Hemant Bhagwani – Taking Toronto to New Territory
Hemant Bhagwani has left footprints in quite a few places – born in India, attending culinary school in Switzerland, working at Indian restaurants in Australia and Dubai. 
But when he finally found a place to put down his chef’s hat, it was in Toronto, Canada where Indian restaurants at the time were nothing more than standard buffets with greasy fare. After helping open several hotel restaurants in Dubai, Hemant was set on starting his own venture despite the warnings of friends of family about the high failure rate for new food establishments. Arriving in Canada without much money, he tried relentlessly to get a small business loan before finally securing funds for his first restaurant. Like many entrepreneurs, Hemant struggled with his first two ventures despite hard work and a brilliant vision before succeeding with Amaya. Founded in 2007, the Amaya Group of Restaurants has become a household name in Toronto today, bringing fresh, healthy, and quality Indian food in the form of formal restaurants, casual dining, food court kiosks, take-out establishments, and catering services.
Hemant claims his love for food changed when he went to an Indian restaurant one night in Vancouver. Waiting close to an hour for a table, he observed how the owner chatted with everyone, hugged old friends, and transformed a simple dining venue to a warm and hospitable experience. Recognizing that same passion and energy in himself, Hemant was confident in his vision of wanting to create a place that offered exceptional food and changed how people perceived Indian dining. Amaya is exactly that – a company that was built from scratch out of love and emotion, a venture that redefined Indian food in Toronto, and a way for people to connect.
When asked to describe himself, Hemant says he is “a born entrepreneur, wanting to influence new trends and introduce people to new experiences.” Surprised by the limited delivery options in Toronto back in the mid 2000’s and not afraid to take risks, he saw fresh Indian food as an interesting alternative to the frozen meals people were used to eating. One key to his success may be how he views his staff as an extended family, leading with passion and a drive that motivates them towards the grander vision. As a testament to his commitment, Hemant has bravely rejected offers from bigger firms wanting to join forces or buy a part of his company in favor of continuing to build the brand and make sure employees are taken care of. While he’s excited and humbled by the interest shown by investors, he also recognizes that there’s still much to be done to achieve his mission and wants to focus on creating something amazing with his team.
By focusing on providing fresh local food and working to change people’s mindset about Indian cuisine, Hemant knows that challenges like managing increasing food prices and keeping up with increasing demand will just be a part of everyday life. Customers are responding very positively to his neighborhood restaurants, the food, and the concept. So to keep them coming back, Hemant designs each venture to provide a eco-friendly, local, and socially conscious experience. For most customers, it’s certainly refreshing to see a business built on that kind of respect, community awareness, and authenticity. As Hemant continues to improve and expand, there’s sure to be amazing new things in store for not only Toronto residents and visitors, but for those in the surrounding area as well.