New York-based Waris Ahluwalia is a true jack of all trades. The multi-hyphenate renaissance man, who has acted in two Wes Anderson films, including The Grand Budapest Hotel , and other Hollywood productions, is also a jewellery designer and has worked with countless luxury brands, most recently pen maker Montblanc. {"@context":"https://schema.
org","@type":"ImageObject","caption":"Love Conquers All from House of Waris Botanicals. Photo: Handout","url":"https://img.i-scmp.
com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2024/08/20/340f71bf-fb68-4726-b11e-8f7bc196d1cf_dda704a3.jpg"} Love Conquers All from House of Waris Botanicals. Photo: Handout He is also the founder of House of Waris Botanicals, a line of “healing adaptogenic blends and sustainable elephant friendly tea”, and Love Conquers All, “a sparkling, non-alcoholic elixir” that recently launched at The Upper House in Hong Kong.
What I’m reading {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"ImageObject","caption":"The Big Goodbye by Sam Wasson. Photo: Handout","url":"https://img.
i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2024/08/20/aff89eed-036d-4fe2-8797-97ab44ddab9e_3d9ee3ea.jpg"} The Big Goodbye by Sam Wasson.
Photo: Handout These books are on my bedside table: Becoming Supernatural by Dr Joe Dispenza, The Big Goodbye by Sam Wasson and What is Love? by Mac Barnett. Except for that last one, I’m not sure if they’re being read right now, as we’ve just had a baby and time exists in dimensions I never knew were possible. My grooming routine {"@context":"https://schema.
org","@type":"ImageObject","caption":"La Prairie Platinum Rare Eye Elixir. Photo: Handout","url":"https://img.i-scmp.
com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2024/08/20/cdfc880a-c7c2-420b-8fb8-477fc17c0627_3db18407.jpg"} La Prairie Platinum Rare Eye Elixir. Photo: Handout Ffern makes a new organic scent every season taking inspiration from the natural world – ever changing.
I use argan oil from Morocco for my beard. It softens the texture and gives it a shine. I also like La Prairie Platinum Rare Eye Elixir – as the years keep adding up, a little help is always appreciated – and Muri Lelu serum and oil – I love the way they smell and feel on my face, especially after a long flight.
My go-to New York hangs {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"ImageObject","caption":"The Hotel Chelsea spa in New York. Photo: Handout","url":"https://img.
i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2024/08/20/de2e3ab8-47ff-407b-9534-8234a13adc64_93349bdf.jpg"} The Hotel Chelsea spa in New York.
Photo: Handout The new spa at the Hotel Chelsea – it’s the softest way to lose a few hours in a crazy city. I also enjoy sitting at the outdoor tables at Casino with a delicious plate of pasta watching the world go by; a late night of antics and revelry in the whisper room at The Mulberry; and a night of jazz at Fasano – if you’re lucky, you’ll catch a Bebel Gilberto performance. The ideal souvenir from my hometown {"@context":"https://schema.
org","@type":"ImageObject","caption":"Jack’s Wife Freda’s Everything Sauce. Photo: Handout","url":"https://img.i-scmp.
com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2024/08/20/8020ce41-e355-460d-8a77-e6034e5b20f3_8f53a9eb.jpg"} Jack’s Wife Freda’s Everything Sauce. Photo: Handout A T-shirt from Canal Street with too many expletives to mention here.
Or the spicy green sauce from Jack’s Wife Freda. It reminds me of the time when I was checking out of Middle House in Shanghai and they gave me jars of chilli sauce. It’s used sparingly until my return.
My lucky charm The engagement ring I designed for my wife, Maddie Moon. Even though it’s been a few years since my jewellery adventures, I still love the design process. My favourite hotels in the world {"@context":"https://schema.
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com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2024/08/20/5e1f1b10-981b-4827-ad0b-71fb6e6c4c8c_7390c88c.jpg"} Le Sirenuse in Positano, Italy. Photo: Handout As summer approaches, my mind can’t help but wander to the cliff-side, windy streets of Positano and the incomparable Le Sirenuse.
Once you’re there, the only reason you’ll want to leave is to take a boat out for a swim in the Tyrrhenian Sea and lunch at Da Adolfo. Just make sure you’re back in time for aperitivo on the terrace. It’s family-run with no detail overlooked – from the scents to the tastes – a feast.
One of my favourite hotels in [the world is] The Upper House. It’s why I’m so excited to be bringing Love [Conquers All] to Hong Kong. It’s magic when a hotel can make you feel like you’re where you belong when you arrive.
The serenity and the beauty go hand in hand. My bucket-list travel destination {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"ImageObject","caption":"Horse racing during the traditional festival of Naadam in Bayankhongor province, Mongolia, Bayankhongor province.
Photo: Getty Images","url":"https://img.i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2024/08/20/6561cb8d-ca28-46c9-b40f-c65361c51ba8_89bc71d9.
jpg"} Horse racing during the traditional festival of Naadam in Bayankhongor province, Mongolia, Bayankhongor province. Photo: Getty Images Riding horses across the grasslands of Mongolia. Man, animal and nature – all the same, all together.
A chance to get lost in your thoughts. My style icon {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"ImageObject","caption":"David Niven (centre) in Around the World in 80 Days.
Photo: Handout","url":"https://img.i-scmp.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2024/08/20/0b6b3fd3-ef2e-4b95-95e7-60f87304d741_8ea564e2.
jpg"} David Niven (centre) in Around the World in 80 Days. Photo: Handout On a foggy winter’s day in Venice, I saw a man with a long cloak floating past the columns on San Marco Square. I was 20 and the vision has since stuck with me.
Many years later, APC made me a custom cloak, which I was very excited about. However, when I put it on, it felt like I was in costume. I realised immediately that this look may have to wait till I’m much, much older.
So for now I’ll say David Niven in Around the World in 80 Days and Lee “Scratch” Perry. Waris Ahluwalia has acted in two Wes Anderson films, including The Grand Budapest Hotel, and just launched his House of Waris Botanicals brand at The Upper House in Hong Kong The multi-hyphenate renaissance man shares his thoughts on New York, Positano and living in the strange time dimension that a new baby brings.
