Navya Naveli Nanda, granddaughter of Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan, is charting her own course away from the glamour of cinema and into the heart of India’s agriculture industry. The young entrepreneur has chosen to continue her paternal family’s business legacy at Escorts Kubota Limited, one of the country’s leading names in agricultural machinery.
Navya’s father, Nikhil Nanda, is the third-generation entrepreneur and currently serves as the Chairman and Managing Director of Escorts Kubota Limited. Her decision to enter the business world, rather than Bollywood, stems from her deep-rooted connection to the company’s legacy and her genuine fascination with the agricultural sector.
Speaking in an interview with Mojo Story, Navya said she never wanted to limit herself to a single profession.
“I never wanted to restrict myself to one profession that I am an entrepreneur, and I will only do that. I love trying new things. I also feel I learn a lot when I dabble in different things, from assembling tractors to walking the ramp in Paris for L’Oréal. I never wanted to be boxed into one category,” she explained, the Indian Express quoted.
Navya, who serves as a Cause Ambassador for L’Oréal Paris, made her ramp debut at Paris Fashion Week 2023, joining her aunt, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who has long represented the brand internationally.
Despite her ties to showbiz, Navya says her heart has always been in the business world.
The Indian Express quoted, “I’ve grown up in Delhi, and I have grown up around tractors. I have assembled one on the shop floor from start to finish. For me, it’s still the coolest thing ever. I get so excited by tractors that my friends make fun of me,” she said with a laugh.
Recalling her family’s influence, she added, “My father, bua, dada, and dadi spoke about tractors with so much excitement that it never occurred to me that this was something young girls shouldn’t be interested in. I want to carry on this great legacy forward in my own capacity,” as quoted by the Indian Express.
Navya revealed that she trained at the Escorts factory for over three years before joining the corporate office.
“I think one should start from scratch. I am still making my way up, have a long way to go. It’s not just me but the work, effort, and delegation of so many people that carry forward the vision of my great-grandfather,” she said, the Indian Express quoted.
According to The Economic Times, Navya holds a 0.02% stake in Escorts Kubota, valued at approximately ₹7 crore, while the company’s total valuation stands at around ₹40,000 crore. She is also pursuing a business degree at IIM Ahmedabad, further preparing herself for leadership roles within the company.
In an earlier conversation with Mashable India, Navya expressed her passion for contributing to India’s agricultural growth. “Farming, as an industry, is one of our largest. A very large percentage of our economy is run by agriculture, so I think it is very important for us to be in that sector. I’m quite excited that I am able to work in this sector,” she said, reported the Indian Express.
While most star kids are drawn toward acting, Navya Naveli Nanda stands apart, combining her entrepreneurial drive, education, and legacy to build a future rooted not in fame, but in India’s fields and factories.
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