Soleus

Posted • Of all the buildings in , Dhanraj Mahal in Colaba stands out for its size and scale. Originally a royal residence built for Maharaja Narsingir Dhanrajgir Gyan Bahadur of Hyderabad between 1935 and 1938, the building reflects the curved façades, geometric patterns and spacious interiors typical of the art deco style. Designed by prominent Mumbai-based architects Thomas Gregson, Claude Batley and Henry Foster King of Gregson, Batley & King, the building is striking due to its pink stone, grand entry and vast internal courtyard surrounded by residences and offices. Today, it houses tenants like Jaipur’s The Gem Palace and the auction house Christie’s alongside spacious homes. Descendants of the royal family still live there. The building functions as a major landmark in the historic Colaba area.

Neville Wadia, an exercise professional qualified from Australia, opened his practice, Soleus ()—now a well-known health and fitness studio—within this landmark building in 2018. Known to train committed fitness enthusiasts in Mumbai, Wadia is much in demand and quickly realised he needed more space.

After looking for spots across the city, he recently opened a second space in Dhanraj Mahal, exactly seven years after he opened his first studio. “Last October, this space just showed up and I grabbed it with both hands,” says Wadia. “It’s a stand-alone structure with a pitched roof and truly a beautiful space with windows on three sides.” Architect Zoish Contractor () designed and developed the interiors.

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