All set to open her first restaurant in Mumbai on December 3, Malaika Arora talks about what inspired her to begin the venture, what makes the restaurant stand out, and her vision for it
Malaika Arora is all set to launch her first restaurant Scarlett House in Mumbai’s Bandra on December 3 with restaurateur Dhaval Udeshi, her son Arhaan, and his childhood friend Malaya Nagpal. Set in a 90-year-old bungalow in Bandra, Scarlett House is a restaurant concept that aims to blend old-world charm with modern-day dining experiences.
The restaurant includes a wine & cheese room, a sushi bar, and a hydration bar that transforms into an exclusive cocktail lounge by night. It is also a platform for indigenous small manufacturers to showcase wellness products, offering customers a curated selection of healthy, locally-sourced ingredients. The menu at Scarlett House is partly inspired by Malaika’s kitchen and is partly curated by Chef Beena Noronha, who is also the head chef at Udeshi’s other restaurants in the city like GIGI.
In conversation with Forbes India, Malaika Arora talks about the new venture, what makes it stand out, her perspective on celebrity-backed restaurants, and more. Edited excerpts:
Q. What inspired you to venture into the restaurant business with Scarlett House? How did the concept come to life?
Anybody who knows me, knows my affinity for food and wellness. These things are all part of my ethos, of my existence. And so, I think it was a very natural transition, because I've dabbled in yoga studios, and then I did the whole cloud kitchen setup with Nude Bowls. But, this was something which was always very dear to me. It was actually Arhaan who had met Dhaval, and they had a very informal chat, and he was so excited. He told me all about it and suggested this was something that was totally up my street and that Dhaval would really like to meet me and see whether we can actually do something. I met Dhaval sometime last November, and here we are a year later, almost ready to open.