TUCKED WITHIN THE SPRAWLING ACRES OF billionaire industrialist Yohan Poonawalla’s Pune residence lies a private sanctuary. It evokes the feel of a gentleman’s retreat, while simultaneously presenting itself as a meticulously curated gallery of rarefied treasures.
His man cave is in truth, a refined exhibition of cultivated indulgence and sophisticated taste. It appears shaped by a reverence for heritage, life’s finer things...and solitude. It doesn’t clamour for attention yet has a way of commanding it.
At first glance, the room seduces you with its hushed elegance. Polished wood panels line the walls and warm lighting casts a golden glow over heritage glassware and exquisite collectibles. It’s a space of details, where every object has a story; every surface a whisper of provenance.
A wall anchored by an original British royal coat of arms, alongside a framed collection of rare Winston Churchill memorabilia, including handwritten lettersAshish Gurbani
The first noticeable thing is the large humidifier that sits quietly besides the entrance of the space. Within these finely crafted shelves lie a curated anthology of the world’s most illustrious cigars. “I love my cigars,” Poonawalla confesses with a conviction that suggests both ritual and indulgence in equal measure. “It’s my only vice. So I wanted a serene, peaceful place where I could enjoy my evening cigar with the family.” What began as an architectural afterthought—a cosy niche
during a home extension—has since evolved into one of the home’s most compelling private spaces.
Then there's the backlit display of rare spirits that tells a tale of a collector’s discerning eye. Among its treasures are limited-edition bottles of Dom Pérignon, magnums from Mumm and Moët & Chandon, and an enviable selection of meticulously aged Japanese whiskies—some matured for 25, even 30 years. And yet, ironically, Poonawalla doesn’t drink. “It’s true, I don’t drink at all,” he remarks with characteristic candour. Then, with a knowing smile that disarms any surprise, he adds, “But I do love collecting special editions.” It’s a revelation that only adds to the intrigue—an aficionado of rarity even in pleasures he doesn’t personally indulge.
It is a collection that indulges connoisseurship—a sentiment equally reflected in the resplendent display of crystal stemware that commands the room. Some are heirlooms of history: vintage glasses once owned by the Maharaja of Baroda and the Nizam of Hyderabad, commissioned in the golden age of Indian royalty from Baccarat and other elite European ateliers.
Cigars, Poonawalla confesses, are his only vice;Ashish Gurbani
the family, meanwhile, has a fondness for customised Toblerone chocolates which are also on display in the man caveAshish Gurbani
“In those days,” explains his wife, Michelle, “the royals would have the best brands create their cutlery and crockery. We’ve collected some of those pieces, and this room is their showcase.”
Designed collaboratively by the couple, the space balances masculine restraint with ornamental richness. Two discreet wine coolers flank the glassware collection, housing red and white wines at optimum temperatures. A conscious design choice ensures the bottles are not overtly on display. “We didn’t want it to look like a commercial cooler in a room that holds so much depth and meaning,” says Poonawalla.
And there’s more. At its heart, a stately fireplace lends a sense of understated grandeur that invites lingering conversation. Presiding above it is a commanding SH Raza—one of several prized masterworks that punctuate the home’s interiors—bringing an artistic depth to the space. Rich, hand-stitched leather armchairs and deep sofas evoke the charm of a refined
gentleman’s club, while a vintage Louis Vuitton trunk with the family's coat of arms—elegantly repurposed as a coffee table—furnishes the room with a flourish of storied luxury.
Another wall features an original British royal coat of arms, along with a framed section of rare Winston Churchill memorabilia—personal handwritten letters among them. “It’s my thinking space,” Poonawalla shares. “I come here to reflect. I’ve done both, big business deals as well as car deals right here in this room,” says the industrialist, whose interests span engineering, finance and bloodstock—and whose garage is a rolling archive of some of the world’s most coveted marques.
That sense of duality—power and peace—is the room’s defining aura. If the vibe were to be distilled into three words, Poonawalla offers: “Energetic, peaceful and cosy.” It’s where the day’s noise recedes into silence, replaced by the soft crackle of a cigar and the slow pull of a thought.
“I do love collecting special editions,” says Poonawalla, who describes the room that houses them as energetic, peaceful and cosy. Seen here: his collection of cigarsAshish Gurbani
And if this man cave had a soundtrack? “Probably none,” he smiles. “I like that it’s quiet. It’s the place I use to think; not only about cars, but even about my business ideas and things like that... It’s when my best ideas come to me.” Though Michelle jokes that a hint of Bosco lounge music might slip in when she’s around.
Asked whether a fictional flourish might find its place in the room and Poonawalla doesn't miss a beat. “James Bond’s watch,” he says coolly, referring to the Omega Seamaster Diver 300M Prototype that was worn by Daniel Craig in No Time To Die. “Or maybe Bond's [Land Rover] Defender,” he adds after a pause. Both of which, we later find, are already in his possession.
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