How Mira Kapoor's Dhun Wellness Is Transforming Urban Self-Care

Manifest: What made you venture into the wellness space and launch Dhun Wellness?

Mira Kapoor: “The wellness industry is polarised between getaway retreats and resorts, which allow you to spend a few days trying their programs; and back in the city, wellness retreats are geared towards aesthetic salons. At Dhun Wellness, we have endeavoured to create a sanctuary in the heart of the city, blending the wisdom of ancient alternative therapies with cutting-edge technology. We offer an entire gamut of therapies and treatments, that address metabolic dysfunction, performance, stamina, and recovery, alongside regenerative facials and other wellness programmes. We want Dhun to be a space where you connect and engage with yourself deeply, and regularly.”

M: Tell us about the name. What does it mean, and how does it signify your core wellness philosophy?

MK: “Everything in the Universe has a connection with sound and vibration, because every microcosm, including us, has an association with the frequency our minds move and our heart beats at. ‘Dhun’ means melody, and when we align these frequencies from the microcosm to the macro, we’re able to harmonise our being. And within the harmony, we can restore ourselves, because music is a universal language of healing. Dhun doesn’t require speaking the same language as somebody else, but when one hears something beautiful, we feel the same joy. It’s that melody of mindfulness that enables one to connect with the other.”

M: Growing up, who shaped your idea of beauty and wellness?

MK: “My mother. She follows the ‘inside-out’ approach while practising simple living and staying consistent and disciplined. Watching her has shaped who I am today. Ever since I was young, I have seen my mum wake up very early in the morning, consume different concoctions, and stay active. She has always been disciplined about what she eats, and her definition of a workout is not what we know of today. She goes for a walk every day, and she does certain exercises for her core, regardless of whether her back is aching or not… And more than that, she believes in being happy and joyful. Even her beauty rituals were minimalistic, but she’s been consistent with what she did.”

M: Mira, tell us what about your beauty or wellness routine in the run-up to your wedding?

MK: “I have curated and created a treatment at Dhun that is inspired by my pre-bridal ritual, which I followed exclusively before my wedding. I never got any facials done or tried any packages. I had someone make this luxurious scrub at home, and the recipe was inherited from my sister’s grandmother-in-law. So, a month before my wedding, I would get this scrub done, which sloughed off all of the dead skin. This was followed by a massage with badam ka tel [almond oil]. This treatment at Dhun is called Lumira.”

M: Do you have any tips and tricks to survive the wedding season?

MK: “Weddings in our country last for almost 10 days, and they are always so hectic… If you’re the bride, I would recommend getting the Ethera facial once a week for four weeks to see a lifted face. You could also try one of our body treatments called Sculpt, which uses tools and body brushes to lymphatically massage the body. This treatment helps de-puff and contour the body. Also, integrating red light and cryotherapy will give you a collagen boost. After the wedding season with all the food we have eaten, and long nights, I’d suggest opting for one of the seven-day gut programmes to help reset the gut microbiome.”

M: Spouses or partners often take on each other’s qualities. Have you or Shahid [Kapoor] picked up any from one another?

MK: “Shahid is very disciplined, and that’s something that I’ve learned from him. He wakes up early and goes to bed on time. While I think exposure to holistic medicine, Ayurveda, and listening to the signals of the body is something he’s picked up from me.”