The young executive director of Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd loves cars, travel and chocolate

KARAN ADAN’S GENTLE tone of voice and measured words point to someone with a calm, patient head on his shoulders—useful traits for a young scion of India’s leading infrastructure conglomerate, the Adani Group. When our chat turns to supercars and chocolate, however, his eyes light up perceptibly and he begins talking animatedly of his childhood love for Ferraris—he now owns a Ferrari California—and his overarching passion for all things chocolate. Travel is another passion for the recently married Adani, who likes to pick destinations that offer a measure of quietude and the chance to get away from the madding crowd. We caught up with him for a tete-a-tete about these and other indulgences as well as his mantras for leading the good life. -G1RIJA DUGGAL

Q1:-What, according to you, constitutes luxury?

ANS:-Luxury is sonwthing you have to be conifbrtahle with. For rue, it’s riot about brands. You can have the best suit in the world or the most expensive one, but ilvou don’t feel coinfortable in it, it’s riOt you

Q2:-What do you think is a colossal waste of money?

ANS:- I think when you don’t appreciate what it is, when you are just buying because you have seen other people get it. Whether you are buying a car or a piece of tailoring or staying in a hotel…as long as you can appreciate the luxury of it and have a passion for it [then it is fine].

Yachts, supercars or jets—which is your first pick? Supercars. any day!

Q3:-Which supercars do you like?

ANS:-Which ones I don’t! [laughs All of them]. I love cars. I’ve a Ferrari California. I’ve always been fascinated by Ferrari ever since I was a kid, so I had a big poster in my room of a red Ferrari.This [the Calilornia] was something which was practical and at the same time a dream come trUe.

Q4:-Which luxury brands do you patronise?

ANS:- To be honest, I don’t patronise brands, but generally, what­ever it is, I prefer everything handmade. For me it’s not about the brand, it’s more about the feel and look of it.
IFor clothes] I get the cloth from outside but generally use local tailors, because I find India has tailors who have more skills than I’ve found abroad.

Tell us about your favourite holiday destinations. 
I enjoy travelling a lot. My favourite destinations would be 
South Africa, New Zealand, Switzerland, US and south of 
France. I look for peace and quiet, to enjoy the location, the 
culture and the traditions there.

Q5:-What luxury do you insist upon while travelling?

ANS:-It has to be the hotel. It has to he a comfortable place [withl big rooms and good, personahsed service. Taj is one of the best; they’ve the most personalised service you can ever fInd. Even Four Seasons [has good servicE

Q6:-Do you have a secret indulgence that few people know about?

ANS:-Chocolates, swects,..all of them! l’iii a big fan. I like ikigian chocolates: the local stores [in l3elgiumnl are the best, not the big brands. And coffee—I’m a big fan of coffee. 
Finally, give us your take on the good life. Have a good balance of work JIlL1 family and always have nine for yourself. Keep one hour for yourself every day. You get that alone time and get to put your thoughts together, which helps a lot