With over 40 years in the food industry and 100+ restaurants across 10 countries, Chholay was born with one dream – to bring back authentic, homely flavours to every plate.
Founded by Rajeev Matta, a visionary and a Tata Mumbai Marathon gold medallist, Chholay is more than just food – it’s about experiences, nostalgia, and togetherness.
Rooted in Tradition. Fuelled by Experience. Served with Heart.
Rajeev Matta launched Chholay in 2019, his vision was simple yet powerful: to bring honest, value-for-money Indian food to people in a way that feels familiar, yet refreshingly new. With humble ingredients, an unwavering commitment to quality, and a deep love for tradition, Chholay was born — a modern QSR and cloud kitchen brand that reimagines comfort food for today’s fast-paced India.
With a career spanning nearly four decades, Rajeev’s journey began in the kitchens of Centaur Hotel, followed by over a decade of teaching Food Production at IHM Ahmedabad, where he mentored many of today’s leading culinary professionals. He then led operations at Havmor, one of Ahmedabad’s most trusted food brands — a chapter that deepened his understanding of local flavour, scale, and consumer connection.
His most transformative years came alongside MasterChef Sanjeev Kapoor, where he served as COO at Khana Khazana India Pvt. Ltd. and later as CEO of SK Restaurants Pvt. Ltd. There, he helped build and scale over 100 restaurants across 10 countries, and co-launched household brands like The Yellow Chilli and Food Food, India’s first 24x7 food-focused TV channel.
Rooted in Culture. Driven by Purpose. Built for Impact.
Dushyant Kansara’s journey into the food and hospitality space began with a simple belief — that food has the power to bring people together, tell stories, and celebrate identity. With a sharp business mind and a deep respect for tradition, he set out to build more than just a restaurant.
This vision led to the creation of Chholay, a modern Indian Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) that brings the soul of Indian comfort food to today’s fast-paced world. From menu innovation to design, Chholay reflects Dushyant’s belief in building brands that are rooted in authenticity, efficiency, and emotional connection.
Chholay is one of the key verticals of Namami, a multi-faceted enterprise with operations across enterprise technology solutions, financial consulting, hospitality strategy, infrastructure development, and mobility services. Under Dushyant’s leadership, Namami has emerged as a purpose-driven ecosystem that connects people, services, and innovation under a unified vision.
