A BEAUTIFUL LIFE

Bazaar India speaks with Mira Kulkarni, Founder of Forest Essentials and author of Essentially Mira, about life, lessons, and beauty.

- RADHIKA BHALLA

We are sitting in the greenhouse of Mira Kulkrani’s home in Panchsheel Park, New Delhi—the same home the Founder and Managing Director of Ayurvedic skincare brand Forest Essentials speaks about on many occasions in her autobiography, Essentially Mira [HarperCollins India]. It’s a riveting read, packed with anecdotes and twists that leave you rooting for the protagonist. But most of all, it’s the story of a woman who rises to the occasion and makes the most of her life.

On this winter’s day, Mira is seated elegantly on the sofa, her face glowing and barely any lines at the age of 67. One almost begins to search her face for the stories she has written about in her book, but you can’t read much... “Today, I feel a sense of stability, of being grounded at home. It has been here forever...there’s a kind of sense of peace and continuity.”

Along with safety and balance, there is also a reason for excitement and celebration. 2022 was a golden year, of sorts, as the brand put up its first, standalone store in London— “a natural progression because we’ve covered India fairly extensively”. In fact, when she began searching for a space in 2021, despite warnings of an impending recession, Mira continued with her characteristic determination that has made her, and the brand, what they are today.