Got the idea from
A lack of air-conditioned, presentable restaurants serving authentic Gujarati fare led Kamlesh Barot to start Rajdhani. The idea stemmed from Gujarati weddings that offered lavish Gujarati feasts for guests.
Starting doubts
Would patrons other than Gujaratis endorse a restaurant offering traditional Gujarati fare?
Money problems
The Barots had to learn from a process of trial and error - some of their locations failed in terms of assessment and calculation. For example, footfalls in the Pune and Indore outlets started dwindling rapidly after they started with a bang. Though individual units are making profits, Goenka says that collectively the venture is yet to become highly profitable but they are looking for franchisers in cities across the world and are making gradual but definite progress.
Other obstacles
The Rajdhani chain's expansion was threatened by the influx of fast-food eateries such as McDonald's and pizzerias. One of their biggest challenges is to maintain the consistency and authenticity of food in outlets across the city.
Outstanding personal qualities: Kamlesh Barot has the ability to merge the best of the old and new generation - he uses his mother's age-old recipes in a contemporary manner. His upholds family values and entrusts his franchises with only close relatives and friends. He also had the foresight and acumen to start a successful Rajdhani in Dubai.
{{/usCountry}}Outstanding personal qualities: Kamlesh Barot has the ability to merge the best of the old and new generation - he uses his mother's age-old recipes in a contemporary manner. His upholds family values and entrusts his franchises with only close relatives and friends. He also had the foresight and acumen to start a successful Rajdhani in Dubai.
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