Navya Naveli Nanda, granddaughter of Bollywood icons Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan, and daughter of Shweta Bachchan Nanda, has clarified why she chose not to pursue a career in Bollywood. Instead, she has focused on business ventures and social advocacy.
In a recent interview with Barkha Dutt on Mojo Story, Navya explained that she was raised with the understanding that she should only pursue something she is truly passionate and confident about. Acting never sparked that level of enthusiasm for her. "I feel like I was always raised in a way that my parents told me that don't do something if you're not 100% passionate or confident or it's something that you really want to do," she said.
Navya revealed that her interest lay elsewhere, particularly in her father's work in business. "I always was fascinated by tractors, my dad and what he was doing. And when he'd come back from work I'd talk to him about it. That to me was far more exciting," she shared. Her father, Nikhil Nanda, is the Chairman and Managing Director of Escorts Kubota Limited, a company specializing in agricultural, construction, and railway equipment. Growing up in Delhi, she was surrounded by conversations about business, further fueling her desire to become an entrepreneur. "I never wanted to join films; I wanted to be an entrepreneur," Navya stated.
Despite not wanting to be a part of the film industry, Navya appreciates the arts. She enjoys watching movies and listening to music and recognizes the power of the medium. "I do enjoy watching movies. I love listening to music, as part of the work my family does — I'm constantly watching what they're doing and I'm constantly watching what other people are doing. I love consuming it…the content, the songs, the movies," she said. She even admitted to knowing the hook steps to almost every song.
Navya also spoke about the strong women in her life, her grandmother Jaya Bachchan and her mother, Shweta, who have taught her to balance strength with vulnerability. She expressed her desire to become a woman like them, admiring their confidence and boldness. "Both mom and Nani have never shied away from being who they are: confident and bold. They embody the kind of woman I would hope to shape into one day," Navya stated.
Navya is aware of her privilege and strives to use it responsibly. She runs a healthcare brand called Navya Care and an NGO focused on gender rights called Project Naveli. "I have always accepted the privilege I come from. It has allowed me to be who I am today...Making the most of those opportunities and doing justice to them is all that matters," she explained.
While Navya chose a different path, her brother, Agastya Nanda, has ventured into acting, making his debut in Zoya Akhtar's "The Archies".
