Parmesh Shahani, Head, Godrej India Culture Lab
As I meet Parmesh Shahani one afternoon at the Godrej India Culture Lab in Vikhroli, the first thing that strikes me is his million-dollar smile. It exudes warmth that encourages people from different departments to greet him and during our 90-minute interview, he meets everyone with equal fervour. This, I soon realise, is one of his biggest qualities that makes it easier for him to connect with people across spheres with ease and helps him head Godrej India Culture Lab, an experimental space that cross-pollinates ideas and people.

Parmesh Shahani at the Godrej India Culture Lab. Pics/ Sameer Markande

As we settle down, he says, “I see myself as someone who creates new cultural spaces and sees links between different things. I get great joy in connecting the dots. People divide the performance from the visual, but for me, the joy lies in bridging the different boundaries.”

This passion stems from his exposure to performing arts at a very young age. Born in Colaba to middle-class parents, Shahani was fond of reading books, visiting art galleries and watching plays. “My grandfather often took me to Jehangir Art Gallery when I was seven. For me, going to the art gallery was as normal as going to a park to play,” smiles the student of St Joseph High School and Sydenham College.