As young girls, we are often told how to walk, talk and behave. As mothers, we are expected to manage everything from children to career and even postpartum depression without complaining. As working women, entrepreneurs, and mumpreneurs, the expectations are high. It certainly is not an easy road to the top. Working mothers find it difficult to balance life between work and parenting, and kids often end up at daycare centres. But now, there are quite a few popup event in the city to help parents spend some quality time with their children. One such is The Activity Room which is the brainchild of three millennial moms, Shweta Mahtani, Aru Nayar Mani, and Kashish Ahuja who were desperate to indulge their kids in something fun, interesting and also includes a whole lot of activity. To bring the picture into reality, the mothers joined hands with Nisha Kapoor, the creative brain behind Anyonya Events. RITZ talks to the four enterprising women entrepreneurs who are keen to create a healthy atmosphere for our little ones.
Text: Ancy Donal Madonna
Photography: Nitin Barath S
Hair & Makeup: Vurve Signature Salon
Location: The Raintree, St. Mary’s Road
Wardrobe Courtesy: MaalGaadi Store
A creative brain that loves devising new designs and décor arrangements, Nisha Kapoor has the unique ability to not just conceptualize the best but also to ensure every little detail of it is executed. The brainchild of Nisha and Akash Kapoor, ‘Anyonya Events’ has been making dreams come true since 2011. With a depth of expertise in weddings and private events, Nisha aims at creating experiences that will last a lifetime.
I love planning surprises and doing something going out of the box so I made a magazine for my husband for his birthday and he loved it. We also planned our wedding and it’s been one of the most memorable weddings in our family and we pulled it off really well. We planned it as well as enjoyed it!
What is Anyonya Events all about?
Anyonya is a wedding and event management company based in Chennai. It is a journey of experience and creating memories. Anyonya means ‘bringing together’ in Sanskrit so that’s what we do, we bring together happiness and memories and we do it with various kinds of events. Weddings are our forte but we also cater to all kinds of events. Anyonya has been making dreams come true for over 8 years now with 400 events including birthdays, baby showers, destination wedding, and theme weddings in and around India.
What inspired you to come up with the concept and who was the creative brain behind Anyonya?
I have a Master’s degree in Event management from Mumbai and I had this whole spark of designing weddings, so I started Anyonya. As a single woman it was difficult to manage and that’s when my husband joined me and it was great to have a support onboard. We took off with ease and the firm grew stronger just like our relationship.
Which is the best and most memorable event you have done so far?
We are emotionally invested in every event we do because every family we work with becomes family to us. So yeah I would say the Sri Lanka wedding we did was something very close to us because it was our first venture outside India. It was a bit challenging for us as the work style of the vendors was entirely different but nevertheless, it was a good experience and after all, it is a journey of creating memories.
Which is the best destination in India to get married?
Destination weddings are trending nowadays and a lot of places in and around India are booming for destination weddings. We have a Goa wedding in the pipeline and it is India’s No.1 destination for weddings with people from all over the world are coming down to get married in Goa for its beaches and Rajasthan for its culture. Apart from these, Chennai and Mahabalipuram are the most booming destinations right now and there are some beautiful resorts to get married at.
How do you manage your work-life balance and how supportive is your family?
It is difficult to manage work-life especially after marriage as we have a whole new family to look after but having my husband by my side and being in the same line becomes very easy and helpful. My whole family is supportive and they do understand my passion for work.
Life before and after Anyonya.
Anyonya has been my first baby and I really love it because it’s given me that passion, confidence, and inspiration to do something in life. It just started by organizing a birthday party for my friend’s daughter and that was the first event we did at Anyonya and after that, there was no looking back. Anyonya has given me an identity for myself so I don’t remember what my professional life was before because all I remember is what Anyonya has given.
What is your collaboration with The Activity Room?
Aru is a good friend of mine and we have organized some of her family events. It’s a family affair like I said, once we associate with the family it becomes ours too. I’ve always loved kids and the kid in me has never died because anything to do with kids has always excited me. So the moms and I happened to be on the same page and that’s how I came on board.
What have you planned for the upcoming Christmas carnival, Mistletoe Mania?
We have planned to make a mark and create an experience more like a picnic and it is all about bringing families together. So the theme for this carnival is a winter wonderland, though the Chennai weather doesn’t support winter we would love to create a white Christmas and help the kids make memories.
