Basking in the success of her family’s entrepreneurial venture is Rafica, daughter of Dr. Zainuddin and homemaker Hafsa. She was born and brought up in Chennai. Being the youngest in her family she received a lot of love, affection and attention not only from her parents but also from her siblings, elder brother Ayub and elder sister Shameema.
Rafica did her schooling in a small school in Royapettah and has fond memories of her teachers, principal and even the ayamma who took care of her and is in touch with all of them as they hold a special place in her heart.
She decided to study law after completing her higher secondary education and joined the five year integrated course- Bachelor of Law in Dr. Ambedkar Government Law College in Chennai. She graduated and became the first woman lawyer in her family.
As a teenager, Rafica discovered that she had a flair for fashion and that it came naturally to her. Her taste in clothes is impeccable and she always makes it a point to dress up stylishly. The entrepreneur in her made her start her first business venture at the young age of 17. She brought together a group of tailors, purchased fabric, got them stitched by these tailors and sold the garments to her family members and friends.
Rafica is married to Mohamed Nishtar and post marriage, she shifted base to the US where she lived for almost 2 decades. Her creative streak took a back seat during this period though she used it in her daily routine. She is blessed with two sons- Faraaz and Farhaan whom she calls her best friends. They are based in New York and have launched their own startup companies.
After her sons grew up and moved to college, she returned to Chennai with her husband in 2017 and with time on their hands, they decided to channelize their talents and do something unique.
Her family owned a beach facing property on ECR and Rafica along with her family members decided to rent it out as a home-stay and offer home cooked food to their guests. This decision turned to be a good one and it has turned out to be a successful venture. What started off as a small event space with a beautiful outdoor garden, grew into a popular destination for weddings. It is named “The Blue House’’ which is also a wedding venue that can accommodate upto 800 guests. It is a 68,000 sq ft sprawling, landscaped, multilevel garden with 5 bedrooms and a private swimming pool. Their goal was to offer a luxurious atmosphere and at the same time to keep it affordable and customizable for the customers.
Recently, a ‘’Glass House’’ air conditioned banquet hall with a seating capacity of 300 overlooking the sea was added.
Rafica says that the Blue House can be rented out not only for weddings but also for other functions like engagements, birthday parties, anniversaries, corporate parties, family get togethers, school or college reunions, mehendi functions and even for brand promotions.
Her family also owns Le Chalet that is a single bedroom wooden cottage on the ECR that has epoxy furniture and provides a unique experience for the guests. It offers a perfect blend of rustic charm and modern comfort and is surrounded by lush greenery.
Their other luxurious beach properties namely Villa Armati and Beach Castle (new project) offer an amazing experience to both local and foreign customers. They offer a serene escape from mundane life with stunning sunrise views. There is an exquisite swimming pool designed to blend seamlessly with the horizon.
Meadow Lane, located on ECR is another perfect getaway destination that is nestled in nature. The cozy cottages here are perfect for couples and families who wish to spend a relaxing weekend by the sea.
Rafica has noticed that minimalist and modest weddings are becoming the new trend with the younger generation and she aspires to provide an amazing and unforgettable experience to young couples as they begin their life journey together.
She enjoys meeting new people and interacting with customers and strives to make every wedding a unique and memorable occasion. She takes great pride in helping couples plan out their weddings. She guides them right from venue options to colour combinations and suggests creative ideas and budget friendly solutions. She thoroughly enjoys her work and loves every minute of it.
She manages to take a one month break every year to visit her sons in the US and has an excellent team that manages well in her absence. She is grateful to them for their dedication as it takes a load off her shoulders.
She manages both family and business with aplomb and believes that women are multi-talented and can handle pressure even in the toughest situations.
Another hobby of hers is interior designing and she loves to recycle wooden materials and use it in her business for both indoor and outdoor décor.
Rafica unwinds by going for long walks with her husband and by watching movies with her mother. Her favourite movie is ‘’The Gods must be crazy’’ and favourite actor and actress are Will Smith and Deepika Padukone.
When it comes to food, she loves Pani puri and Sushi. She is exceptionally fond of all shades of the pleasant colour lavender.
She spends quality time with family and friends as according to her socializing helps her to unwind and also feel connected.
Rafica takes a few moments at the end of each day to reflect on her accomplishments and practices an attitude of gratitude. She plans out her next day and jots down her important tasks as it helps her to stay organized and reduces stress.
She deeply appreciates the help and support she receives from her family, friends and community. She calls her mother her guru as she is a calm and hardworking lady who never even raises her voice at anyone.
With their heart and soul into this venture, Rafica and her husband hope to expand and create more exceptional spaces and also turn every event into a cherished memory. To know more, you can contact them at 63832 82186.
Juliana Sridhar is a lawyer and columnist
