OT: Which is your favourite hotel in the world? When did you first visit and why?
 Taapsee Pannu: I love ITC hotels. They have a nice Indian vibe and they’re always so grand. But, outside India, I loved my stay at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island (from $1,162; www.hilton.com) a few years ago. It was a short vacation trip with friends and it was heavenly.

OT: What was the experience like?
Taapsee Pannu: The entire island was owned by Hilton. They had beautiful ocean villas with ocean views. The décor was contemporary. We had a personal butler which helped us to explore the entire island and make the most of all the amazing experiences on offer. It is a very well-equipped hotel with all watersports organised on the premises itself.

OT: What was the food like?
Taapsee Pannu: Amazing. I will definitely rate it as one of the best seafood destinations anywhere. Spectacular ocean views came as part of the parcel, which I feel is just as important as a brilliant menu. In fact, it was more ‘fun-dining’ than fine dining with nibbles like coconut shrimp and barbecue scallop skewers, salads, dips, etc. I can still remember the taste of those dishes.

OT: Any memory you’d like to share with our readers about your stay there?
Taapsee Pannu: My scuba diving experience. What a beautiful world inside the waters! I got my license there for 18m open diving. My first dive was to 12 metres. I tried not to panic. “What the hell am I doing?” I asked myself. But I reminded myself: “It’s gonna be a wonderful experience. Just do it!” Then I went down, deeper and deeper. I could feel my heart beat faster. I saw some corals. I saw some sea urchins too, giant ‘keong’ in white and lots of goby fish hiding in the sands. What an experience!

OT: In a line, what was special about the hotel? Its ‘USP’?
Taapsee Pannu: The ocean villas were exemplary. It felt like I was living in heaven everyday when I woke up to the infinite ocean view. The balcony in the room took you down directly into the ocean. Imagine being that close to nature!