Matunga Cafe Mysore owner Shanteri Nagesh Nayak recalls experience on attending Ambani wedding
Matunga Cafe Mysore owner
Shanteri Nagesh Nayak recalls experience on attending Ambani wedding
Matunga Cafe Mysore owner
Shanteri Nagesh Nayak recalls experience on attending the Anant Ambani-Radhika Merchant Wedding on 13 July Ambani wedding at Jio Trade Centre and the family’s connect with their eatery.
She turned emotional when in a rare gesture Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant touched her feet and that of her son Nares
Reportedly, since last Tuesday morning the phone of Shanteri Nagesh Nayak had been constantly ringing. Family and friends have been calling the 75-year-old owner of Matunga’s arguably the oldest Udupi joint to congratulate her for warm reception accorded to the family.
These calls and messages is a result of a 15-second clip that went viral on social media where an excited Anant could be seen introducing the owner of Cafe Mysore to Radhika. She quickly walked up to her with a big smile on her face saying “Every Sunday, we eat your food in our house.”
Anant further added “Thank you so much as they both bend down to touch her feet. Shloka Ambani also joined them in the video, saying, that they really look forward to their Saturdays, as she, too, touches her feet.
Anant, the youngest son of Asia’s richest man Mukesh Ambani, married Radhika, the daughter of pharma tycoons Viren and Shaila Merchant, at a star-studded event at Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) on July 12.
Shanteri says that she had no clue about the now-viral video. “After having dinner, she expressed desire to meet the couple. Their staff member went inside for permission, and soon, she was not only allowed inside but also given VIP access to the stage.
There was a sea of humanity desiring to be a the stage and get their photographs clicked. but their staff put her wheelchair on the ramp and she on the stage in no time.
“He touched my feet and quickly called Radhika. They both touched my feet, saying they look forward to having food from Cafe Mysore. Shloka too touched my feet and said the same. They were so excited and happy, they spoke to me for a while, and Anant even said that he is honoured that we made it to the wedding. It was a very big honour for me. They even asked me for a photo,” she recalled, adding that she was pleasantly surprised.
She wasn’t even sure of meeting the couple and had no words to say. She just blessed them. She even wasn’t aware about the now-viral video.
She was in tears seeing how Mukesh Ambani’s children treated my mother. The amount of love, gratitude, respect and deference they have shows their character and upbringing. The video shows how these children are at their core,” said her son Naresh Nagesh Nayak, 44.
He added, “Anant asked him to hand over his phone to the photographer and joked that this will be the next photo in Cafe Mysore.” Anant’s joke was in reference to the current photo that shows a young Mukesh Ambani dining inside Cafe Mysore with one of his sons.
Interestingly, Shanteri was not keen on attending the dinner that evening because she is averse to crowded spaces. “But then her son Naresh said that this is their last wedding (in the Ambani family), so decided to go,” said Shanteri, adding that she had also been to the wedding of Akash-Shloka and Isha-Anand in the past.
Sharing her experience from Monday evening, she said how the staff did not recognise her initially but when she introduced herself, they treated her with a lot of respect and care. She was offered a wheelchair and a staff member to take her around. He took her for a stroll, showing her everything like a host. A R Rahman’s performance was going on when we were there. Thanks to him, she could see it all; otherwise, it was a very expansive space that has been done up very beautifully, showcasing the rich culture of India, especially with their recreation of Kashi.
Notedly, Cafe Mysore has been Mukesh Ambani’s favourite restaurant since his college days in Matunga in the 1970s, and the family still relishes its food every weekend. Idlis are their favourite, and they send idli, sambhar and chutney alongside batter for dosas so that they can have it warm at their home.
Their food and beverages team coordinates with the restaurant and shares a detailed order and the pick-up time.
He further added that the family even send containers from home. Wherever the family goes, this food goes with them
adding that he has been told that once Mukeshwas in Paris and his charter flight came to Mumbai only to pick up the order.
News Edit K.V.Raman
