✦ Celebrity stories, facts and career updates. Explore F4U now →

Home › Biography › Anita Dongre

Anita Dongre biographyFeatured Biography

Image source: StarsUnfolded

Celebrities

Anita Dongre Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 3, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth3 October 1963

Age61 Years

BirthplaceBandra, West Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

ProfessionFashion Designer, Entrepreneur

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpousePravin Dongre

FamilySon - Yash Dongre; Mother - Pushpa Sawlani; Siblings - Mukesh Sawlani, Meena Sehra, Priyanka Hira; Father - Name not specified

Anita Dongre Biography

Anita Dongre is an Indian fashion designer and entrepreneur best known for founding the House of Anita Dongre. Born in Mumbai and raised with ties to her家庭

Early life and background

Anita Dongre was born on 3 October 1963 in Bandra, West Mumbai, Maharashtra. Her family originally hailed from Jaipur, Rajasthan; her father moved the family to Mumbai shortly before her birth. Raised in a traditional Hindu Sindhi household, Dongre grew up watching the women in her family create garments by hand. Those early memories of stitching and fabric influenced her interest in fashion from a young age.

Dongre completed a commerce degree and also pursued formal studies in fashion. She undertook an internship with the erstwhile royal family of Dhrangadhra in Gujarat, which formed part of her early training in design. Her education included time at NM College, Mumbai and SNDT University.

Career

After finishing her studies, Dongre began designing for local boutiques and spent about twelve years supplying garments to that market. When a western-wear collection she created for young women failed to find acceptance among established retailers, she chose to take matters into her own hands and sell the clothes herself.

In 1995 she formally launched her company, House of Anita Dongre, starting out in a small 300-square-foot space. The business grew into a multi-label fashion house that encompasses several distinct lines: AND for western wear, Global Desi for ethnic-inspired clothing, Anita Dongre for bridal, couture prêt and menswear, Anita Dongre Grassroot for organic clothing, and Pink City for fashion jewellery.

Dongre has placed emphasis on design while delegating operational responsibilities within the family business to her siblings. Her early capital came from a loan from her father, and she has described the pragmatic financial arrangement that accompanied that support.

Her work has attracted attention from film and public figures. Over the years she has designed outfits for Bollywood actresses including Madhuri Dixit, Shilpa Shetty, Anushka Sharma, Alia Bhatt, Kriti Sanon and Aditi Rao Hydari. Her clientele has also included international personalities such as Hillary Clinton and Kim Kardashian. Dongre’s profile in fashion publications has included a cover appearance for Harper’s Bazaar.

Public profile

Anita Dongre is known for the expansion of her brand into multiple labels that address different market segments, from western and ethnic wear to bridal couture, organic clothing and costume jewellery. The House of Anita Dongre became a family enterprise early on, with her sister Meena Sehra among those who joined the business. Dongre is also noted for her personal lifestyle choices and public interests; she follows a vegan diet, enjoys travel and music, and is an animal lover who keeps several pet dogs.

Awards and recognition for her contributions to fashion and entrepreneurship include the GR8 FLO Women Achievers Award for Excellence in Fashion Design, an Excellence in Fashion Design award from the FICCI Ladies Organization (Bombay chapter), the EY Entrepreneur of the Year award and other honours such as the Pantene Shine Award and a Fame Award for Outstanding Entrepreneur in Fashion and Lifestyle.

Personal life

Dongre is married to businessman Pravin Dongre and they have a son, Yash Dongre, who is also in business. She maintains close family ties; her mother, Pushpa Sawlani, is noted as a homemaker and Dongre has spoken about the family expectations she navigated as the first woman in her family to pursue entrepreneurship. She has siblings Mukesh Sawlani, Meena Sehra and Priyanka Hira.

Latest updates

Dongre’s labels continue to operate under the House of Anita Dongre umbrella, spanning bridal, prêt, menswear, western and ethnic collections as well as a jewellery line. Her interests in sustainable and organic clothing are reflected in the Anita Dongre Grassroot label. She remains an active figure in Indian fashion and periodically outfits high-profile clients from film and public life.
◈

Recent Work

House of Anita Dongre labels

Founder and designer behind multiple labels: AND (western wear), Global Desi (ethnic wear), Anita Dongre (bridal, couture prêt, menswear), Anita Dongre Grassroot (organic clothes) and Pink City (fashion jewellery).

✦

Career Highlights

  1. Founded House of Anita Dongre in 1995, beginning from a 300-square-foot space.
  2. Expanded the business into multiple labels covering western wear, ethnic wear, bridal couture, organic clothing and jewellery.
  3. Designed for prominent Bollywood actors and international public figures.
  4. Recipient of industry awards including GR8 FLO Women Achievers Award, FICCI Ladies Organization award, EY Entrepreneur of the Year and other honours.
?

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Anita Dongre born?

3 October 1963

What is Anita Dongre known for?

Fashion Designer, Entrepreneur

What is Anita Dongre’s marital status?

Married

Who is Anita Dongre married to?

Pravin Dongre