At Home with Sharon Johal: The Block star and actress shares five of her favourite things

In our candid new property series, celebrities and prominent Australians take us behind closed doors and share their five favourite things around their home.

These pieces could be anything, but all carry meaning.

Our At Home series launched with Julie Bishop, the former Minister for Foreign Affairs, and continues with actress and The Block star Sharon Johal who resides in Melbourne.

Collection of books

“Spirituality is really important to me but also self-development and self-growth. Just being kind of aware and discovering who I am as a never-ending journey,” Sharon says.

“Reading books is really important, I’m really passionate about a number of issues… interior design, self-improvement, meditation and acting obviously because you can always learn about your craft.”

Dog tag

Sharon and her husband Ankur Dogra, who star on the current season of The Block, are proud owners of a Blue Staffordshire Bull Terrier named Bosco.

“I grew up on a farm and always had a farm dog, but I grew up to ethnic parents who thought dogs are supposed to stay outside. My husband and I have totally flipped that script. We were so excited to get our first dog, Bosco,” Sharon says.

“We got him during the pandemic because we are massive travellers and we just thought we would spend our lives travelling, but then the pandemic happened. Having a pet is just a whole other connection. It’s unconditional love. You never want to do anything but hang out with your dog.”

Indian drums known as Tabla

The Australian of Indian heritage is just as passionate about music, as she is about acting.

“While I was born in Australia, my parents really wanted us to explore our roots. When I was 15, my parents sent me off to a school in the The Himalayas for about nine months and I learnt to play that instrument,” Sharon says.

“That instrument is used in classical Indian music and in hymns. It’s something that I’m proud to have achieved and it’s also a relaxing thing to go back to when I kind of just want to tune everything out and practice my skills.”

Framed art

Sharon and her husband are passionate travellers and have documented their trips with a series of black and white photos (some of which they have taken themselves).

“When we travel, we take a lot of photos. Any city that’s got such a rich diverse history is so appealing to us. Our favourite city is definitely New York, but Italy is the country we got engaged in and we feel spiritually connected to that country,” Sharon says.

“We fit in really well – it’s just a really great lifestyle, it’s about family and food. That’s exactly what we’re about. Paris is something else, the language, the culture, again the food.

“The lifestyle is just different. It’s about enjoyment of life, and very heavily cemented in the arts.”

West Elm couch

“That’s one of the pieces I love in our home as it’s so versatile. West Elm is particularly a brand that connects with both my husband and I,” Sharon says.Nine.

“We’re about urban living, the city. West Elm has always got this New York vibe. It connects us to our travelling roots. New York is our favourite city in the world.”