Shantanu Maheshwari: The calmness I felt in Bangla Sahib can’t be explained

Actor-dancer Shantanu Maheshwari’s recent visit to Delhi for a dance performance was special for a number of reasons. The actor, who is from Kolkata, had a wonderful time in the Capital as he strolled along the streets and gorged on delicious street food. But the best part of his trip was visiting Bangla Sahib, which was his first ever time at a gurdwara.

“I have never been to a gurdwara before and Delhi gave me a chance to tick this off my wish-list. I can’t tell you how beautiful this experience was, more so because I am a very spiritual person. The kind of calmness and spiritual connection I felt there cannot be explained in words,” says Maheshwari, who was mesmerised by the architecture of the place. “The gurdwara is built so beautifully, almost like a replica of the Golden Temple (Amritsar), that you cannot take your eyes off it,” the Gangubai Kathiwadi actor adds.

Maheshwari also made it a point to try the langar and prasad there. “My friends and I had breakfast and chai at the langar, and also the kadha prasad,” he said.

And what’s a visit to Delhi without having some scrumptious street food? Speaking about all the dishes he tried, the actor tells us, “I am a foodie, though I don’t look like one (smiles). I had waited really long, almost since 2015, to have purani Dilli ka khaana and finally, I did it. We explored Chandni Chowk and Paranthe Wali Gali. There is a very famous jalebiwala there. We also had lassi, chai and all sorts of street food. I am a vegetarian, so our luxury item is paneer! We tried street food around Janpath too, and did a lot of street shopping… We also got one those e-rickshaws and enjoyed the trip to the fullest,” he concludes.