Restaurants look glamorous, but behind every successful plate is relentless pressure, razor-thin margins, and brutal reality.

In this episode of Voices for Local, we sit down with a seasoned hospitality professional AD Singh to uncover what truly goes into building and sustaining restaurants in India — beyond food photos, fancy interiors, and opening-day hype.

From why most restaurants shut down within the first few years to why opening a café isn’t as easy as it looks, this conversation dives deep into the unseen side of Indian dining.

We talk about:

Why restaurants fail even when the food is good

The biggest myths people believe about running a café

How Indian dining culture is changing

The real cost of consistency and scale

Why hospitality is about people, not just plates

Advice for anyone planning to enter the restaurant business

This is an honest look at risk, resilience, and what it actually takes to survive in India’s competitive food industry.

🎙️ Watch till the end to understand why restaurants are not just about food — they’re businesses built under constant pressure.

Restaurants look glamorous, but behind every successful plate is relentless pressure, razor-thin margins, and brutal reality.
In this episode of Voices for Local, we sit down with a seasoned hospitality professional AD Singh to uncover what truly goes into building and sustaining restaurants in India &mdash; beyond food photos, fancy interiors, and opening-day hype.
From why most restaurants shut down within the first few years to why opening a caf&eacute; isn&rsquo;t as easy as it looks, this conversation dives deep into the unseen side of Indian dining.
We talk about:
Why restaurants fail even when the food is good
The biggest myths people believe about running a caf&eacute;
How Indian dining culture is changing
The real cost of consistency and scale
Why hospitality is about people, not just plates
Advice for anyone planning to enter the restaurant business
This is an honest look at risk, resilience, and what it actually takes to survive in India&rsquo;s competitive food industry.
🎙️ Watch till the end to understand why restaurants are not just about food &mdash; they&rsquo;re businesses built under constant pressure.

The time has come for India’s homegrown brands to shine. Through this podcast series, media personality Monisha Singh Katial takes you on a journey through the galli-mohalle and local high streets of the country to meet the founders of our most incredible up-and-coming brands. On the way, we get to be inspired by their stories, learn something new from their work, pick up some practical advice, check out their unique products, and understand the passionate minds of our Voices For Local.

Voices for Local with Monisha Singh Katial

How Olive Bar & Kitchen Changed Fine Dining in India!

Ice cream is simple. Building a brand around it? Not so simple.

In this episode of Voices for Local, we sit down with the founder Meha Agrawal behind Meemee's Ice cream one of India’s most loved new-age dessert brands to understand how a childhood obsession turned into a fast-growing ice cream business.

From starting with a small tabletop machine at home to creating a bite-sized format that stands out in a crowded market, this conversation dives deep into what makes this brand feel different.

We talk about:
•⁠  ⁠Why keeping flavors limited was a strategic decision
•⁠  ⁠How branding and emotion matter as much as taste
•⁠  ⁠The challenges of running a perishable food business
•⁠  ⁠Building a loyal Gen-Z and family audience
•⁠  ⁠Why quality and authenticity can’t be compromised
•⁠  ⁠Lessons for young entrepreneurs entering the food space

This episode is about nostalgia, smart positioning, risk-taking, and turning passion into a scalable brand.

🎙️ Watch till the end to understand how simplicity, strategy, and storytelling can transform even the most familiar product into something unforgettable.

Ice cream is simple. Building a brand around it? Not so simple.
In this episode of Voices for Local, we sit down with the founder Meha Agrawal behind Meemee's Ice cream one of India&rsquo;s most loved new-age dessert brands to understand how a childhood obsession turned into a fast-growing ice cream business.
From starting with a small tabletop machine at home to creating a bite-sized format that stands out in a crowded market, this conversation dives deep into what makes this brand feel different.
We talk about: &bull;⁠ &nbsp;⁠Why keeping flavors limited was a strategic decision &bull;⁠ &nbsp;⁠How branding and emotion matter as much as taste &bull;⁠ &nbsp;⁠The challenges of running a perishable food business &bull;⁠ &nbsp;⁠Building a loyal Gen-Z and family audience &bull;⁠ &nbsp;⁠Why quality and authenticity can&rsquo;t be compromised &bull;⁠ &nbsp;⁠Lessons for young entrepreneurs entering the food space
This episode is about nostalgia, smart positioning, risk-taking, and turning passion into a scalable brand.
🎙️ Watch till the end to understand how simplicity, strategy, and storytelling can transform even the most familiar product into something unforgettable.

