Actor Imran Khan’s home in Karjat, around 100 km from Mumbai, reflects his preference for simplicity, thoughtful design and a close connection with nature. Rather than hiring an architect, the actor taught himself 3D modelling and spent a year observing the property’s natural surroundings before developing the design.
Surrounded by hills and trees, the minimalist house features expansive windows, glass doors, sloping ceilings and exposed wooden beams. Light-coloured flooring, uncluttered rooms and a wooden deck allow the landscape to remain central to the home’s character.
In a social media post in 2024, Imran described how he approached the project despite having no formal architectural training.
“So… one of the things I did over the past few years was to build a house. While I’ve played an architect in a few films, I can’t actually pretend to have any kind of training or expertise… but I do enjoy tinkering and learning stuff!” he wrote.
The actor wanted the structure to complement the uneven terrain, seasonal streams and nearby cliff instead of dramatically altering the surroundings.
“The intention was not to build a lavish vacation villa, rather to make something that takes its cues from the landscape. The house isn’t meant to be the view, it’s a shelter from which to admire the view.”
Imran spent the first year visiting the site at different times to understand changing sunlight, rainfall patterns and seasonal foliage. He subsequently created the design and 3D model himself, working alongside a contractor and structural engineer during construction.
“So, I designed, and have just completed building a house out in Karjat. I work without an architect. I taught myself 3D modelling, I got the software and designed the thing. I spent a year going to the property, after we’d purchased it, to track the movement of the sun. Different times of day, different times of year. I spent one year, 2021, tracking the movement of the sun, to see how the light would be. I worked with a contractor and a structural engineer, but the design and the 3D model I built.”
The house uses a stone base, brick walls, steel roof beams and insulated roofing sheets, drawing on construction methods common in nearby villages. Imran said building it himself cost less than purchasing a ready-made villa in the area.
His approach mirrors his wider lifestyle choices, which favour practicality over excess. After moving from his Pali Hill bungalow to a Bandra apartment, he described gradually furnishing the space according to his needs. He has also spoken about managing household chores himself and keeping possessions to a minimum.
Imran is currently in a relationship with actor Lekha Washington.
Source: The Indian Express
