Amitabh Bachchan's granddaughter Navya Nanda says it's been tough to persue MBA from IIM Ahmedabad: 'What I've learnt from batch mates...'

Amitabh Bachchan's granddaughter Navya Naveli Nanda has chosen a path different from her family lineage. Instead of taking up acting or anything to do with movies, she's turned to entrepreneurship. Navya also started her podcast which featured her mom Shweta Bachchan Nanda and 'nani' Jaya Bachchan. At the moment, Navya is studying at he Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A) and she has now opened up on her experience. She’s currently pursuing a blended MBA programme that combines online and on-campus learning — a journey she describes as both demanding and deeply fulfilling.

She said during a chat with Barkha Dutt on Mojo Story, “It’s a two-year full-time blend of on-campus and online. Of course, it has been tough … anyone who’s done an MBA, especially from IIM-A, can attest to that."

Reflecting on the past year, Navya shared how the experience has helped her grow personally and professionally. After nearly six years away from formal education, she found herself adapting to exam schedules once again while learning alongside classmates from diverse backgrounds. “The best part for me has been the friendships. What I’ve learnt from my batch-mates is far more than what I’ve learnt inside the classroom,” she said, also praising her professors and calling the programme one of the most enriching experiences of her life.

When news of her admission first surfaced, Navya faced online criticism, with some questioning why someone from a prominent family would choose to study at an Indian institution instead of going abroad. Responding to such chatter, IIM-A professor Promila Agarwal took to X to clarify that Navya earned her spot fairly. “Even if people want to discredit her interview & CV, she, dammit, cleared the cut-off,” Agarwal wrote.

Outside academics, Navya continues to juggle multiple roles, she’s the founder of the non-profit Project Naveli, co-founder of women’s health tech startup Aara Health, an active participant in her father's business apart from her podcast.

During this same interview, Navya was also asked if the dinner conversations in the Bachchan household are fiesty and she said there are no fights but lots of healthy discussions happen and they respect each other deeply.