Scripting new business designs

Ananya Goenka

Being the CEO of the Indian Express Group's film weekly, Screen, may be way behind her, but Ananya Goenka has not been sitting idle.

It took her three years to put together a book on her father-in-law, the legendary newspaper baron and Indian Express promoter Ram Nath Goenka. The coffee-table titled Ramnath Goenka "" A Life in Black & White has been published by Ana & Ana, the publishing house set up by Ananya Goenka for the purpose.

In fact, Chez Ana & Ana is the company Goenka recently got registered. The idea is to do new things under the banner that takes its name from her (Ananya) and her eighteen year old son Anant Goenka. Now that the book has hit the market, it is time to go back to her first love: furniture and interior design. For starters, she is getting into furniture design.

"I am very fond of doing the interiors ever since I designed our own house in Express Towers. But I am not trained," she quickly adds. For starters, however, she plans to work on some old furniture pieces and put them out in the market to test waters.

"I still have to set up the furniture business really, its just been pursued as a hobby till now," says Goenka.

Chez Ana & Ana is also entering the business of education in a joint venture with another Mumbai based company. She is not divulging the name of her partner yet but says that "it's a primary school which will be operational in July." The deal is currently in the process of being signed, she adds.

Commenting on her book, Goenka says it is not an intellectual read but comes straight from the heart. "It's divided into two parts. One is about the emergency and the other is a very personal tribute," she says. Depending on how her book does in the market, Goenka wants to bring out a paper back edition too.