Quick Info
| Profession | Chef |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian |
| Date of Birth | 11/06/1973 |
| Age | 53 years |
| Birthplace | Kolkata, West Bengal, India |
| Zodiac Sign | Gemini |
Latest News about Ritu Dalmia
07/10/2026
Atrangi by Ritu Dalmia, her Dubai restaurant at Jumeirah Al Qasr, was again listed as a Michelin Selected restaurant in the 2026 Michelin Guide Dubai. This marks its third consecutive year of Michelin recognition since opening in 2023. The restaurant said it stayed open and retained all its staff through a difficult regional period.
19/02/2026
Ritu Dalmia opened Diva At The Atrium at Jio World Plaza in Mumbai, her third restaurant venture in the city. Unlike her Italian restaurants, it is a casual, grab-and-go style eatery serving comforting everyday meals.
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Bio/Wiki
| Ritu Dalmia is an acclaimed Indian chef and restaurateur specializing in Italian cuisine. She is known for establishing a successful restaurant empire across India and Italy, and for authoring several popular cookbooks. She is recognized as one of India's leading Italian chefs. | |
| Ritu Dalmia is an acclaimed Indian chef and restaurateur specializing in Italian cuisine. She is known for establishing a successful restaurant empire across India, Italy and Dubai, and for authoring several popular cookbooks. She is recognized as one of India's leading Italian chefs and has also championed Indian cuisine in her later ventures. |
Physical Stats & More
| Height | 168 cm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 60 kg |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Hair Color | Black |
Personal Life
| Ritu Dalmia came out as a lesbian at age 23 and became a petitioner against Section 377 of the Indian Constitution. She has been an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in India. | |
| In June 2016, she filed a petition in the Supreme Court of India challenging Section 377 alongside five other members of the LGBTQ+ community, contributing to the historic 2018 verdict that decriminalized homosexuality. |
Relationships & More
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
|---|
Family
| Father | Gautam Dalmia |
|---|---|
| Siblings | She has a brother. |
Career
| Founded Mezza Luna, her first Italian restaurant in Delhi at age 21 (closed within two years) | |
| Co-founded Vama in London with chef Andy Verma | |
| Founded DIVA in Delhi, a highly successful authentic Italian restaurant | |
| Opened Latitude 28 and Cafe Diva | |
| Established Cittamani and Spica in Milan, Italy | |
| Opened DIVA at Andores Resort & Spa in Goa | |
| Launched The Tasting Room by DIVA in Mumbai | |
| Opened Motodo, a pizza eatery at Jio World Drive, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai | |
| Hosted cooking shows on NDTV Good Times including Italian Khana and Travelling Diva | |
| Authored cookbooks: Italian Khaana, Travelling DIVA, and DIVA Green: A Vegetarian Cookbook | |
| Joined her family's stone import business at age 16, which led to frequent travels to Italy and inspired her passion for Italian cuisine | |
| Co-founded Vama, an Indian fine dining restaurant in London in 1996 with chef Andy Verma, which became highly successful | |
| Sold her stake in Vama in 2002 to focus on Italian ventures in India | |
| Founded DIVA in Delhi in 2000, a highly successful authentic Italian restaurant that became the flagship of her restaurant empire | |
| Established Cittamani in Milan, Italy in 2017, introducing Indian cuisine to Italian audiences | |
| Opened Spica in Milan in partnership with renowned Italian chef Viviana Varese | |
| Opened Atrangi, her first Middle East restaurant in Dubai at Jumeirah Al Qasr in 2024, offering contemporary Indian dining | |
| Opened Diva At The Atrium, a casual dining outlet at Jio World Plaza in Mumbai, reported in February 2026 | |
| Atrangi by Ritu Dalmia has held Michelin Selected status in the Michelin Guide Dubai for three consecutive years since its 2023 opening |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Ritu Dalmia is an acclaimed Indian chef and restaurateur known for specializing in Italian cuisine. She has authored several cooking books and established multiple restaurants in India and Italy. Considered one of the best Italian chefs in India. | |
| 2. From a young age, Ritu had a passion for cooking, despite her primarily vegetarian family, she also cooked non-vegetarian dishes. | |
| 3. At sixteen, she joined her family's stone import business, leading her to travel to countries like Italy, Egypt, and South America for sourcing materials. | |
| 4. Her love for Italian cuisine blossomed during visits to Italy, where she learned cooking from her friend Serra Turgutcan. This inspired her to open an Italian restaurant in Delhi, facing skepticism from her father. | |
| 5. At 21, she launched her first restaurant, Mezza Luna, with her savings, which unfortunately closed within two years. | |
| 6. After selling Mezza Luna, she opened Vama in London alongside chef Andy Verma, eventually finding financial success after initial struggles. | |
| 7. Returning to India, she founded DIVA, a highly successful restaurant frequently visited by Italians for its authentic and fresh dishes. | |
| 8. Managing multiple restaurants between London and Delhi, she eventually sold her stake in Vama to focus on her Italian ventures in India. | |
| 9. Expanding her restaurant empire, she opened several more successful eateries like Latitude 28 and Cafe Diva. | |
| 10. Venturing into Italy, she established Cittamani and Spica in Milan, and also introduced DIVA at Andores Resort & Spa in Goa and The Tasting Room by DIVA in Mumbai. | |
| 11. She further expanded with Motodo, a pizza eatery at Jio World Drive, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai, diversifying her culinary offerings. | |
| 12. Ritu Dalmia showcased her culinary expertise as a host on NDTV Good Times in shows like Italian Khana and Travelling Diva. | |
| 13. Author of popular cookbooks like Italian Khaana, Travelling DIVA, and DIVA Green: A Vegetarian Cookbook, she has shared her culinary wisdom with enthusiasts. | |
| 14. At the age of 23, Ritu bravely embraced her sexual orientation as a lesbian, becoming a petitioner against section 377 of the Indian constitution. In 2018, when the Supreme Court of India decriminalized homosexuality, she expressed immense gratitude for this historic decision. | |
| 15. Her love for Italian cuisine blossomed during visits to Italy, where she learned cooking from her friend Serra Turgutcan, an Italian cook and machinery supplier. This inspired her to open an Italian restaurant in Delhi, facing skepticism from her father. | |
| 16. At 21, she launched her first restaurant, Mezza Luna, with her savings of Rs 5 lakh, which unfortunately closed within two years. | |
| 17. In 2024, she opened Atrangi in Dubai at Jumeirah Al Qasr, marking her first restaurant venture in the Middle East with a contemporary Indian dining concept. | |
| 18. As of early 2026, she operates around ten restaurants across Milan, Dubai, Mumbai and Delhi-NCR. |
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