Archive · 14 Sep 2026
Navya Nanda says family legacy cannot define her future
Navya Naveli Nanda comes from a famous family connected to films and business.
Her father, Nikhil Nanda, leads Escorts Kubota.
Navya says having the Nanda surname should not automatically give her a job there.
She believes she must prove her skills and earn any position.
She also wants people to know her for her own work, not only as someone’s daughter or granddaughter.
Navya says the women in her family inspired her to be ambitious.
She has studied business at IIM Ahmedabad.
She is also working on a women’s health platform and a gender-equality project.
Navya Naveli Nanda said her surname should not define her identity or guarantee her a role at Escorts Kubota.
She said positions at the family company must be earned through skills, hard work and personal impact.
Navya recently completed a two-year postgraduate MBA programme at IIM Ahmedabad.
She credited Jaya Bachchan, Shweta Bachchan Nanda and Ritu Nanda with shaping her ambition and business outlook.
Navya has co-founded Aara Health and launched Project Naveli, focused on women’s wellness and gender equality.
- Who
- Navya Naveli Nanda, daughter of Escorts Kubota chairman-managing director Nikhil Nanda, discussed her identity and possible future at the company.
- What
- She said family legacy does not guarantee her a position and that she wants to build an identity beyond her surname.
- When
- At a recent launch event; she had also recently completed a two-year postgraduate MBA programme.
- Where
- At the launch of Aparajita, the Hindi edition of Arundhati Bhattacharya’s memoir Indomitable; the location was not specified.
- Why
- To discuss the influence of her family, her professional ambitions and the need to earn any future role at Escorts Kubota.
- Family company
- Escorts Kubota, led by Navya’s father, Nikhil Nanda.
- Company valuation cited
- The article describes Escorts as worth Rs 31,000 crore and separately cites a market capitalisation of Rs 32,440 crore.
- Education
- Navya recently completed a two-year postgraduate MBA programme at IIM Ahmedabad.
- Other venture
- She co-founded Aara Health, a wellness platform for women.
- Social initiative
- She started Project Naveli, a non-profit effort focused on gender equality.
- Family influence
- Navya named Jaya Bachchan, Shweta Bachchan Nanda and the late Ritu Nanda as important influences.