JB Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals CEO wants to visit Masai Mara with his son

The pandemic has certainly taught us to not take the time spent with family and friends for granted. If Nikhil Chopra, CEO of JB Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals had to see the good in a bad situation it is this realisation of how important relationships are in our life.

"The first thing I plan on doing is to host a small party at home. This will be my gesture from the heart to show my loved ones what they all mean to me. I am a self-proclaimed hodophile and the moment restrictions ease, I want to travel to my favourite spots on this planet which are Masai Mara, the sheer adventurous thrill of the safari and breath-taking scenes of herds of wildlife animals crossing rivers, grazing etc. is a mesmerising sight. And I would also like to visit the Faluknama Palace in Hyderabad over a weekend. I wish to especially take this trip to Masai Mara with my son as he is also fond of the wildlife and this will offer the perfect bonding time for us as father-son, as well as help us bond with nature at its raw best," he says.

Pamper time
"I would like to start with Hammam at the Cagaloglu Hamami in Istanbul. A trip to Istanbul can never be complete without a good hot Turkish coffee, with some Turkish delights on the sides. My absolute favourite restaurant is the Michelin star rated, R&G lounge at Kearny Street in San Francisco. I simply cannot wait to go back there to enjoy my favourite black cod fish," he says.


Tech time
"While we were used to remote working, the pandemic simply accelerated the way we work away from office at a phenomenal pace. The one thing I adopted early on is the importance of identifying my space at home from where I can be focused, productive and comfortable. This gave rise to my now, most prized possession, small digital office setup at home, equipped with the latest gadgets enabling me in carrying out my tasks," he shares.

Skill till
"Perhaps lack of time or eagerness, but I have never had to or got a chance to cook in my entire life. That is one positive thing that the lockdown owing to the pandemic has taught me. Today, I can proudly say that I can dish out some fancy meals. At home, I have now become a marination champion. My wife and son are pure vegetarians, so I sneak to my mother’s place and help her cook my favourite fish dishes. I marinate the fish and then she pan-fries it. I get to spend a lot of time and bond with her while cooking," he says.

Fitness facts
"I have always managed to keep myself active and I diligently follow my work out regime. I have now taken up resistance cycling over the lockdown period and am absolutely in love with my Ferrari Bianchi Scuderia Bike. My cycling sessions have really helped me in staying upbeat and at peak form at work. From an overall society point of view, I believe the positive aspect has been pandemic brought about a change in people’s mindset and made them realise the importance of general well-being. I have seen a huge uptake in wellness medications, organic ayurvedic products and being mindful of following basic wellness habits like steam inhalation etc. Personally, I have started trying out essential oils for my overall well-being and also more mindful on using and eating organic products, as much as possible," he says.

Mental health
"I feel expansive thinking is a great way of thinking about big, audacious problems or situations and seeing multiple ways to solve them. I have been using that for solving most of my problems and getting detached from ‘problems at hand’. Lately, I have been reading extensively on Buddhism and exploring its very essence. Spirituality is my favourite genre and I like reading about spiritual leaders. It keeps me level-headed, calm and inspires me at the same time," he says.

Look love
"I have grown very comfortable in my own skin and my grey areas (pun intended). Lately, have been experimenting with my salt-and-pepper beard," he ends.