When you think of your father, what is the first memory that comes to mind?
So, when I think of dad, um, the first memory is hero. Because he was my mentor from a child. He was my fee- hero, um, he was He-Man and he still is. He- dad can do anything, you know? And that’s what I’ve grown up knowing, seeing, and believing. No task is too big for him. Anything comes his way, and he’ll get the work done. He’ll do it. That guy is a master of all trades. Um, in the restaurant as well, he is an all-rounder. And I always say this, one day I want to be just as good as he is. I don’t think that day will ever come because he really is just too good. He is uh, my super dad. He’s my Superman. There’s, there’s a picture of dad holding me as a child, like um, holding my two feet up, um, balancing me in his hand. And that’s what comes to mind when I think of dad. That he can conquer the world. He can do anything. I’ll try and see if I can dig out that picture.

Oh my god, I can’t believe I found this photo. So, so every time you used to do this to me, dad used to play a song. It was that song, “Aye mere dil tu gaya… mang le sab kuch, kya chahiye tujhe, meri yeh duniya tere liye hai.” Honestly, like, that, that song just says it all, honestly. Like, maybe you can translate that for the article.

Growing up around the family business, what are the biggest lessons you learned from your father that still guide you today?
So, growing up around the family business, what are the biggest lessons you learned from your father um that are still guiding you today? That’s probably everything I know about the restaurant business, but the biggest lessons are: never fear hard work, and never, never say no. You know, I like, I can approach my dad right now and say, “Dad, tomorrow we’ve just got an order come through for 500 people.” And, you know, most people will say, “Oh no, it’s too short notice, no, we can’t do it.” But dad will say, “Yeah, yeah, that’s fine. We’ll do it.” He’ll start ordering the stuff right now. You know, he’s just, he’s just so positive, and he knows he can get the work done, the task accomplished. Um, he’s a man on a mission, and he completes every single one of his missions. Um, he’s also that person that wants to be listened to. So, if he has an instruction, that instruction must be done in the way that he has said. We must follow what he has said because, in his eyes, that’s the best way to get the task accomplished. So, that’s the, that’s the biggest lesson. And I think the other biggest lesson is always remain humble, with your feet firmly on the ground, no matter how successful uh you are. Um, it’s really important to stay, stay humble to your roots. And also know, and appreciate, and value that it’s the people who make you who they are. So, that’s definitely something that he’s uh taught me from a very uh young age. Uh, I’ve already said about positivity, but I think that’s a really big thing because positivity in life is what takes you places. I mean, there’s been times when I said to dad, “Like, dad, this has happened.” And he said to me, “That’s God’s will. Don’t challenge it. Don’t question it. Just carry on, you know, until next time.” Um, and after that, it’s all, it’s all okay. So, that’s what, that’s what dad is. He’s uh my real-life superhero.

Gulu, when did you first realise Dipna had the passion and determination to build her own successful career within the food industry?
Okay, so I’ve just asked dad this. I already knew the answer anyway. Um, dad says he knew from a very, a very early, early stage uh when I used to come to the restaurant as a child. Um, not only was I passionate about just being there on the weekends, trying to help out, make myself useful, but I also loved food. Um, and just loved the restaurant business overall. And I think dad could see that, could see that passion uh in me. And he pushed me to go to uh university to do hospitality and catering. Before that, I won my first national award for my A-level project for food technology. Um, and he kept pushing me to study and get my, uh you know, A-levels, get my degrees, because he said he never got a chance to do that. So, I got to put my theory into practice in the restaurant business, and dad was always very supportive uh of that.

Dipna, what is one piece of advice your father gave you that has stayed with you throughout your life?
One thing dad always said, said to me as a child, and even now, is, “Never owe anyone anything, so that you can have a peaceful sleep at night,” you know? there was a time last week where, haha, funnily I went to get my eyebrows done, and I walked out without paying. Then I rang the shop and said, “I’m really sorry, I forgot to give the money, like, I can’t-” They were like, “Don’t worry, give it next time.” And my dad was like, “No, no. Go and give it now.” It’s just, that’s just a policy he has. Um, and obviously, I’ve grown up with that, and now that’s kind of in my mind. You must give it there and then, uh you know, and never owe anyone anything. Like, that, that goes, that goes with anything, really. So, if you’ve promised someone that you will, you know, meet the deadline by this date, then meet the deadline by that date. So, that’s very important advice that dad’s given me, and stays with me every day.

How has your relationship evolved from father and daughter to also becoming business colleagues and collaborators?
Uh, so relationship evolved from father and daughter to also becoming business colleagues and collaborators? You know, to be honest, I don’t think there is a formula for that because it just, just so happened. Um, dad has always been my hero. You know, I’ve always been my father’s daughter, if that makes sense. Um, and whatever advice he’s given, I’ve always, well, welcomed it and taken it with open arms because it’s always the right advice. And when we opened—I mean, the Brilliant Gastro—we, we closed the Brilliant Southall on Western Road to open the Gastro, um you know, dad wasn’t for it to begin with, until he saw the Gastro in the making, and we kind of convinced him that this was the right decision. Um, but it’s important to have that understanding as, as a family as well. And I think if you have that understanding, then going from father-daughter to being business colleagues, it just, it just comes so naturally. Um, and collaborators, again, that just happened. I mean, uh you know, they call us the TV du- father-daughter duo on on on Saturday Morning with James Martin, and people love the banter. We started doing the Instagram videos, and the ones, the videos with dad and me, or my videos with me and then dad joining, started to get the most views. And then, I realized that, oh my goodness, like, everyone loves dad. And it just, again, naturally happened that now most videos we do together. So, it’s a bond that I can’t explain. Um, I, I wake up and I thank God every day for giving me parents like like that.

