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Inside Dhvani Bhanushali’s Dreamy Italy Trip: Rome, Amalfi, Milan and More
How singer Dhvani Bhanushali ditched digital distractions, bonded with her family, and found inspiration in Italy’s natural soundtrack.
When singer Dhvani Bhanushali landed in Italy for a family vacation, she carried everything one needs for a dream holiday — except earphones. The musician, known for chartbuster songs in films like Kabir Singh, Luka Chuppi, and Good Newwz, had a specific goal in mind: to soak in the sounds of the country.
“This time, I made sure I wasn’t listening to anything because I didn’t want to be so stimulated,” Bhanushali tells The Hollywood Reporter India. “I just wanted to be in that place, be still, and soak it all in.” So, she did exactly that, trading pop music for the chime of church bells, rhythms of local musicians, the sound of coffee brewing and the gentle lapping of lake water.
“But it wasn’t like I wasn’t chasing music,” says the 27-year-old singer, who first shot to fame with the 2019 single “Vaaste” composed by Tanishk Bagchi. There was one day in Rome, when she was parking at a train station, and her ears followed a familiar sound as she stumbled upon a three-piece band — a drummer, a bass guitar and a guitarist — playing at a cafe nearby.
“They were just jamming, and I was amazed by the raw energy,” she recalls. “It wasn’t even a song, it was a piece that they were exploring. You’re walking on the street, several musicians are playing; this was something that stayed with me about Italy.”
Over almost two weeks, the singer’s Italian adventure took her to Milan, Rome, Portofino, Naples, Varenna, and the breathtaking Amalfi Coast. In Milan, she marvelled at the city’s fashion prowess and indulged in some retail therapy. “People take such care of how they dress, and the shopping is incredible,” she says. “We shopped a lot around the city, and I loved how effortless yet stylish everyone looked.”
The family — Dhvani, her producer father Vinod Bhanushali, mother Rinku, and sister Diya — aimed to explore new places, book an Airbnb, and savour good food. In Naples, they forgoed pasta to enjoy a late-night shawarma feast, complete with falafel and hummus. “It was an unlikely place to have it, but it was huge and full of flavours!” Bhanushali exclaims.
However, after a week, the family switched to a night of home-cooked Indian food as the “nostalgia of daal-chawal” hit hard, she laughs.
The family vacation was filled with both laughter and adventure, from a hilarious kayaking mishap to people-watching escapades. “What I didn’t know was that the kayaks are made of wood and they are so heavy. I told my dad, ‘You pick one and I will pick one,’ but I couldn’t even pick it up. It was a disaster! But my dad has been going to the gym, and he is really fit, so it was so easy for him,” she laughs.
The singer and her family also had a blast watching a couple in another kayak stuck in the middle of the lake. The man, she recalls, was annoyed that his lady companion wasn’t rowing anymore, with both of them now stranded in the middle of the lake.
“These travel stories of something amusing happening around you are such a favourite. You might be in a new land, a new culture, with strangers around you, but people and their quirks always make for a great story.”
For some, holidaying with family might not be as enjoyable, as it might come at the cost of being fully themselves. Bhanushali is aware of that, but says that was never a problem for her. She calls her parents her best friends and looks at family vacations as a healthy way to spend quality time and laugh over shared experiences.
“I love spending time with my parents. We’re not too far apart in age, so we laugh and joke a lot while travelling. I think that’s what makes our vacations so special. We genuinely enjoy each other’s company.”
After all, the family that visits a ceramics factory together stays together. Two highlights of their trip included visiting a stunning cathedral in Amalfi and exploring a ceramic factory. “There are so many towns there that have these ceramic factories which you can explore. It requires a day, but it is totally worth it.”
Bhanushali also recalls her breathtaking speedboat tour of Varenna. “The scenic views of the town and houses were stunning,” she raves. “I’m a full passenger princess, so I don’t remember places because it’s not like I’m planning where to go on a strict itinerary. I like to be surprised, and I prefer to be off the grid.”
As her Italian vacation came to a close, she was left with unforgettable memories and a renewed sense of inspiration as an artiste.
“Travelling is about embracing the unknown and finding stories in the people and places around you. That’s what I did.”
When in Rome
“Go to Milan to shop. Then, if you’re interested in architecture, go to Rome,” Bhanushali suggests. “You can then go to Portofino and Amalfi, which are close by. Head to Sorrento for breathtaking views of the Gulf of Naples as well as beautiful art shops. And if you want to do a slight detour, you can go to Paris!”
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