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R E P O R T E R


Upma: I believe that if you want to make a positive change and have a great idea, there is no time like the present to do it, just listen to your heart and give it a try. Having worked for many years, this made me receptive to trying to make it on my own. Having a business partner like Arti who complemented me made me totally do this.


What is your best line to start a conversation with somebody? Arti: I’m a listener, so my first line to anyone is asking them what they do! Upma: I find that asking about the weather is a great ice-breaker, at least here in the UK.


What advice would you give to people who want to give Indian cooking a go? Have patience! Like Upma loves to say, “it has to be stirred and stirred with LOTS of love!”


What has been the most difficult part in your entrepreneurial journey so far? Location is very key for our idea to work. Several businesses can start small and take small steps to scaling up. While we’re trying to execute our idea via deliveries, catering and pop-ups, real scale can only be achieved by making an investment into the rental of a property with good lunchtime footfall – a fairly substantial commitment for a start-up and any investors looking at it. Finding the right property and the right investors at this stage is one the hardest things we’re having to do.


If there is anything you wished people to understand about the business, what would this be and why? Its our USP. We are Indian food with a big difference. Our healthy and light food can be eaten everyday even during the day. We aren’t about a curry, we’re about the tasty and fulfilling flavours Indian cooking has to offer without any of the heaviness or greasiness.


@SYBMAGAZINE


“It has to be stirred and stirred with LOTS of love!”


JULY 2014 | SYB | 13


Where do you imagine the business to be in five years time? Our vision is to have a chain of outlets dotted across London on the basis of an Indian PRET, for the Dhaba Lane brand to be identified with healthy, fast and tasty Indian food for lunchtime or as an all- day product, and a changed perception of Indian food which is just fabulously delicious.


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