OT: What does a holiday mean to you?
Juhi Chawla: When I was younger and more
OT: Which are your favourite holiday destinations?
Juhi Chawla: My all-time favourite holiday spot is Switzerland. The first time I went there was while shooting for Darr. I was travelling by bus from Geneva to Gstaad, and everywhere I looked, I saw postcard-like scenery. I went there again for Ishq and the entire crew was fed up of me because I wanted to go for these sight-seeing walks all the time! My family jokes that when I’m in Switzerland, I’m like that villager on his first visit to a city, who sits rooted to a spot, awestruck. Incidentally, my husband and kids love Switzerland too because of their fondness for skiing. I also love the beauty of nothingness in Antarctica. I have been to the Aman Vana resort in Bali and I loved that too! In India, Udaipur tops my list of favourite places.
OT: Any memorable travel experiences?
Juhi Chawla: I had one in Swizerland — I attempted skiing rather late in life and ended up breaking my leg and had to sulk in bed for a month! But that was the lesson I learnt for getting adventurous in my old age!
I was shooting in Amritsar with Gurdas Maanji and he sang a shabad during one of our breaks and told me that it was a morning prayer sung at the Golden Temple. So I went there a little before dawn and the whole experience was actually divine. It is like watching the Taj Mahal — but that much more enigmatic. I would love to take my kids there.
OT:What do you do while travelling? How often do you go on vacation?
Juhi Chawla: Considering everyone in my family loves to travel, we just go anywhere and have fun. We go to London and Uganda every year because we have homes there. Besides that, every year, Jai, my husband, must go skiing at least once, I must go to a beach and the kids have to do a safari. By the time all this is done, the year is over and the kids can’t miss school. Though now I am going to put my foot down and take them to Kaziranga, Hardwar, Shimla and more places in India.
OT: Any destinations on your wishlist?
Juhi Chawla: I want to explore Egypt and Morocco, and also go to Japan.
OT: What do you shop for while on holidays?
Juhi Chawla: Whatever I can fit into my bursting suitcases. My husband is the one who shops for gadgets and such. I am more into curios that are particular to a place. I bought loads of evil-eye charms from Dubai, and then I went mad shopping for parandis in Patiala. Then if I find something I really must buy, I shop for suitcases as well!