On my pinboard - Adil Hussain

Actor Adil Hussain is known for his roles in Bollywood and Hollywood films including ‘Sunrise’, ‘The Violin Player’ and ‘Gangor’. He is also known for his memorable characters in ‘English Vinglish’, ‘Life of Pi’ and ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’.

Active in theatre as well, Adil has performed ‘Othello: A Play in Black and White’ for 10 years now and believes that each time on stage with the production has been a different experience.

The actor’s latest projects include ‘Love Sonia’ by Tabrez Noorani, ‘Mukti Bhawan’ by Shubhashish Bhutiani and ‘Dobaara’. He is also working on a play titled ‘Karmnishtha’, which is about a dialogue between Krishna and Arjun on the battlefield.

Music - Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

“I listen to a lot of Sufi and Baul songs. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is my favourite. He’s one musician who manages to uplift and transport me to a different place altogether. The words of his songs, which talk about unconditional love, touch me deeply. I also listen to a lot of jazz music. The beats of Indian classical percussion instruments like the ‘ghatam’ and the ‘tabla’ are also something I love listening to. ‘Dhrupad’ is a form that has left me enchanted.”

Inspiration - Kristen Jain

“My wife Kristen Jain is my biggest inspiration. Be it her elegance or her grace, everything about her is truly inspiring. Her purity and innocence are something I aspire for. In fact, she has all the qualities any human being would aspire to have.”

Author - Sri Aurobindo

“Though I haven’t been reading a lot lately, I enjoy the works of Sri Aurobindo. I started off with ‘Letters on Yoga’. His style of writing can put one’s doubts to rest even as they are reading something really difficult. He has explained a range of concepts like consciousess and human behaviour, which I try to follow in my life. I also read a lot of books on theatre and acting. I appreciate author Jerzy Grotowski’s works including ‘Towards A Poor Theatre’. I also like Peter Brook’s writings and ‘The Empty Space’ by him is another favourite.”

Actor - Ben Kingsley

“My favourite actor is Ben Kingsley. His amazing depth as an artiste grabs my attention instantly whenever he is on screen. He is someone who made me appreciate the virtues of Mahatma Gandhi. Back home, I like Balraj Sahni, who was known for his realistic style and effortless acting. His way of embracing the role was such that the viewer wouldn’t feel like Balraj was acting. In theatre, I’m deeply impressed by the works of Mario Biagini and Thomas Richard.”


Food - Khar

“I’m in love with North Eastern food which includes food from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland. I grew up eating all that and the simplicity of the ingredients is impressive. North Eastern food is also healthy, which works perfectly well for me. My favourite dish is ‘Khar’, which is made of banana peel. It’s extremely delicate in taste which is why I love it. The fish preparations from Assam are also a favourite. I also like Kerala and Andhra cuisine.”

Travel - Hampi

“My favourite place to travel is Hampi for several reasons. According to archaeological understanding, it is one of the most ancient formations of the planet. The rocks there have been shaped, curved and eroded over millions of years by exposure to wind and water. It almost feels like one is not on this planet when at Hampi. At the same time, however, the place evokes an emotion which is really pleasant. Hampi also has vast greenery and many rivers. I also love visiting the North East a lot.”

(As told to Tini Sara Anien)