Nicholai Sachdev was born in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, to parents deeply embedded in the art world. His father, Arun Sachdev, is an established gallerist and writer/editor, and his mother, Chandra Sachdev, is a trained fine-artist (having studied at institutions like the J. J. School of Art and Kala Bhavan in Santiniketan).
His family owns one of Mumbai’s pioneering contemporary art venues, Gallery 7. The gallery was originally founded in 1979 by Arun & Chandra Sachdev.
Growing up in this environment, Nicholai developed an early interest in art collecting and curatorial practices — one source reports he bought his first painting at age 16.
Despite some discrepancies in sources about his exact birth-date, many list him as born in 1983 (making him around 41 as of 2024) or 1986 (making him about 38 as of 2024).
Table of Contents
Education & Formative Years
Though full details are somewhat inconsistent, available information indicates that Nicholai Sachdev:
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Attended school (some sources mention St. Michael’s Academy in Chennai) and possibly studied arts or management.
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One biography suggests he did an MBA (though the institution varies across sources).
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He spent significant time immersed in his family’s gallery operations from a young age, which offered him practical exposure to the business of art dealing and curating.
This combination of formal education and hands-on experience in the art world provided a strong foundation for his later career.
Physical Attributes & Personal Style
Nicholai is noted for his striking physical presence and distinctive personal style:
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Height: Frequently cited as 6′ 6″ (198 cm).
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Weight: Approx. 90 kg (198 lbs) as per media profiles.
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Distinguishing features: He is known to have multiple tattoos and piercings (including left-ear lobe and nose).
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He maintains a strong fitness regimen (see Section 5) which further reinforces his physical impression.
In social and media coverage, his tattoos and muscular physique are repeatedly mentioned as part of his “fitness-enthusiast turned gallery-owner” persona.
Career Path — From Family Gallery to Entrepreneur
1 Gallery 7 and the Art Business
Nicholai Sachdev is intimately connected with Gallery 7, which is a well-known contemporary art gallery in Mumbai. According to the gallery’s own “About” page:
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Gallery 7 was founded in 1979 by Arun & Chandra Sachdev.
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It has evolved over decades and is located in the heritage precinct of Rampart Row, Kala Ghoda, Mumbai.
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Nicholai (often referred to as “Arunov Nicholai Sachdev” in gallery literature) has been involved in the business for two decades and now plays a key role in its operation and growth.
Under his direction (and alongside his mother Chandra), the gallery has continued to curate high-profile exhibitions, support emerging talent, and engage with India’s contemporary art market.
2 Other Business & Entrepreneurial Ventures
While his main public identity is as gallery-owner/gallerist, profiles indicate that Nicholai has diversified interests:
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He is described as an entrepreneur beyond just art dealing—though detailed ventures are not always clearly listed.
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His fitting of a fitness/power-lifting identity also suggests possible involvement in fitness coaching/training (especially given his daughter’s involvement, see Section 6).
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Media articles mention his status as “Mumbai-based entrepreneur” and “businessman” though without comprehensive lists of ventures.
3 Notable Achievements
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As a gallerist, a major achievement is sustaining and expanding Gallery 7’s relevance in a competitive art world, while attracting celebrities and patrons.
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His cross-over into fitness/power-lifting (see below) has added to his public persona beyond art.
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His marriage to actress Varalaxmi Sarathkumar (in July 2024) further elevated his media profile.
Involvement in Power-Lifting & Fitness
Nicholai Sachdev is not just an art gallerist — he is also a dedicated fitness enthusiast and competitive power-lifter. Key points:
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He has participated in open power-lifting championships. For example, one profile notes he won a gold medal in bench-press and silver in deadlift at an Open Powerlifting Championship in 2023.
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He trains young athletes and even his own daughter (see Section 6) in weight-lifting/power-lifting.
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His fitness discipline contributes to his height/weight statistics from Section 3 and is often remarked upon in media interviews.
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He appears to use his fitness platform (~ training/coaching) as a supplementary side of his entrepreneurial identity (though exact business structure not publicly detailed).
This dual identity — art dealer + fitness advocate — distinguishes him in the public domain.
Personal Life – Relationships, Marriages & Children
1 First Marriage & Daughter
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Nicholai’s first marriage was to model/fitness instructor Kavita Sachdev (some sources say “Kavita Sachdev”) around 2006.
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They had a daughter named Kasha Sachdev.
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Reports say the marriage ended in 2019 (after approximately 13 years) due to “irreconcilable differences”.
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Post-divorce, Kasha has been trained by Nicholai and reportedly achieved success in power-lifting.
2 Relationship & Marriage with Varalaxmi Sarathkumar
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Nicholai and South Indian actress Varalaxmi Sarathkumar (born 5 March 1985) had been friends for some 14 years before their engagement in March 2024.
