From family farmlands to vintage rooms: The Great Indian Kapil Show's Archana Puran Singh gives a glimpse of her Dehradun home

Archana Puran Singh, best known for her work in films and television and as a judge on comedy shows, often gives her fans a glimpse into her personal life through her vlog channel AAAP Ka Parivar. Along with her husband, actor Parmeet Sethi, and their two sons, Aaryamann and Ayushmaan, she shares moments from everyday life, fun family challenges, and travel diaries. In their latest vlog, the family was joined by Ayushmaan’s fiancée, Yogita, and Archana’s 95-year-old mother as they travelled to Dehradun, her hometown. During the trip, Archana revisited the house where she grew up — a 75-year-old home built by her father, the late criminal lawyer Puran Singh. She also travelled to her ancestral village, Dudhali, near Dehradun, to explore the 200-year-old family home that still stands there.

The house opens to a garden surrounded by several trees and plants, with a swing placed right in the middle. Archana mentioned that the garden was much larger earlier, before the gravel area was added. She recalled how during her childhood, she and her siblings would often have their meals outside in the garden during winters. Hot rotis with white butter and sarson ka saag were some of the dishes she remembered enjoying in the heavy Dehradun winters.

The lobby of the house has a brown and black contrast that gives it a classy look. It is decorated with indoor plants, a huge library, and paintings covering the walls. Full-length windows open towards the garden, making the space bright and open. Archana revealed that this room was once her late father’s office, but it has now been turned into a library by her brother. The lobby also has a Kashmiri-style rooftop, which has a story of its own. She revealed that the delicate wooden work on the roof of the lobby was done by Kashmiri craftsmen, who were specially called to Dehradun by her father for the project.

Archana shared that the living room was originally two separate rooms when she was young. Each room even had its own fireplace. Over time, the rooms were combined into one large space. Today, one side of the living room has couches for seating, while the other side serves as a dining area. The space also displays several antique items like furniture and wall fittings which are over 50 years old.

Moving outside, Archana showed the area that now serves as staff quarters. She explained that this part of the house was once used for her father’s cars. Earlier, there were three garages here, where her father parked the cars he loved so much. The space has now been repurposed, but it still carries memories of her father’s passion for his cars.

Archana took her viewers to her ancestral village, Dudhali, where her father had built a school. The school stands on the same land as their 200-year-old ancestral home. The school is surrounded by farmland owned by Archana and her extended family. She pointed out that almost all the fields around belong to her brothers, cousins, and herself. Archana also revealed that her father had built the road in front of the school, as he wanted children in the village to have access to education where earlier there was nothing.

Another stop was a 150-year-old room that once belonged to Archana’s grandfather. Archana shared how her mother was moved to tears when she saw the same house where she had arrived as a young bride. The family has made efforts to preserve the room in its original form, especially the ceiling which is still the same as it was 150 years ago. Inside, they have also placed a frame of Sai Baba in memory of her grandfather. This room, for Archana and her family, holds deep emotional value.

Archana also gave her viewers a look at a massive tree standing inside the school compound. The tree, she said, was planted by her great-grandfather around 300 years ago. It has now survived through five generations of the family.

She went on to give a tour of the farmland near the school. Pointing out the farms owned by her brothers and cousins, Archana later shared a video of her own patch of land, from where one can view both the Himalayas and the Shivalik hills at the same time. “When we retire, we will build a house here on our own land,” she said.