I am my own hero: Deepak Perwani

Fashion designer Deepak Perwani on loving KungFu Panda 2 and wanting hair in the right places.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

A perfect sunset or a great day at the beach — life is all about little pockets of happiness.

What is your greatest fear?

My mother dying before I do, for death is inevitable.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

Procrastination.

What is your greatest extravagance?

Oh, it is yet to happen.

What is your current state of mind?

At the moment I am relaxed, though I’ve started my diet today so ask me next week.

On what occasion do you lie?

When I’m sleeping and someone wakes me up — I don’t exactly lie as such.

What do you most dislike about your appearance?

Hmmm. The hair on my back.

Which living person do you most despise?

I don’t think I despise anyone. It’s too strong a word.

What is the quality you most like in a man?

Cleanliness.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

I like open-minded opinionated women.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

F*** off!

When and where were you happiest?

That would be in Barcelona — its one of my favourite cities in the whole world.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I’ll get more hair on my head.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

I’ve had many, though the greatest is yet to come.

If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?

Superman.

Where would you most like to live?

On a small island off the coast of Miami.

What is your most treasured possession?

My cat.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

The current state of Pakistan.

If you didn’t do your current job, what would you choose to do?

I would be a rock star.

Who is your hero of fiction?

I believe in real heroes.

Who are your heroes in real life?

I am my own hero.

What’s your favourite quote?

Life is not about getting what you want, but wanting what you get.

What kind of super powers would you like to have?

The power to eradicate disease and famine.

If you had a time machine, where would you go?

To Mars and to the Moon, oh and also to the ancient world of the Romans and the Greeks.

What’s the one thing you wish someone would invent?

A lie detector for all Pakistani politicians.

If they made a movie on your life, who would you want to play your role?

Shezad Nawaz.

What’s the last really good movie you watched?

Kungfu Panda 2.

Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, July 3^rd, 2011.