How Meemee’s Turned a Childhood Dream into a Nationwide Ice Cream Craze

ndian weddings look magical, but behind every seamless moment is absolute madness.

In this episode of Voices for Local, we sit down with Nemish Sanghvi, Founder of WE Hospitality, a pioneer who has spent over 28 years building some of India’s biggest weddings and celebrations across the world.

From pulling chairs for grandparents to managing global celebrities, from preserving Indian traditions to handling last-minute chaos — this conversation dives deep into what it really takes to plan weddings in India.

We talk about:
•⁠  ⁠Why weddings are emotional projects, not checklists
•⁠  ⁠How event planning became a full-fledged industry in India
•⁠  ⁠The role of patience, people skills, and passion
•⁠  ⁠Why India is ready to host the world’s biggest weddings
•⁠  ⁠Traditions vs trends in modern Indian weddings
•⁠  ⁠Advice for youngsters entering the event planning space

This is a story about culture, commitment, and the invisible army that makes celebrations unforgettable.

🎙️ Watch till the end to understand why weddings are not just events — they’re moments that happen only once.

ndian weddings look magical, but behind every seamless moment is absolute madness.
In this episode of Voices for Local, we sit down with Nemish Sanghvi, Founder of WE Hospitality, a pioneer who has spent over 28 years building some of India&rsquo;s biggest weddings and celebrations across the world.
From pulling chairs for grandparents to managing global celebrities, from preserving Indian traditions to handling last-minute chaos &mdash; this conversation dives deep into what it really takes to plan weddings in India.
We talk about: &bull;⁠ &nbsp;⁠Why weddings are emotional projects, not checklists &bull;⁠ &nbsp;⁠How event planning became a full-fledged industry in India &bull;⁠ &nbsp;⁠The role of patience, people skills, and passion &bull;⁠ &nbsp;⁠Why India is ready to host the world&rsquo;s biggest weddings &bull;⁠ &nbsp;⁠Traditions vs trends in modern Indian weddings &bull;⁠ &nbsp;⁠Advice for youngsters entering the event planning space
This is a story about culture, commitment, and the invisible army that makes celebrations unforgettable.
🎙️ Watch till the end to understand why weddings are not just events &mdash; they&rsquo;re moments that happen only once.

Why India Is Ready to Be the World’s Wedding Destination

In this episode of Voices for Local, we explore the reality of Indian luxury fashion through an honest, grounded conversation with designer Seema Singh, founder of SS by Seema Singh.

From a small-town upbringing in Bihar to building a luxury brand in Mumbai, Seema shares how culture, craft, and lived experience shape authentic design beyond trends, labels, and hype. She speaks about working with Indian artisans, respecting traditional textiles, and the fine balance between emotion and business in fashion.

The conversation questions what “luxury” really means in India today, how authenticity often gets diluted, and why staying rooted in culture is more important than chasing global validation.

This episode is for anyone interested in fashion, entrepreneurship, Indian craftsmanship, and building meaningful brands that last.

In this episode of Voices for Local, we explore the reality of Indian luxury fashion through an honest, grounded conversation with designer Seema Singh, founder of SS by Seema Singh.
From a small-town upbringing in Bihar to building a luxury brand in Mumbai, Seema shares how culture, craft, and lived experience shape authentic design beyond trends, labels, and hype. She speaks about working with Indian artisans, respecting traditional textiles, and the fine balance between emotion and business in fashion.
The conversation questions what &ldquo;luxury&rdquo; really means in India today, how authenticity often gets diluted, and why staying rooted in culture is more important than chasing global validation.
This episode is for anyone interested in fashion, entrepreneurship, Indian craftsmanship, and building meaningful brands that last.

How Olive Bar & Kitchen Changed Fine Dining in India!

Voices for Local with Monisha Singh Katial

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