From Dosa Maker to Real Estate Broker: The Entrepreneurial Journey That Started in a College Kitchen

From College Hustler to Entrepreneur: How I Built Royal Dosa & Royal Estates

In 2013, as a first-year BCom student, I wasn’t just juggling books and exams—I was also juggling my very first business venture. While many of my peers were focused on college life, I was busy building a tiffin service from scratch. The inspiration for this came from my nana, a well-known caterer in Dombivli. I had spent countless hours in his kitchen, watching him effortlessly create one delicious dish after another. His dedication and craftsmanship sparked my entrepreneurial spirit, and I decided to put my passion for food to work.

The Birth of My Catering Business

What started as a small tiffin service soon evolved into a full-fledged catering business. Within months, I used my earnings to purchase catering utensils, expanding my reach to serve events of 50-100 people. Balancing college and business wasn’t easy, but it was exhilarating. Every weekend was a new opportunity to cater for birthdays, family functions, and small gatherings. Yet, despite the steady growth, I quickly realized the catering business was seasonal, with long periods of downtime.

This pushed me to think bigger. I needed something that wasn’t dependent on seasons or special events—a business that could run consistently, day in and day out.

Royal Dosa: A Dream Turned Reality

On 3rd August 2017, Royal Dosa was born—a humble fast-food joint serving delicious, authentic dosas. Starting from the ground up, I did everything myself—from preparing dosas to managing orders and interacting with customers. My vision was clear: to offer a quality food experience at an affordable price. The word spread, and soon Royal Dosa became a favorite spot for dosa lovers across the city.

Building a business from scratch isn’t for the faint-hearted, but I embraced the challenge. I trained my staff to ensure the quality remained top-notch, and slowly, the business grew. Customers kept coming back, and eventually, Royal Dosa started gaining fame. What started as a small corner dosa shop was now making waves across the local food scene.

Thriving Amidst a Pandemic

Then came the Covid-19 pandemic. For many businesses, this was a make-or-break moment. For Royal Dosa, it was a turning point. While the world came to a standstill, our doors were closed for only 26 days. Why? Because I could cook and ensure the quality and safety of each dish during uncertain times. In fact, it was during the pandemic that Royal Dosa became even more popular. We adapted to the situation, offering delivery services to meet the growing demand, and soon, our restaurant was thriving.

In 2021, Royal Dosa was named one of the top 3 South Indian restaurants in Mumbai by Swiggy—a testament to the hard work and dedication that went into the business.

From Dosas to Real Estate: The Birth of Royal Estates

While Royal Dosa was flourishing, I was already thinking of my next venture. During the early years, I noticed something interesting—brokers would often stop by my restaurant, dropping off keys and asking me to hold onto them for potential buyers. This sparked an idea: why not dive into real estate?

In 2020, I started my real estate journey. I studied, prepared for exams, and by 2021, I had earned my RERA license, marking the beginning of Royal Estates. Today, I’m a licensed real estate broker, helping clients buy and sell properties, all while continuing to run my food business.

8 Years Strong & Counting

Now, 8 years since its inception, Royal Dosa is a name synonymous with quality South Indian food in Mumbai, and my catering business continues to receive seasonal orders. With my staff well-trained to manage daily operations, I have the freedom to focus on expanding Royal Estates, which has quickly gained trust and recognition in the real estate market.

The Road Ahead

My journey from a college student with a tiffin service to an entrepreneur managing both a popular restaurant and a real estate business is a story of perseverance, resilience, and growth. Coming from a middle-class family, I carried all responsibilities on my own shoulders, and every step taught me invaluable lessons about hard work, determination, and believing in oneself.

Whether you’re starting small or dreaming big, the key is to take that first step, stay focused, and be willing to adapt to challenges. With hard work, faith, and dedication, you can turn any dream into reality.

About Author

Leave a Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *