Look at us now!
By: Aiden Jewelle Gonzales
15 years ago, Masala Magazine was established with the dream of becoming the thread that ties together the diverse Indian communities in Thailand. Since then, we’ve had the privilege of sharing the community’s successes and challenges; of joining in the laughter and the tears; of being the voice of Thailand’s Indian community. On the dawn of our auspicious 15th Year Anniversary this 15 August, we’ve looked back at some of the success stories that we’ve featured over the years, and where some of these aspirational and renowned individuals are now. Of course, this is by no means an exhaustive list; it has been our honour to have met and shared the stories of countless individuals – we hope this small sample will inspire you as much as they did us.
AUGUST 2009
Our first-ever Masala Cover Story was the business icon Nishita Shah, who is part of the notable Shah family. Masalahad featured her as “the face of Nsha,” her fashion label which she has now launched in three continents, but since then, list of accomplishments include becoming the Managing Director of 145-year- old company GP Group, which includes three listed companies and more than 40 private enterprises across industries; and she’s even been a judge in the Thai version of reality television show Shark Tank.
DECEMBER 2011
In December 2011, Masala featured Krit Srichawla, who founded FICO Corporation when he was just 17. The son of business magnate Akradej Srichawla, Krit took the business, which started as a distributor of yarn and fabric weaving machines from Switzerland, to meteoric heights. Now, FICO Corporation has diversifified into real estate development as well as the food and hospitality industries, in Thailand and beyond.
JUNE 2013
A renowned Thai-Indian composer, singer and performer, who shot to fame after her performance in The Voice Thailand Season 2 (2013), Rimi Doowa, formerly Rimi Nique and now known as Remee, was the cover of our June 2013 issue. Remee has since won the 2016 Radio City Freedom Award for Best Pop Artist, wrote and performed various notable tracks, collaborated with DJ Bravo on “The Chamiya Song” in 2019, and has been recognised by the Times of India and StarPlus for her talent, performing at major events including at Times Square for Diwali 2022 and the Hollywood Carnival in 2023, opening for Machel Montana.
APRIL 2015
Another notable individual that we’ve featured on our April 2015 cover, Dilip Rajakarier is the Group CEO at Minor International and the CEO at Minor Hotels, one of the world’s most renowned and fastest-growing hospitality groups, whose brands span Avani Hotels and Resorts; Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas; and more. Since assuming the role of CEO of Minor Hotels in 2011, he has played a crucial role in the company’s swift global expansion. Today, he oversees a growing portfolio of more than 530 properties in 56 countries, featuring globally-recognised hotel and lifestyle brands.
December 2016-January 2017
The inimitable Rohit Sachdev, CEO and Founder of Soho Hospitality, has only moved from strength to strength since he was featured on the cover of Masala’s December 2016-January 2017 issue. From the beloved Bangkok stalwarts, Above Eleven, Charcoal Tandoor Grill & Mixology, and Havana Social, Rohit has also brought to Bangkok SOHO Pizza, Cantina Italian Kitchen, and El Santo. In the last decade, his company has expanded to business divisions spanning hospitality development and Interior Design and F&B Consulting Services.
October-November 2017
Formerly the General Manager India of global luxury fashion house Louis Vuitton, which was known as the world’s most valuable luxury fashion brand for six consecutive years, Sunaina Kwatra has worked for brand names such as Emilio Pucci, Givenchy, and The Coca-Cola Company. Today, she continues to make waves in the fashion industry as a partner in Styl Capital based in California, US.
F
ebruary-March 2017
Vivek Dhawan, our cover for our February- March 2017 issue, is the CEO, Chief Coach, and Executive Director of Mega Lifesciences PCL, whose brand portfolio spans MEGA We Care, Natural We Care, Wellness We Care, and more. An established manufacturer and distributor of nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products, Vivek has helped bring the company to forefront of the health and wellness sector across 30+ emerging countries, with over 6,000 employees worldwide.
December 2020-January 2021
The Chairman of the ESG Council at Indorama Ventures PCL, a global leader in sustainable chemicals, operating in 35 countries; Yashovardhan ‘Yash’ Lohia is at the vanguard of the world-changing recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET). Having made a global commitment in 2019 to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, they produce 100 percent recyclable PET resin, and Yash himself has expanded their operations throughout Asia, Europe, and the United States. He was also recently inducted into The Forum of Young Global Leaders by the World Economic Forum (Class of 2022).
