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An unfiltered conversation with Virat Kohli suddenly changes the mood of the crew [sooner than he realises] when he says, “I’m never really on holiday…there’s no plan for how to relax…just being in a state of doing nothing is enough”. It delivers a resounding reassurance that Virat too, like a lot of his fans, wants to be in the comforts of his abode after a challenging season and desires an exit from Mumbai, where he can rejuvenate and immerse in nature. And he found this home away from home, as he deems it, in Alibag.
A balmy beachscape, notoriously labelled as The Hamptons of India, after Bollywood biggies—Shah Rukh Khan, Gauri Khan, Deepika Padukone, and Ranveer Singh, to name a few—found addresses here, Alibag is quieter, cleaner, more verdant, and offers glamorously expansive properties, which has been the prime attraction for celebrities. Except for Virat, there’s more than meets the eye. He shares, “Honestly, it’s the proximity to Mumbai. Here, we have a completely different world, a home away from the hustle and bustle of the city. With so much going on all the time, it’s nice to be away from the chaos, and Alibag allows us to do that.”
Although this conscious preacher of wellness and slow living didn’t just choose any property to call home in the coastal town, he handpicked Avās Living, a community centered around a holistic luxury lifestyle, started by founder and CEO Aditya Kilachand.
Virat was looking for a space with a soul, with a sense of belonging and community—a home that is a testament to his own taste—so Avās in Alibag delivered. Built over a 10,000-square-foot plot by globally acclaimed architects at SAOTA, led by Phillippe Fouché, the Californian Konkan-style four-bedroom villa celebrates “raw luxury’’. The nonchalance of California and the romantic minimalism of the Konkan coast are brought to life by the home’s high ceilings—featuring natural hardwood that creates harmony throughout the first floor—and an elaborate open layout. Another unmissable characteristic is the use of natural materials such as pristine stones, exotic Italian marbles, raw travertines, and Turkish limestones. Furthermore, what really stands out in the home is its integration of biophilic principles. Bathed in the glow of natural light streaming through expansive windows and glass walls, it commits to sophistication and sustainability, qualities that resonated with Virat’s idea of a holiday home. He says, “The most interesting feature is the double-height cut-out ceiling in the living space, as it welcomes natural light. The more light… the better its energy.” The design inspiration drips in the most unexpected spaces, with a rare Balinese sukabumi stone-clad temperature controlled pool and jacuzzi and a fully-customised kitchen by German brand Poggenpohl. The furniture, lighting, and decor accessories have been curated by the Avās Design Studio.
While being outdoors and within the vicinity of nature soothes Virat, it’s the Avās app integrated with wellness technology features such as circadian lighting, gas leak detectors, and advanced air and water filtration, among others, that truly makes him happy. “One thing that makes spending time here easy is the Avās app, which more or less organises everything for me. It gives me a customised dashboard of all the things I need while I’m here. My favourite feature is home automation.’’ That’s understandable.
The 35-year-old’s commanding career flaunts an illustrious résumé. Besides being the highest-paid cricketer in the world, he helms a high-street fashion label, Wrogn, owns a successful restaurant chain, One 8 Commune, holds endorsement deals with over 19 brands, and recently became Google’s most searched sportsperson in India in 2023. Naturally, Virat's proclivity for wellness and a well-maintained work-life balance now takes precedence. “My family is my top priority. I’m busy playing cricket, but I always want to come back home. When you have kids and the family grows, the will to be back home also increases. I think work is a part of life that one needs to balance, not the other way around. I want to spend time with my daughter. I don’t want to miss the growing years.’’
A true professional who’s always on the run, contributing to his commendable winning streak, Virat Kohli’s idea of a holiday is ‘’the comfort of a couch, feeling at ease, slowing down.’’ At Avās Living, he found a balance of community and personal space, provided with all the luxury amenities. To him, this connection felt “organic’’.