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At first glance, Dinaz Madhukar is intimidating: tall, statuesque, dressed in elegant saris with an aura that bespeaks functionality and success. However, her approachability, welcoming smile, warmth and characteristic deep throated laughter soon puts a fellow Parsi at ease!
"One must have the right attitude to succeed. Knowledge can be acquired. But one must enjoy what one does,” begins DLF’s (Delhi Land and Finance) executive vice president of luxury retail and hospitality. We meet at the venue of her latest success — the transformation of an iconic theater in Delhi’s Chanakyapuri area into The Chanakya, DLF’s newest super luxury mall.
Madhukar, Delhi’s queen of luxe retail has conceptualized this latest entrant which houses flagship stores of Hermes, Chanel, the country’s first Ralph Lauren and Brunello Cucinelli stores, the soon to open Tiffany’s, as well as Indian luxury brands.
The basement of the mall incorporates the "foodhall” concept — a luxurious gastronomic space with 17 fine dining areas with live kitchens and cuisines offering a unique culinary experience run entirely by the DLF food and beverage (F&B) team overseen by Madhukar  herself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

DLF Emporio, a prime luxury mall was launched in Delhi in 2008 when organized luxury retail was at a nascent stage and leading brands had to be convinced to enter the Indian market. The  erstwhile maharajas were the original patrons of luxury in India and brands like Cartier used to create special collections just for them, but "the advent of luxury retail in India had to begin with selling the India story, the New Delhi story and then the Emporio and Chanakya malls as luxury destinations,” she says candidly.
"Indian shoppers perceived India as a dumping ground for luxury brands. We introduced LED (light emitting diode) screens in the stores to showcase that the latest fashion offerings from catwalks abroad were available in our stores.”
This was followed by pre-holiday events, concierge services and stylists on call to enhance the customer experience. Then, the fashion revolution happened. Today, the Indian customer recognizes and accepts luxury and niche brands. The brands too are very pleased with the response. Louis Vuitton (LVMH), Chanel, Gucci and Burberry have been brand success stories at the DLF Emporio since the last 10 years.
"Getting the LVMH group on board was the biggest challenge for DLF when Emporio opened in 2008,” recalls Madhukar . "Thereafter Indian and international designers set up shop, followed by the launch of Set’z, a landmark fine dining, seven-cuisine restaurant in the Emporio mall,” she adds, rounding up 10 successful years of managing the premier retail destination.
Madhukar  has several firsts to her credit. She is responsible for the success of the first organized, formatted, retail luxury space not located in five star hotels. She has also successfully brought "hospitality to retail.”
The DLF marketing team works actively with their mentor, initiating media interactions, conducting fashion previews and events, approaching influencers and partners to enhance the luxury Emporio and Chanakya experiences.
"The percentage representation of apparel, accessories, F&B is crucial so that no one brand overpowers another. The customer understands the value of a luxury product after using it. Educating clients on the value of luxury is the real game changer,” elaborates the ace marketer who has her pulse on the growing luxury brands market. Italian shoemakers Santoni’s artisans demonstrated how their shoes are stitched. The food festivals at Set’z and MKT are a by-product of Madhukar’s hospitality experience.
Born in Bombay on December 23, 1963, she is the youngest of Aspandiar and Khorshed Irani’s three children. The siblings grew up in the doctors’ quarters of The B. D. Petit Parsee General Hospital where their father was head of the nutrition department. Khorshed was an accomplished teacher and homemaker.
Madhukar  began her education as a boarder at the Bai Avabai Framji Petit Girls High School, Bandra in 1973. "I regard everything that comes to me as reading material,” reveals the good student who had a voracious appetite for reading that continues to this day.
After completing junior college from Bharda New High School, she studied commerce at Bhavan’s College followed by a law degree from the Siddharth College of Law in 1984.
"In those days, Parsi parents would send their daughters to secretarial schools, assured that they would get a job,” mentions Madhukar . Ironically, it was her typing skills that got her the first job! Having heard about openings in the Taj Hotel International Travel and Trade Department, she walked into the hotel, passed the test and began a two-day trial.
"I told them I would also give them a two-day trial to see if I enjoyed working with them!” laughs Madhukar gleefully.
Madhukar’s parents had relocated to Bangalore from Bombay to take charge of the Parsi Dharamshala, and she shifted to that city in 1986 after her father’s demise. She joined as in-charge of The Business Centre of the Taj Residency Hotel and later launched the guest relations’ function for the Hotel.
Her career with the Taj Group spanned 25 years, beginning as secretary in the travel department and ending in 2007 as general manager of their heritage hotel in Madras, The Connemara.
The young executive met her husband, Madhukar Bhambore (she has opted to use her husband's first name as her surname as per the custom in the south) while they were both working at the Hotel. The couple married in 1988 and decided to move to the Taj Sheba Hotel in Yemen, "to build something for ourselves.” Dinaz was in the F&B division there and deputed to run the specialty restaurant. "I was the manager, hostess, order taker and counter-chef,” she recalls. "But I love challenges and was given a great deal of liberty,” she adds with a chuckle!

