On a film set, the vanity van is far more than a waiting room between shots. It’s where actors recalibrate between long takes, rehearse lines, change costumes, squeeze in workouts, and steal moments of
calm amid the chaos of production. Over the years, these mobile spaces have quietly evolved into intimate extensions of a celebrity’s lifestyle – designed not just for convenience, but for comfort, focus and familiarity.
Interior designer Vinita Chaitanya recently offered a rare glimpse into this little-seen world when she appeared on a podcast with Masoom Minawala, revealing how stars like Deepika Padukone and Shah Rukh Khan approach their on-set sanctuaries very differently, yet with equal intentionality.
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Deepika Padukone’s Vanity Vans: Designed With Purpose
Vinita Chaitanya’s association with Deepika spans years and spaces, from her earliest Mumbai apartment to her office, and eventually, her vanity vans. “I’ve done her home many times, from her first apartment at Beaumonde to the one on top, which is her office. Then I did her van. In fact, two vans,” Vinita shared.
For Deepika, a vanity van is not an afterthought but a carefully considered environment. According to Vinita, the actor approached the project with remarkable clarity. “She really got it and knew exactly what she wanted,” she said, adding that the experience offered insight into how actors truly use these mobile spaces during shoots.
The design brief, however, changes with scale. Deepika uses two vans: a compact one for short outdoor shoots and a larger version for extensive studio schedules. “There’s a larger van and a smaller one. The smaller van is used for shorter commutes, while the bigger one is meant for large studio sets,” Vinita explained. The result is functionality wrapped in familiarity, much like her homes.
Shah Rukh Khan’s Vanity Van: Comfort First
While researching vanity vans during a shoot featuring Shah Rukh and Deepika, Vinita found herself stepping into the superstar’s personal space on set. “While researching other vans, I walked into Shah Rukh Khan’s van for the first time. They were shooting a film together,” she recalled.
What stood out was not excessive ornamentation but thoughtful utility. Shah Rukh Khan’s van, Vinita noted, was built around ease and endurance, including a small gym inside. “His van was fabulous, it even had a small gym inside. He’s such a cool guy,” she added.
As shoots grow longer and demands intensify, the vanity van has emerged as a quiet marker of how stars protect their energy. Whether it’s Deepika Padukone’s deeply personalised mobile haven or Shah Rukh Khan’s performance-focused retreat, these spaces reflect how India’s biggest actors prioritise wellbeing, routine and balance – even while constantly on the move.
