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Travel Like Karishma Tanna: How The Actor Curated an Unforgettable Vacation in Croatia
Karishma Tanna’s European getaway was all about island winds, blue horizons and old towns.
Imagine a quiet beach picnic spot, with pristine, blue water, blazing sun, and Afrobeat music in the air. You sprint towards the sea and jump in with abandon, only to realise a beautiful European irony: That the weather is warm, but the water ice cold.
“It was such a surreal, exciting feeling,” says actor Karishma Tanna as she recalls her vacation to Croatia this past August with her husband Varun Bangera, who celebrated his birthday in the stunning Southeast European country.
Tanna, an avid traveller who has a visa for almost every country in the world, was keen to explore a new European region, which is when she realised Croatia was yet to be ticked off her travel bucket list.
“Croatia has this vast, lovely blue ocean. There are so many islands. You can take yachts and boats and keep island-hopping. We went to the interiors of some of the islands, names of which I can’t even remember, and had almost a private beach to ourselves. We would jump in the middle of the sea, spot fish, and just laze around.”
The couple, who spent over 10 days in the country, started with the city of Dubrovnik, a tourist hotspot known for its charming old towns. They spent two-and-a-half days there, mesmerised by the “wonderful architecture and beautiful stonework.”
“It was really quite a sight. Europe is big on old towns and city centres and the architecture there transports you to a magical era. We walked through the old towns, small alleys, which have some cool local art, beach wear, local jewellery, footwear and of course, everyone’s favourite: fridge magnets. I love to collect those,” Tanna says.
Of course, all of this means there is a lot of walking, which Tanna believes is the best way to discover a new city. “There were cobbled roads, so I was wearing my sports shoes all the time,” she says. What was also crucial for the duo was to chill on the beach. So, a leisurely day for them, as Tanna describes, was opening a beer can and talking, or just staying quiet and being in the moment. Sometimes they would hop onto a small boat and be “lazy”; other times they would play games on their phones.
Next up on the couple’s itinerary were hot spots Split, Hvar and something they can’t stop doing: shopping.
Married for three years now, Tanna says Bangera and her are in sync about everything travelling, from enjoying extreme cold and summer equally, to loving shopping. There is not one vacation for which they have left with overpacked luggage and returned with an additional suitcase. “We’re mad when it comes to shopping. There were times during the vacation when I had to tell myself (and remind him) that I wouldn’t buy anything from a particular shop. There is a wonderful synergy that we both have which helps when you're travelling. I’m a vegetarian, so I would have my mashed potatoes and bread and veggies while Varun would enjoy his seafood. Both of us would then vibe to Afrobeat music.”
At some point during her vacation, when the couple was between Dubrovnik and Split, Tanna realised just how much the country was into the arts. Every lane had painters, who’d sit with their canvases, focused, but unbothered, observant but not talkative. “It was paradise,” she recalls.
A prominent face from TV who transitioned to streaming and struck gold with Hansal Mehta’s acclaimed Scoop (2023), Tanna says travel is essential for her as it “educates” her. “I like to learn a lot of things about different cultures, lifestyles, and infrastructure. I love to unwind when I am not working because life is all about balance. I don’t like to only be sucked in the all-consuming acting work and be stressed about my next gig.” Which is why, the moment she has a gap between projects when she is not shooting, the actor says she “takes off” to a new country. Croatia, in many ways, was just that perfect getaway. “It was a time of celebration but also to unwind,” she says.
But it isn’t that when Tanna is on holiday mode, work completely takes a back seat. Even in Croatia, when she was island-hopping or searching for the best breads to eat — she says she had some of the best wines on the trip — she was still in touch with what was happening few oceans away in Mumbai.
“I do think about what’s happening in Mumbai. I follow who’s casting and I message them. So, if I’m unwinding and enjoying the moment, I am also equally aware of what is happening in the casting business because I’m still passionate. After so many years, I’m still a go-getter. Nothing stops me, but Croatia did come as a necessary pause.”
Tanna’s Travel Essentials
1. Never overpack. Because you will definitely come back with more stuff. Avoid the hassle.
2. Be flexible. Don’t stick to an itinerary; always be ready for surprises.
3. Explore different places and restaurants if you’re a foodie. It is the best window into a culture.
4. Always use good sunscreen! No matter what, this is important.
5. Wear comfortable shoes and walk a lot.
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