 

 

 

Their son Ashwin, who is unfortunately no more, was born in 1991 "and grew up as a community child with every member of the staff looking after him.” The enterprising couple lived in Yemen for six years, working during the Iraq-Kuwait war and then the North and South Yemen civil war.
They returned to Bangalore in 1995 and Dinaz joined the F&B division of the Gateway Hotel. Later she worked in the training department as she was expecting her second child, daughter Namrata, who was born in 1996. The hotelier’s successful stint as training manager for Taj hotels in Kerala continued until 2000 when she was based at the Taj Malabar Resort and Spa in Cochin.
To spend more time with her family, Dinaz switched back to operations and began her four-year stint as accommodations manager at Taj Krishna hotel in Hyderabad. By 2006, she was promoted as resident manager of Delhi’s Taj Mansingh Hotel, and in 2007 she moved to the Taj Connemara where she was general manager for three years.
"I would get bored every three years, crave to move on, change my department, hotel or city. DLF caught me at the right time,” shares Dinaz on the big switch from hospitality to retail. "After 25 years with the Taj hotels I wanted to see if I could foray successfully out of my established home base,” she expresses.
Having grown up in Bombay, Dinaz appreciates Delhi’s wide roads, open spaces, greenery and the attitude for consumer spending and enjoyment that is pervasive in the capital city.
"Having lived in many cities, I have a knack for moving to places and do not hanker for anything. Of course, I do miss the friends I have made everywhere. I have enjoyed the warmth and hospitality of life in Madras and Hyderabad, the willingness of Bangaloreans to experiment with different cuisines, the sea breeze and nightlife of Bombay and admired the innocence and trusting nature of the people in Yemen.”
While her work keeps her on her toes, Dinaz thrives on a work-life balance. Husband Madhukar is an entrepreneur in real estate and Namrata, now 22, works for American Express in Gurgaon. Dinaz describes her daughter as very considerate, full of life and yet a gentle and generous woman who is a management graduate from Christ University, Bangalore. She naturally becomes the center of attention in every situation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dinaz shares an interesting nugget about her wedding in Bangalore in 1988. Apprehensive about marrying outside the community, she got ready for work in the morning, changed her clothes before going to the court, got married and returned home in the evening! Her mother found out about her marriage six months later and was justifiably furious!
A devoted wife, Dinaz describes her husband as being extremely supportive and considerate. She claims that his ability to calm her has helped her to evolve into a better person from her erstwhile bindaas (carefree) personality. "Madhukar moved out of the Taj to make way for my career in the group. His faith, trust and support have been unconditional,” she acknowledges.
A proud Zoroastrian, Dinaz misses the effervescence of the Parsi culture of Bombay. "Parsis are honest and sincere. We have quirks in a nice way and pride ourselves on our homes and lifestyle. Sadly, today’s youth are not hardworking and lack competitiveness,” is her reflection of our community.
"Our religion enjoys equality between men and women, providing unmatched freedom. I have seen the conservative lifestyle down south as I spent more than a decade in Bangalore, Kerala, Hyderabad and Madras. Few communities can boast of the freedom, simple values and culture of our great religion which opens out our world to a better life,” she believes.
"Many Parsis have good language skills, pleasing personalities and are extroverts by nature. This has contributed to members of our community becoming successful business leaders,” is Dinaz’s response when asked how a Zoroastrian background can influence one’s career choice.
"Our religion provides great learning through simple tenets. The message of Zarathushtra spreads so much positivity to make the world a better place,” she asserts.
Since our religion stresses equality of man and woman, she believes children of Parsi mothers should be accepted into our diminishing community. "Let us practice the equality we preach,” she concludes.
Dinaz enjoys reading and travelling to hills stations on vacation. While her favorite cuisine on work days is Thai and Japanese, she enjoys cooking Parsi dishes at home, whenever she can.
"I find the need to laugh to de-stress. I discover humor in unusual places,” she confesses with a burst of laughter.
Dinaz is particular about the correct usage of English. "I ignore three errors in the morning presentations at office. After that, corrections are in order.”
Working from multiple locations in the DLF group, Dinaz has an office at the DLF Emporio and The Chanakya and another at The Lodhi Hotel, whose operations are overseen by her. Her workday begins at 10 a.m. If there are no pressing events to attend in the evening, she is home by 8.30 p.m.
"I have been privileged to work for the Taj and now with DLF, both gender neutral organizations that value employees’ views and worth and are respectful toward women. As employers they are humble, gentle, caring and ready to help those in need. One feels good working for them,” concludes the functional, fuss-free successful professional.