Siddharth Dhanvant Sanghvi

OT: You don’t come from a literature or photography background. So, what inspired you to take up writing and photography?

Siddharth Dhanvant Sanghvi: I’m not sure what one means by background. I studied photography at university, and I’ve been telling stories all my life. More crucially, I have been reading seriously for twenty years. All of this might help. And luck—never cut luck a short stack.

OT: Are there any places you’re dying to visit?

Siddharth Dhanvant Sanghvi: I’m planning to visit Phuket, this month, and stay at Como Point Yamu. I’ll visit Sujan and Suryagarh, both in Jaisalmer. Next year, Africa, on safari.

OT: What are some of your travel essentials?

Siddharth Dhanvant Sanghvi: My Chinese stomach herbs and sound-cancelling headphones.

OT: Any travel-related anecdote that you wishto share with us?

Siddharth Dhanvant Sanghvi: I find travel in India tricky. I was at Mumbai airport where a man asked if I’d watch over his child and then left to browse for magazines. I probably sound like a grouch but what I’m saying is I’m a lousy baby sitter.

OT: So, what are you up to these days? What takes up most of your day?

Siddharth Dhanvant Sanghvi: My writing. I just finished an essay for a new book on South African photo artist Roger Ballen. I’m also curating Ballen’s new show which opens in Goa and I am working on a retrospective of Sooni Taraporevala. Perhaps this makes me sound quite busy so let me not kid you: most days you’ll find me on Morjim beach.

OT: What lies ahead for you?
Siddharth Dhanvant Sanghvi: Doom. Or maybe a sunny, solitary day at the beach.