Inspired by her mother, Nayana Mehta discovered her passion for cooking at the age of 13. Ever since, she has delighted family and friends with delicacies like dhoklas, farsan, ghughra, mohantal, besan ladoos.

For over three decades, her talent remained confined within the walls of their home in Matunga, Mumbai, due to the societal norms of the time. But life had something bigger in store for her.

Nayana got an opportunity to share her culinary skills with a wider audience when the demand for home-cooked meals surged during the COVID-19 pandemic amid restaurant closures.

At 66, she launched ‘Maami’s Munchies’, offering a variety of snacks, pickles, and sweets, fulfilling her long-held dream of starting her own venture.

“I started it just as a way to pass my time, but soon found immense satisfaction,” says Nayana.

Maami’s Munchies features traditional Gujarati and Indian treats, including chorafali, boondi ladoo, and mango murabba, catering to a diverse clientele.

Nayana’s children, Anjali, Purvi, and Harshal, played a crucial role in her entrepreneurial journey, helping her set up social media pages and managing logistics for her growing business.

Initially handling just a few orders weekly, Nayana’s business has flourished, now receiving daily orders and shipping snacks to customers across India and internationally.

“When the first order was dispatched and I earned money, I felt so proud. While I had dreams before this, they couldn’t fructify. They became a reality at 66 and I couldn’t be happier,” she says.

Now 70, Nayana finds immense satisfaction in her work. She encourages women to prioritise their happiness and pursue their passions, regardless of age.

She shares an important message for every woman reading this: “It’s very important to keep yourself happy. Age doesn’t matter. All that matters is the fire in your belly. If I can do it, so can you!”