The Camellias in Gurugram has always been wrapped in a mix of curiosity, envy and jokes, but businessman Rajiv Chawla’s recent comments have added a refreshing layer to the story. Known for its sky-high prices, gleaming towers and billionaire neighbours, the luxury address has long been a favourite target for stand-up comics and social media memes. But Chawla, who also lives there, believes the jokes only scratch the surface.
Speaking on a podcast, he described The Camellias as a place where achievers of every kind quietly go about their day. According to him, even the most casual interactions reveal how driven the residents are. Gym partners turn out to be unicorn founders, neighbours are self-made entrepreneurs, and many families represent India’s first generation of wealth creators. Their children are now stepping into that world with the same ambition and hustle.
Chawla joked about the memes too — the laundry guy with a LinkedIn profile, parking lots that resemble supercar rallies, and delivery boys who look like they’ve cleared MBA interviews just to enter the gate. But behind the humour, he said, is a community built on grit rather than inheritance. The people here have endured rejection, sleepless nights, delayed salaries, EMI pressure and the long, lonely grind of building something from scratch.
He called the society a “museum of stories,” where every lobby, poolside chat and morning jog holds the journey of someone who built their life piece by piece. And that, he insists, deserves respect. Not because the residents are wealthy, but because most of them earned every bit of what they have.
Chawla’s message was simple: laugh at the memes, enjoy the jokes, but don’t forget the effort behind those marble walls.
