Friday Features: Antilla - Mythical Island and Mighty Mansion

by Sanika Tillway

Antilla is named after a
mythical island

Mukesh Ambani recently had a housewarming party with the crème de la crème of high society in attendance at his new home Antilla (named after a mythical island). Billed as the Taj Mahal of the 21^st century, the monstrosity, as I call it, spans 4,00,000 sq ft. With 80 of the city’s who’s who in attendance, it was a rather private affair. This didn’t, however, stop it from making headlines given that everyone who mattered came – Sachin Tendulkar, Aamir Khan, Deepak Parekh, Parmeshwar Godrej, Preity Zinta and Kumar Mangalam Birla among others.

I’d like to give you a perspective of what this house has been planned like. First of all, there was all this brouhaha when reports of Mukesh building a new home first started doing the rounds. Then followed the controversy about the land belonging to the Wakf Board and how Ambani had acquired the property for Rs. 21 crore, far below its market price. But, all said, it’s got what it takes to be, you know, ‘iconic’. Think Antilla and you’re thinking - Ambani, avant-garde architecture, not to mention the big bucks spent on making it the landmark it now is. Maybe now Mukesh is thinking, “That’ll show Anil…” Maybe, he’s also wondering if his brother will avenge the insult by handing him an inflated electricity bill.

I’m just thinking about it from an aam aadmi perspective. What the hell is he going to do with that big a house and just six occupants – his mother Kokila (who will shuttle between the old family home where Anil currently resides and Antilla), his three children and wife Nita. The house is staffed by six hundred employees; making it about a hundred staffers per person (I tend to do the math in weird things). Three helipads, a four floor view of the Arabian Sea, each family member having a personal gym, swimming pools, ballrooms, lounges and the list is endless. What bothers me is that there is more focus on projecting it as a landmark than a home. Maybe, the media is at fault. What would worry plague me had it been my home, is why my home is being made out to be a luxury resort cum royal palace (the ballrooms have actually been compared to the Palace of Versailles). Is that really what a home is supposed to be about?

Crystal Chandeliers in the Ballroom
occupy 80% of the ceiling

Is a home not about warmth and love? Isn't it about the place you know you can head to knowing that even if you are not wanted anywhere else, this is one place that is rightfully yours; you don’t have to own, it could be your parents’ or rented or anything else that works for you? I’m thinking what  would I do in a house that has less family and more randoms available at my beck and call. Seriously, I’d feel like I’m sitting in an office with 600 people swarming around me. But, I guess when you have the dough (as also ample space, in this case), its okay for a home not to seem like a home. I’m thinking if it would be any different for Mukesh, zipping in and out of the elevators at his new residence, the same way he would in his office. Doesn’t he ever want to get out of his disinfected, air-conditioned aura to go to a real home?

Nine elevators line the lobby

Of course, if you were Mukesh Ambani, you’d have more important things to worry about, wouldn’t you? Like how to wage war against your brother about who deserves more gas. Or whether Nita will be comfortable using her new Airbus 319? Or if he can sue Bhajji for lifting Nita after Mumbai Indians won a match? Or what his mother thought of his housewarming party compared to the party that Anil hosted the same night?  You see, when you are one of the richest guys in the world, you have more important things on your mind apart from a home. So what if it becomes the talk of the town? After all, it is not aam being an Ambani.

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Sanika Tillway is a 21 year old student of Chartered Accountancy who likes to unleash the child within at every given opportunity.  Her interests include writing, reading, sleeping, talking and making random observations about people. To chit-chat with her, or to get some tips for your money laundering ways, click here.

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