Things They Like: Ashish Bhasin

Ashish Bhasin’s ‘Must have’ gadget is his Blackberry. As he wakes up, it is the first gadget he sees. Never mind the occasion, Bhasin is always connected via his Blackberry. “I’m a bit of a Blackberry addict and I’m often 24 X 7 on it, much to the chagrin of my wife! It’s not uncommon for me to wake up two or three times during the night, answer mails and then go back to sleep. It pains me to see that the BB may fade away soon,” he says. He also has an iPad at home for entertainment and work.

Bhasin describes his wardrobe as muted, whether at work or at a party or an industry event. He believes that one has to dress up such that the attention is not on what one wears. He is usually spotted in a white or light coloured shirt with a dark suit and tie. He likes his shirts from Tommy Hilfiger. The only accessory ‘he has ever worn’ is his wedding ring. Sharing secrets on his ring, he says, “It has my wedding date engraved on the inside, so it helps me remember my anniversary and keeps me from getting into trouble with my wife. And I’m actually now wearing it on the wrong finger because I have put on weight since I got married.” His favourite perfume is Polo Black from Ralph Lauren. Among watches, he is very fond of his Rolex and considers it as an extension of himself.

When is comes to shoes, Bhasin particularly likes handmade leather shoes from the UK, because of their attention to detail and ‘fantastic craft’ - including the laces that are also made from the same leather. He likes shoes where the sole and the heel are also made of leather. “I just can’t get myself to wear formal shoes with a non-leather sole. It doesn’t give the same grip or feel or the clicking sound,” he surmises. He drives an E-Class Mercedes. He has been driving a Merc for several years now and finds an element of comfort in it. But he is tempted by the new launches from BMW, and admits: “Who knows what the next one will be?”