OT: Any special childhood memories of trips that you’d like to share with us?
Vivaan Shah: When I was a child, my family and I visited Egypt, where we went on a desert safari through the Sinai Desert, and scuba-diving in the Red Sea. It was a beautiful experience.

But my favourite memory is of the time my schoolmates and I went trekking to Hemkund Sahib during our mid-term break from school. Once we reached the top of the mountain, everyone started diving into the freezing lake, trying to see who would make the most dives.

OT: What kind of a holiday helps you unwind?
Vivaan Shah: Any kind of holiday that helps bring me closer to nature works for me. Since we live in an urban jungle, I feel it is very important to connect with nature as often as possible.

OT: Of the locations you have shot in, which has been your favourite?
Vivaan Shah: Shooting in Sri Lanka was really nice; it’s a beautiful, serene country that has exquisite landscapes and very pretty beaches. I loved the time I spent there. Also, when I was a child, I went to Kenya to shoot for Vishwatma; that trip was fun too, and really memorable.

OT: Where would you like to travel next?
Vivaan Shah: Mexico. It’s at the top of my travel wish-list.

OT: Any movie that, in your estimation, has showcased any city beautifully?
Vivaan Shah: The way Carol Reed shot Vienna in The Third Man, and the way Spike Lee shot New York and Brooklyn in Do the Right Thing are two brilliant examples.

OT: Two must-see places for visitors to Mumbai…
Vivaan Shah: I’d say, don’t miss Marine Drive and Nariman Point.

OT: As a seasoned traveller, your best travel advice…
Vivaan Shah: Whatever else you pack, always take your adventurous spirit along; it will transform even mundane holidays into something spectacular.

OT: What do you usually shop for when you travel?
Vivaan Shah: I pick up artwork or handicrafts from everywhere I go.

OT: What do you usually like to read when you travel? What are you reading now?
Vivaan Shah: I like to read adventure fiction, especially works by Joseph Conrad, W. Somerset Maugham and Anthony Burgess. I’m currently reading Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett, John Steinbeck and Alistair MacLean.

OT: Five things you always carry when you travel…
Vivaan Shah: A knapsack, a pair of shades, a cowboy hat, a compass and a Swiss knife.