What values have been most important in your family, and how have those values shaped your success?
Values that have been most important? Definitely uh respect. Not just for elders, but respect for everyone. And other values is giving people your time and advice if they want that, um and trying to be as helpful as possible. Uh, my dad loves meeting people. He loves talking um to everyone, and he just loves being part of part of, you know, everyone’s family. And that, I guess, that’s the way that’s the reason I am the way I am. Um, so also other values: uh honesty and integrity, and valuing that your own self-respect is in your own hands, and you’re in control of it. So, um you know, think wisely uh before you do anything. Um, other values—and my dad always makes reference to his parents, “My dad was like this, my mom was like this.” Um, and talks very highly of them, be- and although I’ve never met them, I know exactly what they’re like through through his eyes. Because his upbringing, of course, due to his parents, has been very thorough and so strong. Um, and I’d like to think that I have learned my values um from from my parents, being taught by my mom and dad. That why respect, honesty, and generally um you know, being a true person is so important.

Can you share a moment when you felt especially proud of one another?
A moment where we felt, felt especially proud of each other? I think there are so many moments like that. But one moment I think where I felt very proud and dad felt very proud was when I launched my first cookbook, because it was dad’s dream. So, I was proud um that dad had uh given me all that knowledge and expertise over the years to have been able to write that cookbook. And dad was proud that I accomplished the huge task of launching the first uh cookbook. So yeah, I definitely think that was a special moment. And the other one was when we first had our TV debut on Saturday Morning with James Martin, and we did um a great show uh to- Actually, it wasn’t. It was, I think, the third episode where it was mine and dad’s debut, and it was really good, and everyone absolutely loved it. And I was so proud of dad, and he was so proud of me. It just worked so well together. So, definitely that as well.

Running a family business can be demanding. How do you balance family life and work life?
Uh, definitely demanding. Hospitality is a demanding business, especially with the unsociable working hours. But I think as a family, we’re so used to that, um and you know, my mom, my mom always says that when you guys were kids, dad was always working at the restaurant and she would take care of us. And I think over so many years, she’s got used to that, and we’ve got used to, you know, that the restaurant business is busiest during evenings and weekends, and you just, I guess, adapt to that situation. But it can be, it can be challenging at times, especially where you have a function to attend, and sometimes you can’t go because you’re working, um and our work is mostly uh on the weekends, really, where we can’t really take an off, or we have to think carefully about can we take an off, you know? Is there going to be, is dad or Shanks going to be there to cover? Um, so yeah, it’s uh a challenge at times. And then, how do you balance family life and uh work life? First of all, I’m quite fortunate to have a very understanding family, um who understand my work, um especially my husband, for example. He, he gets it, um because he’s also been in the same field. Um, I think mom and dad, obviously dad is at the restaurant, usually the same times that I am there. Um, but we do have our fair share of, you know, fun. I love to shop. Uh, I go for a walk when I want to have some “Dipna me-time,” um go on holidays. Me and dad went away to Mumbai; it was one of the best trips. Um, so yeah, we do reward ourselves as well. But I think the word “balance” is very important there. You just have to balance as best as you can. And for me, really, my work is not really work; it’s more my passion. Again, something I’ve learned from dad.

What does Father’s Day mean to both of you?
Well, I think this is from the both of us. Father’s Day is not just about me celebrating my dad, or dad celebrating himself, but um us celebrating all the great fathers uh out there, and all the great sons and daughters. Um, but Father’s Day for me is a day—I mean, I give thanks every day, but on that day especially, give thanks for having a dad like dad. Um, because he really is my world.

Looking back on your journey together, what are you most grateful to each other for?
We are definitely most grateful for the fact that we get to work together and see each other every single day. I’m also very, very fortunate because I have the most understanding husband in the world, who actually lets me—we’re married, but lets me live with my mom and dad. Um so, I am grateful for that every day, waking up in the same house as my parents, um getting to see them every single day. Uh, we are grateful to have accomplished and um produced, if that’s the right word, a brand like Brilliant and taken the legacy of Brilliant to where it is today and forever growing it. Um, we are grateful that my grandfather’s legacy still lives on today through us. That’s what we are most grateful for. But to each other, I think we’re grateful that we have—dad has me and I have him. Um, you know, and I keep saying he’s my hero, but he goes around telling everyone, “Dipna has done this, and Dipna has made this, and uh it’s all because of her.” But that’s not true, it’s because of dad.

Quick Fire Round:

Well, this is going to be fun.

Tea or coffee?
Tea, for both.

Favorite family meal?
Uh, when we’re eating out, probably Chinese. Uh, when we’re eating at home, probably tari wala lamb and rice. Yummy!

Who is more stubborn?
Dad, for sure.

Who gives the best advice?
Me, for sure.

Who is most likely to be late?
Um, I’ve learned to be on time because of dad, and he’s always early, never late. So, if anyone is late, then maybe me by a few minutes. But I’m not, I’m hardly late. Dad is always early.

One word that describes your relationship?
Um, beautiful.

Favorite family holiday destination?
Dad’s is Kenya; mine is Mumbai.

Best cook in the family?
Dad would say him; I would say me. Actually, actually, mom.

Who makes everyone laugh the most?
Dad.

Father’s Day in three words:
Gratitude, thankful, and fun.