I really treasure the odd weekend when my schedule is not overrun by rehearsals, shoots and performances. And whenever a long, free weekend looms large, I pack my bags and head to my favourite getaway, Shantiniketan. There’s something about the red gravel soil there, which draws me to it. I love the solitude of the place too. Or maybe it’s because I was born in that district that I feel this pull. Of course, if I have more time on my hands, I drive to the hills and winter is the perfect season for making such a trip. In fact, the past four years have seen me spending time in North Bengal during winter.

But stealing time away to make such quick trips is rare. More often than not, Saturday is a working day for me. However weekend evenings are reserved for my family — my wife, Ilina and 10-year-old son, Megh. And of course, Sunday lunches mean family time.

Now I take pride in my culinary skills and often cook on a Sunday to relax. The cafeteria at BIG 92.7FM, the radio station where I work, offers an awesome Hariyali Chicken — a recipe that I shared with the chef there. I am a foodie and my favourites are the fried ice-cream at Zen and the fare at Bhojohori Manna. I’m a pretty adventurous foodie and so flit from one thing to the other — be it the beef chowmein at Flora’s, a restaurant on Elliot Road; or the red pork chow at John’s, a tiny eatery in Chandni; or even the phuchkas and ghoogni at the wayside eateries on Mayfair Road.

Besides pursuing my passion for food, my weekends are also a time for my son. Megh is quite interested in art and crafts as well as games, and I try to help him in those projects and often play with him too.