HELLO! India Exclusive: Roop Partap Choudhary's love letter to India

Ardently upholding the celebration of Indian maximalism, Roop Partap Choudhary’s penchant for design feels layered, collected, and laden with personality. That this second generation entrepreneur is also a lover of all things heritage is evident from how he’s invested in spaces that tell stories through art, textiles, antiques, books, and objects gathered over time. An aesthetic bastion that perfectly encapsulates this passion is Colonel Saab, a London fine-diner that the art aficionado admits is his ode to a diverse, eclectic and plebeian India that to him was “at times regal, at times rustic and mostly beautiful.”

As HELLO! catches up with the stylish restaurateur — the son of Colonel Manbeer Choudhary — he takes us through his fascinating journey from the industrial town of Karnal to the bustling heart of London. 

THE EARLY YEARS

Being an army kid had obvious perks of travel, admits Roop Partap. “We incessantly moved to different places across India, prepared for fresh beginnings. Every two years it was a new city, a new school,” he recalls acclimatising to diverse cultural landscapes frequently. “This continues to influence my views even today. I can’t stop myself from seeing a small township in London and comparing it to a cantonment I once called home.”

Encouraged by his parents to find his own path, Roop Partap eventually found going to London a pivot. It prepared him adequately for the launch of Colonel Saab in October 2021, at the historic Holborn Town Hall, to serve royal Indian fare in an unforgettable setting to gourmands in the city. The second restaurant came up at Trafalgar Square in November 2023.

THE DESIGN DIARY PROFILE

The owner’s proclivity for Indian heritage and grandeur reflects in his London restaurants — both resemble the interiors of a quintessential Indian palace. Like the family-owned Noor Mahal, a sumptuous, sprawling palace hotel that Roop Partap’s parents built in Karnal. It was also India’s First Autograph Collection Hotel by Marriott International.

Stocked like a museum, the property reflects his mother Binny Choudhary’s fondness for all things rich, regal and vintage. “Her radar for vintage design is incomparable. So she often drags me to a haveli that is falling apart just because a pillar there caught her eye. Together, we can spend hours in vintage haunts, flea markets, or stores selling memorabilia,” Roop Partap traces how he inculcated her taste, though he is quick to explain how eclectic his interests really are.

“I am drawn to pieces that have character, depth, and a strong narrative. Whether traditional or contemporary, I believe the best art is the kind that sparks conversation, stirs emotion, and continues to reveal something new each time you live with it.”

Colonel Saab, reveals Roop Partap, exudes that aura of heritage design. From vintage Baccarat crystal chandeliers and splendid Chippendale chairs sourced from a maharaja’s palace, to gold-dipped paintings that are hundred years old, ancient portraits and keepsakes, the interiors of the restaurants celebrate classic Indian opulence.

“Heritage is not something to preserve behind glass. It must be experienced, shared, and passed on to future generations,” he asserts. “It was imperative that every corner personified ‘indie luxe.’” The cuisine they serve, too, aims to elevate Indian fare beyond standard 1970s’ “curry house” staples. “We celebrate true regional flavours, drawing inspiration from the places where my father was stationed — from royal banquets and maharajas’ kitchens to local lunches in Rajasthani tents and British inspired Indian breakfasts in the officer’s mess,” the aesthete explains their menu.

LIFE & ITS LESSONS

Born in an aristocratic family with its roots in undivided Punjab, Roop Partap completed his schooling in Bishop Cotton in Shimla. “Just like many other seniors of my family,” he also pursued his Master’s in Hospitality from Ashland University in the US, after which he completed a specialised programme from Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University.

The real education, however, came from witnessing how hard his parents toiled, building their empire brick by brick with their own hands. A decorated officer in the Armoured Corps (The Tank Corps of the Indian Army), Colonel Manbeer took an early retirement to fulfil his dream of building a world-class hotel in Karnal, his own city. “I have seen them work, work, and work. I developed this appetite to build something from scratch from them.”

After savouring entrepreneurial success, Roop Partap evolved on the personal front, as well — he became a single parent to Biba, his lovely daughter. “The decision came from a place of love, conviction, and a deep desire to build the family I always dreamed of.”

Clearly, the young entrepreneur defines parenthood by the ability to nurture, support, and provide unconditional love.“My parents’ unwavering support gave me the confidence to embrace motherhood wholeheartedly. Raising a child takes a village, and I am grateful to have people with me who are also now my daughter’s lifeline!”