Twinkle Khanna – From A Bollywood Actor To An Interior Designer

Born to celebrity parents, Twinkle Khanna was cherry-picked to enter the glamour world — and quite rightfully so — she enjoyed a successful six-year-long acting career in Bollywood before shifting gear. In 2001, after getting married to Akshay kumar, Twinkle bid adieu to her acting career to become one of India’s top interior designers of present times. EXIN Magazine brings for you Twinkle’s journey from silver screen to home designing.

Born on December 29, 1973 to actors Dimple Kapadia and Rajesh Khanna, Twinkle made her Bollywoood debut in 1995 with Barsaat, and won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut for the same. In the next six years, she went on to star in a dozen of superhit films — Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai, International Khiladi, Baadshah, Mela, Jodi No.1. Her last film as an actor came in 2001 with Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega. Although, she never was one of the critic’s top placed actors, but during her time, she made her own fanbase in the country.

Twinkle never formally trained in interior designing. A knack for the right colors, textures and sketches got her going when she interned at the age of 16 with a Mumbai based architect. With her friend Gurlein Manchanda, she first designed a Breach Candy house in 2000, independently. There was no looking back since then. They launched ‘Mock-ups’, a store offering interior decoration & design services. ‘Romantic Curtains’, which featured in this store, had real leaves sewn into the drapes. Post-marriage, she dedicated herself completely towards interior designing.

In 2002, her very own Interior designing store ‘The White Window’ was set up in Bandra, Mumbai offering her clients “affordable décor”. Her style, as she puts it is “minimalistic, effortless and unfussy”. However, she doesn’t make it too simple. Recently, she launched a mélange of styles like Rococo, Baroque, Gothic, Antique, Vintage, etc. to move away from the classic unadorned look of furniture. ‘The White Window’ has been the recipient of the Elle Décor International Design Award for its wall finishes. It truly is a feat given that Twinkle has not relied on any formal training, but purely on her instincts and her own sense of style. Exuberant hanging lights, bedside lamps that match the bed canopy are few of the key aspects of her notable Panchshil project in Pune.

Her abstract and artistic style of work makes her stand out from the crowd. Her attention to detail in creating a look takes her from high end designers to flea markets. She has designed a number of Bollywood stars’ homes.

Despite staying out of limelight, paparazzi always have found her. In 2009, ‘People’ magazine listed her as the fourth best dressed celebrity in India. She is also a producer now, and produces several of her husband’s films these days. Twinkle has come a long way from being just a trophy wife who gives up everything post marriage.