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They were married in a destination wedding (Thailand) on 2 or 3 July 2024, followed by a reception in Chennai on 3 July 2024.
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During the press interaction post-wedding, Nicholai revealed that his surname was expanded (to include “Varalaxmi Sarathkumar Sachdev” per some reports) and he is learning Tamil to respect his wife’s cultural background.
3 Current Status
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As of 2025, they are publicly recognized as a married couple. Media coverage highlights their combined social and cultural visibility.
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Nicholai maintains a relatively low profile on social media, in contrast to Varalaxmi whose film career remains active.
Net Worth & Business Ventures
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Multiple sources estimate Nicholai Sachdev’s net worth at around US $10 million (≈ ₹ 83 crore) in 2024.
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This valuation is generally attributed to his ownership/management of Gallery 7 in Mumbai, his entrepreneurial interests, and investments drawn from his business & fitness coaching activities.
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While a detailed breakdown of assets (real-estate, other companies, investments) is not publicly available, the art gallery business and high-net-worth circles (celebrity collectors, premium art market) contribute significantly.
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Combined with his wife Varalaxmi’s film income and public profile, their household is considered high-profile in India’s entertainment & art sectors.
Public Image, Media Coverage & Notable Moments
1 Media Attention
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The announcement of his engagement and marriage to Varalaxmi Sarathkumar in 2024 triggered a surge of media interest about his background, career and philanthropic/fitness dimensions.
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There were discussions in the press about the age difference, his second marriage, his looks/tattoos and public perception; his wife publicly defended him and addressed criticism.
2 Notable Public Statements
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In a press interview, Nicholai stated that Varalaxmi’s first love is cinema and emphasised his support for her career continuing post-marriage.
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The gallery website credits him for “two decades” of involvement and suggests an expansion plan to cities outside Mumbai — indicating his business ambitions.
3 Challenges & Criticism
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Some public commentary has focused on his appearance (tattoos, fitness physique), second-marriage status, and the transition from “gallery heir” to independent entrepreneur.
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Nicholai chooses to maintain a relatively private personal life, and avoids social-media heavy self-promotion. This gives him an image of understated wealth and niche influence (rather than flamboyant celebrity).
Lesser-Known Facts
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He reportedly bought his first painting when he was 16 years old, showing an early penchant for art collection.
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In his capacity at Gallery 7, he has been credited with spotting and promoting young Indian artists and enhancing their visibility academically and commercially.
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Although he is a fitness enthusiast, he reportedly also consumes alcohol socially (as mentioned in one profile) — pointing to a lifestyle that balances discipline with social-leisure.
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The marriage to Varalaxmi included cross- cultural elements: a destination wedding in Thailand, followed by a reception in Chennai, and blending of identities (he reportedly added his wife’s name to his surname).
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Despite his public wealth and associations, his early life, siblings (if any), and private business details remain under-reported, suggesting he retains a level of privacy.
FAQs
Q1: What is Nicholai Sachdev’s age?
A1: There is some discrepancy in sources, but commonly his birth-year is cited as either 1983 (making him about 41 in 2024) or 1986 (making him about 38 in 2024).
Q2: How tall is Nicholai Sachdev?
A2: He is frequently listed as 6′ 6″ (198 cm) tall.
Q3: Who are Nicholai Sachdev’s parents?
A3: His father is Arun Sachdev, a gallerist and magazine editor; his mother is Chandra Sachdev, a trained fine-artist.
Q4: Who is Nicholai Sachdev’s wife?
A4: His current wife is Varalaxmi Sarathkumar (married in July 2024). Before this, he was married to Kavita (2006-2019) and has a daughter named Kasha from that marriage.
Q5: What is Nicholai Sachdev’s profession?
A5: He is primarily an art gallerist – partner/owner in Gallery 7, Mumbai – and also an entrepreneur and power-lifter/fitness coach.
Q6: What is his net worth?
A6: Estimates suggest around US $10 million (~₹ 83 crore) as of 2024.
Q7: Does Nicholai Sachdev have any children?
A7: Yes — a daughter named Kasha from his first marriage. He may be involved in training her in sports.
Q8: What notable achievements does he have?
A8: Highlights include: co-running Gallery 7 in Mumbai, winning power-lifting medals (gold bench press, silver deadlift in 2023) and marrying a prominent actress, which raised his public profile.
Q9: Is he active on social media?
A9: Many sources suggest that he maintains a low profile and is not heavily active on social media platforms compared to his wife.
Q10: What future plans are known about his business?
A10: According to Gallery 7’s “About” page, under his and his mother’s direction the gallery plans to open branches in other cities internationally, aiming to provide Indian artists with a global platform.