The Art Of Holidaying

Vikas Oberoi, MD of Oberoi Constructions, lets down his guard and reveals his passion for life and adventure to Savio Rodrigues in his first-ever interview...

Oberoi Sky Heights

The future of India, many say, lies in the hands of young entrepreneurs of the country. And one such young gun, who is trailblazing the industry is Vikas Oberoi in what is touted to be India's most prolific industry at the moment - the realty sector. Being the head of a Rs 5,000-crore company, one would expect him to want to be surrounded by media and be in what many would call the ‘scene and heard’ crowd. On the contrary, Oberoi is extremely averse to publicity and doesn’t like to face the camera. As you can notice, he has requested us to not to carry his photograph.

For a man who considers work as a stress buster, one would assume that he spends most of his time counting, and recounting, his money. But Vicky, as he is more affectionately known in trade circles, prefers to utilise his time more effectively. "Time is precious and it needs to be utilised to its optimum. It is better to work for eight hours a day with full concentration and dedication than toiling for 16 hours in a half-hearted manner. All this boils down to effective time management and a clear understanding of the job at hand. If you spend quality time at work, you will automatically get to spend quality time with your family and friends," Oberoi philosophises.

Real Estate Art

Keeping in rhythm to the beats of his job, his role as a leader is more like a rendition of Tchavoisky classic - soulful and yet assertive. He offers some advise, "Being a good leader is an exercise in people management. One must learn to hire people with common sense and an ability to express themselves in words or deeds. They must be given responsibility in order for them to perform; with responsibility ensure that you also empower them with the authority to get work done. But most importantly, make your people accountable for their actions. To achieve this, a leader must learn how to keep communication simple for it to be effective."

Oberoi, an MBA from Havard, is currently adding finishing touches to the blueprint of what would probably be a work of art in real estate in Mumbai. His 90-storey building in Worli, is touted to be a never-before done mammoth Oberoi Skyz project that will tower against the city skyline. 'Skyz the limit,' is Oberoi's mission. While real estate continues to be his passion, the man is also flirting with the idea of transcending to the league of a hotelier and has formed a consortium with Dharmesh Jain of Nirmal Lifestyle and Vinod Goenka of Conwood Group to further his interest in the hospitality business.

Play Station

After work, Oberoi likes to lounge around with his wife Gayatri, who won critical acclaim essaying the role of Geeta opposite Shahrukh Khan in the film Swades, or catch up with a few close friends over a meal at home or in a restaurant. "At times when I'm on my own, I prefer to read a book or listen to music." But when he wants to push the level of excitement in his life, he prefers to walk on the wild side and indulge in extreme sports. "The most extreme and breathtaking act I have ever done was to skydive from a plane 10,000 feet above ground level. That gave me a pure adrenaline rush. Bungee jumping is another sport I love to indulge in whenever I get the opportunity," Oberoi says.

Oberoi Park View

He also loves to travel. While popular destinations like Singapore, Hong Kong, London, Italy and France form a part of his work itinerary, it is the offbeat, remote places that attract him. And if the place has beaches then it is a winner hands down. It is no wonder, then, that on his honeymoon (not so long ago), he chose to romance his ladylove on the Island of Corsica, off France, at the Casa Del Mar Hotel instead of lounging around in top-class hotels. "Casa Del Mar Hotel has only 20 rooms, yet it is one of the most exotic and beautiful hotels to stay and has an impeccable service. What is even more enchanting is the view that one gets while dining at its restaurant - surrounded by the property's green landscape and the mesmeric beauty of the Mediterranean Sea," he reveals.

But of all his travel escapades, Oberoi rates his experience in Kashmir at the age of 15 as the most memorable. "It is a pity that what is probably one of the world's most scenic and serene place is devastated due to political differences. Even nature has not spared it with the recent earthquake," he says. Goa and Rajasthan come a close second on his list of favourite Indian destinations, while Italy and France make it to the most preferred international destination list.

Casa Del Mar Hotel on the Island of Corsica, off France

Globetrotting comes with its share of hotel stays and while Oberoi does stay in some of the best hotels in the world, he would still nominate The Oberoi Udaivilas as the world's best hotel. “It is princely and absolutely exotic. Other than that, I favour Casa Del Mar Hotel followed by Bvlgari in Milan and Conrad in Tokyo,” states Oberoi. Besides sightseeing and indulging in sports, the one thing that Oberoi never fails to do is shop. “I give the phrase 'shop till you drop' a new meaning. I am a self-confessed shopaholic,” he admits with a sheepish grin adding, “If given a choice, I'd love to shop extensively in South Italy.”

While he is constantly zipping to various locations in the world, Oberoi's preferred airline is Jet Airways. “Contrary to the general perception in the world of global travel, I think this home-bred airline can certainly compete with the best in the world.” He is certainly a man with an Indian taste.