01 August,2015 08:15 AM IST | | Suprita Mitter and Dhara Vora
In the third part of our series on resident non-Indians living in Mumbai, we speak with two Americans from diverse backgrounds architect and photographer Robert Stephens and Daniel Weber, manager/husband of adult film-actress-turned-Bollywood-star Sunny Leone
When architect Robert Stephens came to Mumbai for the first time, to visit friends that he had made at a university in America, he had no idea that the city would become his home. "This was December 2006. I stayed with friends in Thane and Mulund. I went back that year to finish my last year in school.
An aerial view of north Mumbai shot by Robert Stephens
I decided I wanted to come back to Bombay and look for a job here. I looked for a long time and had almost lost hope when I found an architectural firm I liked. I met them, and they said you are totally crazy let's try and work together," laughs Stephens, during our chat with the architect and photographer at The Pantry in Kala Ghoda.
Getting local
He made a humble start, living as a paying guest in Tardeo. "I stayed in Tardeo. I was a paying guest with a Parsi man. I used to walk a lot. Now, I take the local train. I love the train and find it peaceful. I use that time to think.
Robert Stephens. Pic/Bipin Kokate
It is much faster. Bombay (Mumbai) allows you to function with various budgets," he explains, adding, "The train empties out at Dadar. Currently I live in Bandra and take the train from there to Churchgate, every day." Confessing his love for the suburb Stephens reveals, "In Bandra, I love that there are so many trees; Tardeo had none.
The quality of life in Bandra is better. From my experience, Mumbai has the best ideas and is most receptive to ideas. earlier, it had a lot more international communities settled here. Now, it's lesser. There are a few ghettos now but in terms of pan-India, it is fabulous. I didn't see too many foreigners in Tardeo; Bandra has a lot more," he shares.
Aerial Mumbai
In November 2014, Stephens had exhibited a few stunning aerial photographs of South Mumbai in black and white that he had shot. "I was always an artist; photography is a way to express myself.
It takes lesser time, unlike painting and sculpture where you can spend years in a piece. For a Mumbai resident who has a full-time job it becomes difficult. I will also be exhibiting some aerial photographs of north Mumbai soon," he reveals.
Hinglish
"Before I came to Mumbai I took a language class in the US, which was mainly alphabets like âKa kha Ga' and I thought this knowledge is useless, they should teach us words and sentences. After coming here, I realised that it was the best thing I could have done. It made it so much easier to listen and learn. I am almost fluent now.
When I was a paying guest I was staying in the living room. I didn't have a room to myself, so every weekend I would leave the house get on a train and go to an area where I didn't know any people, get off the train and roam the streets; it was the best way to learn the language. I have to at work as we deal with construction workers and none of them speak any english," he explains.
Comfort zone
"South Bombay never appealed to me as a residence, it always seemed more commercial. It is also deserted after evening. I like to see people, families after work. My favourite place to hang out is at home, very boring I know," he laughs. "My wife and I love the Farmers Market in Mahim. It's the best thing that happened to the city.
The Maharashtra Nature Park is phenomenal; you can't believe that you are in the middle of the city. It's under-publicized," he adds. After confessing that he is not much of a foodie, he tells us, "Cafe Tardeo was an Irani cafe; it was my favourite restaurant.
It has shut down now, they sold out. Yoga House in Bandra is lovely too," he says adding that he feels that there are very few public spaces to simply hang out, free of cost. "I don't live in Mumbai for its restaurants, art and culture.
That is a value-add. I stay in Mumbai because my interests and passions find expression here and that is the most important thing for me. That's a powerful thing for a city to be able to inspire. I get to do what I love and not every city provides that opportunity," he reminds us.
"Bombay also shows me what not to do in terms of being architects. As a profession we should provide spaces for others. Here, 90 percent of what is built is based on self interest. So instead of complaining we try and do something better," he concludes.
