high-back chairs in floral prints. The walls carry white Bohemian textures and rustic wooden mirrors, the ceiling has a raw concrete finish, and tall windows let in plenty of sunlight. A ping-pong table stands in the middle of the space. When Farah asked whether it was really used, Babil said, “Yes, I play with everyone. We can also play right now.” The area opens to a wide balcony full of green potted plants.
Bedroom that doubles as a music studio
Babil’s room is part bedroom and part studio, with separate zones for work, sleep and music. His workstation has eight guitars on the wall, along with computers, speakers, a gaming console, a digital piano and other audio gear. He also owns a wooden cajón. The sleeping side has a tall bed with a mural behind it, a utility cart with books and a treadmill. A brown leather massage chair sits in the centre, and a projector hangs from the ceiling. Babil also showed his brother’s music studio.
Cooking dahi chicken
Babil Khan does not know how to cook, and his mother had just recovered from dengue. So Farah and Dilip taught him their special dahi chicken recipe in the kitchen.
Farah Khan and Sutapa Sikdar’s friendship
During the vlog, Farah recalled how she met Sutapa on the sets of the Shah Rukh Khan starrer ‘Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa’. She said, “She was a writer but was doing the costume designing of the film to earn money, and I was the choreographer. The production gave a government hostel accommodation to us, where we were sharing a room. We became best friends during that time.”
Irrfan Khan’s early days in Bollywood
Farah also spoke about Irrfan’s early struggles. “When I was with Sutapa, he was a struggling actor. Sutapa used to give him pocket money. She was investing in his dreams,” she said. Babil agreed and added, “Haan, Dad used to take money from Mom during his NSD days.”
Old memories and a playful moment
While the chicken cooked, Farah and Babil played ping-pong, and then they met Sutapa. The friends sat down to chat and went back to their ‘Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa’ days. Farah said, “I remember you used to give Irrfan pocket money and tell me that your boyfriend was coming to meet you. And a very odd-looking guy would come, sweet only he was.”Sutapa then teased her, saying, “You are still in touch with Sanjay Leela Bhansali. When I met him, he told me that you had a crush on Irrfan.” Farah laughed and denied it. “It’s not true; I was just in love with his work. Who didn’t like Irrfan?” she said.
