MARWAR - the magazine that inspires Excellence

For Internet tycoon Anupam Mittal , of shaadi.com, acquiring his own apartment in South Mumbai has been a journey of self-discovery that has led to many interesting realisations. The result – a sleek and swish space that reflects his eclectic interests

Ironies make life interesting! For all his gregarious, gung-ho, get-up-and-go entrepreneurial aggression, Anupam Mittal's sophisticated apartment is strangely understated. No larger-than-life drama, no loud lifestyle statements – just lots of quiet elegance.

And, without looking for further contradictions, it cannot escape anybody's notice that the man who founded, and runs, the world's largest matrimonial service provider on the Internet, shaadi.com, lives by himself, single, still waiting to welcome his better half into his heart and hearth!

Anupam moved into his apartment not quite a year ago, and is understandably pleased. After a decade in the US , which started with his acquiring an MBA in Operations and Strategic Management from the Boston College , followed by an assignment in Silicon Valley and New York , with companies like MicroStrategy Inc, Lotus Corp – IBM Cambridge (USA), Keane Inc, Boston , Anupam decided to head home.

Pioneering his own path with the People Group — a New Media and Entertainment group founded by him — which includes businesses such as shaadi.com, fropper.com, Mauj Mobile and People Pictures, he is known for his sharp business acumen and an eye for detail. It is no secret that Anupam is recognised as one of the most dynamic entrepreneurs in the country.

He's relaxed, as we sit chatting at his expansive dining table and he sips chai out of a gold-etched Turkish tea glass. He's getting used to running his own home, although not without hiccups. He draws attention to the formal seating area and sighs, “See, no cushions! Being a busy bachelor means I just don't find the time to go buy them…”

Most other areas of the home, though, are perfectly finished and furnished, and still exude a fresh-as-dew hue. The apartment is spacious and modern, without being minimalist. You walk into a small formal seating area, with the dining space and a bar to the right, and a large ‘Buddha lounge' to the left. There is an adjoining terrace for entertaining outside, and Anupam says these months (December through February) are ideal for partying under the open sky. The master bedroom is clean and lean, no unnecessary embellishments, while the guest bedroom has softer aqua hues. His study is really smart, with a desk embossed with his initials: AGM. “It's the only bit of vanity I have permitted myself,” he smiles. Across the landing is the gym, with another spare bedroom, and a service area.