Navya Naveli Nanda has grown up surrounded by some of India’s most recognisable family names, but she says she does not want her identity to begin and end with her surname.
At 28, the entrepreneur has been carving out a professional path through women’s health, entrepreneurship and gender-equality initiatives. While her family background gives her access to an extraordinary legacy, Navya has repeatedly focused on the importance of creating a purpose-driven identity of her own.
Her latest comments came at the launch of Aparajita, the Hindi edition of former State Bank of India chief Arundhati Bhattacharya’s memoir Indomitable. During the event, Navya discussed Gen Z’s priorities, gender equality, family influence and the pressure that can accompany a well-known surname.
Navya Naveli Nanda Says Gen Z Wants Purpose, Not Just Profit
Speaking about the priorities of younger people, Navya challenged the perception that financial and professional success are the only things driving her generation.
“Young people don’t just want profit; they want purpose,” Navya said, as reported by The Economic Times.
According to her, young people increasingly want their work to have a wider social impact. She pointed to a desire to contribute to society while also addressing issues affecting women.
Navya acknowledged that technology has made several aspects of life easier for today’s generation. At the same time, she said rapid technological developments have created new challenges, including those associated with artificial intelligence.
Despite those challenges, she described her generation as having a strong sense of responsibility towards society, women and their own personal development.
Her Views on Gender Equality
Gender equality was another important part of Navya’s discussion. She suggested that equality begins, in part, with how people approach one another in professional and social spaces.
For young women especially, being able to see the person across the table as an equal can help build confidence and make it easier to express opinions.
“I think it’s about creating our own blueprint,” Navya said while discussing how women can define their own paths rather than simply following established expectations.
Her comments reflect the broader focus of her professional work, particularly through initiatives aimed at women’s health and opportunities.
Why Navya Does Not Want Her Surname to Define Her
Navya’s comments about identity carry particular significance because of the legacy associated with both sides of her family.
She is the daughter of businessman Nikhil Nanda and author and former actress Shweta Bachchan Nanda. Her maternal grandparents are Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan, while her brother Agastya Nanda has pursued a career in acting.
On her father’s side, Navya is connected to the Nanda business family. Nikhil Nanda heads Escorts Kubota, the listed engineering and agricultural machinery company. The company has been valued at roughly Rs 31,000 crore in market capitalisation, although market values fluctuate.
With such a prominent family background, Navya was asked how she handles the expectations attached to her surname.
“Everyone has a surname,” she said, adding that people also have a responsibility to live up to the name they carry.
But she was equally clear that she does not want the family name to become her entire identity.
“I would never want to restrict my identity to just my last name,” Navya said.
She also acknowledged the scale of the legacy surrounding her.
“I think what has been passed around me is far more than what I might even achieve in my life,” she added.
How Her Grandmother Ritu Nanda Influenced Her
Navya also spoke about the women in her family and the role they played in shaping her ambitions.
She recalled seeing her paternal grandmother, Ritu Nanda, discuss business deals and major decisions while Navya was growing up. Those experiences helped make the world of business seem interesting and accessible to her from an early age.
“A lot of my dadi’s ambition, a lot of her strength, a lot of what she did when she was younger and what I saw growing up has led me to be sitting here on this stage sharing that with you today,” Navya said.
She also credited her mother Shweta Bachchan Nanda and maternal grandmother Jaya Bachchan for influencing her development.
The comments suggest that Navya views her family legacy less as something to reject and more as a foundation from which she wants to build something independently.
Navya’s Own Professional Path
Away from the spotlight surrounding the Bachchan-Nanda family, Navya has developed her own professional interests.
She co-founded Aara Health, a venture focused on women’s health and wellness. She is also associated with Project Naveli, an initiative centred on gender equality and expanding opportunities for women.
These ventures form an important part of the identity Navya is building outside the entertainment industry.
Unlike her brother Agastya, who has entered acting, Navya has largely pursued entrepreneurship and social-impact work. Her recent comments underline her belief that a successful career can be measured by more than financial returns or family inheritance.
