Maulik Pancholy (“Only Murders in the Building,” “Weeds,” “30 Rock”) knows how to travel. Whether he’s appearing in an Off-Broadway play, filming in LA, or delivering a keynote speech on diversity and inclusion in a corporate or education setting, the actor-author-activist spends a lot of time on the road, and has picked up a few recommendations along the way.
GayCities had a chance to catch up with Pancholy, and he told us about a few of his favorite destinations and offered an insider’s look at his travel style and preferences.
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Head to Brooklyn
MP: “There’s a great restaurant that I love in my neighborhood called Sociale. The owners are so nice and the food is great. It’s just the most cozy setting. And whenever I have friends who are willing to actually come across the bridge to Brooklyn, that’s where we tend to go.”
Hello, Sunshine
MP: “I haven’t been to LA since pre-pandemic, but I do go to Runyon Canyon. The views are amazing. You can make it as hard as you want if you go to some of the side trails, but it’s a great spot to go to, for sure.”
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Next Passport-Required Destination?
MP: “Definitely India. It holds a very dear place in my heart. We used to go a lot when I was a kid. As an adult, the trips got a little less frequent, but I was there in 2018. Even not having been born there, there’s something about landing there and feeling a sense of home.”
“When we used to go when I was a kid, we’d visit family in the state of Gujarat, but it’s always great to travel around more. Udaipur is one of my favorite cities, with palaces that have been turned into hotels on the water. It was famously featured in the James Bond movie Octopussy.”
“And the last time we also went to Jaisalmer, which is like a desert, big sand dunes, and camels — just gorgeous.”
“We did a southeast Asia trip years ago and fell in love with Luang Prabang in Lao, and would love to go back there. It feels a little off the beaten path, even though there are a lot of ex-pats who live there. It’s so peaceful and beautiful. And there’s this tradition of the monks walking to the street to get rice in the morning. You feel a sense of community, part of something active and special.”
Efficient Suitcase Packer or Hot Mess?
MP: “I’m that glorious mix: I way overpack, but I know how to roll T-shirts and get it all to fit into my bag.”
Road Trip: Driver or Passenger Seat?
MP: “We split! I’m married, and one of us will drive on the way down, and the other will drive on the way back.”
Vacation Strategy: Planner or Spontaneous?
MP: “I used to be a planner when I was younger. We’d have to buy three tour books in case the first one didn’t cover everything. And now, I’m like, let’s land and figure out where to go. We just went to Puerto Vallarta and Mexico City, and it was my first time in both places. We went to Puerto Vallarta first, and while we were there, we were planning Mexico City. Except my husband owns a catering company and wanted to go to all these great restaurants, and those we did have to book in advance.”
Maulik Pancholy appears in Two My Girls at Second Stage Theater through April 24. His new book, Nikhil Out Loud, is available for pre-order with October 11, 2022, release date.
