Gauri Khan pens her journey: ‘For anyone interested in designing’

Gauri Khan at the launch of My Life in Design. (Photo: Varinder Chawla)

Her latest work, a coffee table book titled “My Life in Design” and published by Penguin Random House, takes one through the journey while also putting the spotlight on the process of designing, from choosing material to lightening, artistic objects and colours.

“It charts out my journey as a designer,” says Gauri Khan at the book launch at Taj Lands End, Bandra on Monday evening, adding, “This profession brings me a lot of satisfaction and joy when I see the smile on my client’s face so I decided to pen it down. It is for anyone who is interested in design, even if it’s their own home.”

The 80-page book, with pictures, also takes one inside Mannat, the house of Khan and Gauri, and the process of creating various spaces to cater to each member, including Shah Rukh Khan’s much-talked about library.

Shah Rukh Khan at the launch of My Life in Design. (Photo: Varinder Chawla)

“It is about my life in design. So it was important to include children and Shah Rukh,” she added as the publisher shared how they did two photo shoots, one pre-pandemic and another after because their child AbRam had grown up and started to look different.

Sharing a small story, Shah Rukh Khan, who was also present at the event and has written the forward of the book, said, “When we bought Mannat, it was way beyond our means. We met a designer and the food that he served was costlier than the money I was making. Wondering how expensive his service would be, I turned to Gauri and asked her to use her creative side and do the house. That was her first project.”

Gauri Khan and Shah Rukh Khan at the launch of My Life in Design. (Photo: Varinder Chawla)

In his articulate style, Shah Rukh, who spoke briefly about the book and Gauri’s journey at the beginning of the event, shared how Gauri, a graduate from National Institute of Fashion Technology, has always been a creative person.

“But for the first 23-24 years of our married life, we were busy settling down in Mumbai, dealing with the overwhelming response we got from the profession I am in and bringing up children that she never realised that there is this aspect of her that needed to have some kind of life of its own,” shared Shah Rukh.

Gauri Khan and Shah Rukh Khan at the launch of My Life in Design. (Photo: Varinder Chawla)

The book, said Shah Rukh, is for all the people out there who missed out on their dreams.

“You can start at any age. Gauri started at 40 and on her own. I did ask her if she wants any help but she did everything on her own. Even now, she is working till 3 am at times and sometimes we would ask her, why is she so busy and her response is – it brings me satisfaction. Follow your dream is what I have learnt from her,” he concludes.