When filmmaker Farah Khan arrived at Union Minister Nitin Gadkari’s Delhi residence for a YouTube vlog, she wasn’t prepared for what she’d discover. A home where politics takes a backseat, cow dung becomes paint, and orange soup is the house speciality.
Despite being one of India’s most prominent political figures, Gadkari maintains a strict separation between his public and private life. “I have always had an irregular and indisciplined political life.
This is our house, our children, their culture. I don’t have any politics in my house,” he explained to Khan during her visit.
His wife, Kanchan Gadkari, who holds an MSc in Food and Nutrition, echoed this sentiment: “We don’t talk a word about politics. ” She revealed that while her husband handles political affairs, she runs her own empire — a bank, a hospital, two educational institutes, and four organisations for women — and manages organic farming operations.
The unconventional innovations One of the most surprising revelations came when Gadkari showed Khan his conference room. “I have made a paint from cow dung,” he announced casually, pointing to the walls. The eco-friendly paint, derived entirely from cow dung, covers the walls of his home, a testament to his commitment to sustainable innovation.
The minister’s YouTube presence also came as a surprise. When Khan asked about his channel, Gadkari revealed, “I get calls from America” about his content, which has garnered “4. 5 crores” (45 million) views.
A kitchen that feeds multitudes Gadkari’s kitchen is no ordinary cooking space. “My dining table can seat 16 people,” he stated proudly, explaining that ministers and officials regularly come for breakfast. The house employs four chefs in Delhi, four more in Nagpur, and three in Mumbai.
The famous orange-carrot soup The highlight of Khan’s visit was Gadkari’s signature orange-carrot soup, made with oranges from his own farm. “You won’t find this soup anywhere else,” Gadkari claimed, and Khan agreed: “I haven’t seen this soup anywhere in the world. ” Story continues below this ad His wife demonstrated how to prepare his favourite potato vadas, revealing the secret ingredient: “Lemon and sugar” added to the mixture.
Everything used in the kitchen comes from their organic farm. “Everything is organic here. Everything is homegrown.
Our lentils are organic. Everything is organic,” Gadkari emphasised. The peaceful garden and peacock visitors The sprawling property includes an organic farm where peacocks roam freely.
“We have 9-10 peacocks here. 17 peacocks,” Gadkari said, noting they come from neighbouring properties, including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s residence and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s home.
“Peacocks come here, eat here and leave. They don’t have a party,” he joked. The couple enjoys their mornings in the garden.
“We sit on the sofa in the sun,” Kanchan shared, describing their breakfast routine on the lawn. The middle-class ethos Despite his position and achievements, Gadkari insists on maintaining a grounded lifestyle. “Our life is a middle-class life.
Everything happens with happiness. There is no tension,” he said. Story continues below this ad Married for 41 years (though he humorously couldn’t remember the exact year—his wife corrected him: “84”), Gadkari credits his stress-free approach to a simple philosophy: “The one who does not worry about the future, he does not get it very soon.
God has given me more than my worth. ”.