EP-351 | Fled Iran’s Revolution & Built a Bakery Empire in India | L’Opéra Founders

EP-351 | Fled Iran’s Revolution & Built a Bakery Empire in India | L’Opéra Founders

Author: Asian News International (ANI) October 5, 2025 Duration: 1:10:54

Kazem Samandari is the Executive Chairperson and Co-Founder of L'Opéra, one of India’s most prominent French bakery operations. Christine Samandari-Hakim, his wife and co-founder, played a key role in developing the bakery’s concept and brand identity.


In this edition of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Kazem and Christine Samandari share their experiences as Baha’is in pre-revolutionary Iran, and the challenges their families faced during the Islamic Revolution.


They also talk about how their son’s love for French pastries inspired L’Opéra, following a year of preparation. The couple explains why India is the ‘El Dorado’ for startups, innovators, and entrepreneurs, offering ease of doing business and living.



Timestamps


00:00 – Introduction

01:32 – Story of Christine Samandari

06:32 – Story of Kazem Samandari

08:44 – Iran Before the Islamic Revolution

15:36 – Christine’s Father’s Assassination

17:35 – The Baha'i Faith Community in Iran

21:45 – What Is the Baha'i Faith?

29:22 – Connection with Iran

33:39 – Journey to India

37:54 – Story Behind French Bakery L’Opéra

42:48 – Sourcing Ingredients for L’Opéra

47:29 – Was India Ready for a French Bakery?

54:55 – Expanding Beyond Delhi

57:03 – Was India the Right Choice for L’Opéra?

59:06 – Ease of Doing Business in India


Conversations that shape our world often happen behind closed doors or in the quiet moments after the headlines fade. ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash pulls up a chair to those discussions, offering a direct line to the minds of influential figures. Hosted by veteran journalist Smita Prakash, this series moves beyond the soundbite, creating a space where politicians, athletes, artists, and thinkers can explore the nuances of the issues that define contemporary India and global affairs. The dialogue here is driven by curiosity and a commitment to depth, allowing guests to elaborate on their perspectives, their decisions, and the personal experiences that inform their public lives. You will hear candid reflections on current events, policy debates, and cultural shifts, all through the lens of those at the center of the story. Produced by Asian News International, the podcast leverages a legacy of journalistic access and integrity, ensuring every conversation is both insightful and substantive. It’s more than an interview; it’s an opportunity to understand the motivations and narratives driving today’s news. For anyone looking to move past the surface and engage with the substance of politics, society, and human endeavor, this podcast provides a consistently thoughtful and compelling listen.
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ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash
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