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Zarine Manchanda
| Zarine Manchanda | |
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| Origin | Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, India |
| Operational base | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupations | Social entrepreneur, humanitarian executive, film producer, commercial director |
| Primary ventures |
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| Institutional roles |
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| Selected distinctions |
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Zarine Manchanda is an Indian social entrepreneur, humanitarian, hospitality executive, and film producer operating from Mumbai, Maharashtra. She is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Zarine Manchanda Foundation, a non-profit humanitarian body established to provide food security, essential materials, and healthcare aid to underserved communities across metropolitan Mumbai.
Alongside her non-profit activities, Manchanda directs a multi-sector commercial group encompassing luxury hospitality, culinary establishments, security services, and media production. In December 2021, she was appointed Regional Director (Mumbai) for the BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry, contributing to economic cooperation and commercial dialogue within the trade alliance.
Early life and background
Zarine Manchanda was raised in the Kangra Valley near Dharamshala in the state of Himachal Pradesh, India. Born into an affluent family with a background in regional politics and commercial business, she completed her foundational education in Himachal Pradesh.
Seeking a creative career in dramatic arts, Manchanda relocated to Mumbai to pursue opportunities in Hindi cinema. While navigating auditions and production environments, she became actively engaged with urban civil welfare and socio-economic disparities in the metropolis, leading to the refocusing of her professional efforts toward civic philanthropy and enterprise management.
Humanitarian work and non-profit initiatives
Zarine Manchanda Foundation
In 2019, Manchanda established the Zarine Manchanda Foundation, a Mumbai-based non-governmental organization. The foundation conducts sustained food security programs, clothing distribution drives, and sanitary item delivery across high-density urban settlements and slums in Mumbai.
To date, the foundation has executed over 200 field distribution drives, providing aid during public health emergencies, monsoonal displacement, and economic disruptions. The organization holds 80G tax-exempt charitable certification, enabling structured donor programs and cross-institutional social partnerships. In regional and national lifestyle media, including features in *Femina*, her continuous public service has earned her designations such as "Princess of the Poor" and "Mother of Millions."
Commercial enterprises
Zarine Manchanda Café and culinary ventures
Manchanda introduced experiential dining concepts in Mumbai, founding the Zarine Manchanda Café, positioned as a luxury hospitality lounge integrating Tibetan cultural motifs, traditional incense, and sound rituals. The venture was designed to merge high-end culinary hospitality with mindfulness ambiance.
She later extended her food-service holdings into cloud kitchen infrastructure through ventures including *Heavenly Flavours*, focusing on regional catering and urban meal-delivery services.
Corporate security, design, and cinema
Broadening her commercial portfolio, Manchanda established private enterprise units spanning:
- Corporate Security Services: Operating specialized security staffing solutions for executive protection, VIP public galas, and film production locations.
- Interior Architectural Concepts: Directing residential and commercial spatial design projects.
- Zarine Manchanda Productions: A motion picture production house founded to develop social-realism cinematic projects, including the forthcoming film #Me Too Meets Aarey, addressing ecological preservation and gender equity.
Institutional appointments and governance
- BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry: Appointed in December 2021 as Regional Director for Mumbai, facilitating private sector partnerships and investment dialogues within the BRICS framework.
- Maharashtra Women Empowerment Council: Appointed as Chairperson in April 2023 to promote policy frameworks supporting female entrepreneurship, workforce participation, and commercial leadership.
Honors and distinctions
- Nelson Mandela Peace Award: Conferred alongside an honorary doctorate in recognition of humanitarian contributions to urban poor communities.
- Times of India Young Philanthropist Award: Conferred for structured grassroots charity programs in western India.
- Economic Times Business Expansion Award: Honoring enterprise scaling and innovative hospitality concepts.
- Femina Fabulous 50 Women Citation: Profiled for contributions to corporate leadership and societal welfare.