Featured BiographyImage source: StarsUnfolded
Quick Info
Date of birth5 August 1986
Age35 Years
BirthplaceMumbai, India
ProfessionPastry chef, Businesswoman
NationalityIndian
Marital statusUnmarried
FamilyFather: Jaikishan Dhingra; Mother: Seemaa Dhingra; Brother: Vaarun Dhingra
Pooja Dhingra Biography
Pooja Dhingra is an Indian pastry chef and entrepreneur who introduced the macaron to a wider Indian audience with her Le15 Patisserie brand. Trained in Sw
Early life and backgroundPooja Dhingra was born on 5 August 1986 in Mumbai, India. Raised in a family with culinary roots, she learned to bake as a child from her aunt and developed an early affection for chocolate. Her father, Jaikishan Dhingra, worked as a chef and invested in restaurants, while her brother Vaarun Dhingra is a restaurateur. She attended Bombay Scottish School in Mumbai and initially studied commerce at Jai Hind College before deciding to pursue hospitality.
Career
Dhingra moved to Switzerland in 2004 to study hospitality and management, later continuing her culinary education at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris where she learned to make French pastries. It was during her time in Paris that she first tasted macarons and resolved to bring that confection to India.
Returning to Mumbai in 2010, Dhingra experimented extensively to adapt macaron recipes to local ingredients and the humid Indian climate. With financial backing from her father, she opened Le15 Patisserie, named for the 15th arrondissement where she lived in Paris. Starting with just two chefs, the business expanded to a staff of more than 100 and multiple outlets, including locations at Good Earth and Palladium Mall in Lower Parel.
Her profile rose quickly as macarons became popular through her shops. She authored cookbooks including The Big Book of Treats and The Wholesome Kitchen, both published in India. Dhingra has also launched retail products such as DIY cake mixes, cookies, hot chocolate mixes, and Le15 merchandise to allow customers to recreate her items at home. During the COVID-19 lockdown she wrote another cookbook titled Coming Home and developed an audio series called NoSugarCoat with Pooja, in which she interviewed entrepreneurs and creatives about their careers and challenges.
Recognition and partnerships
Dhingra has been recognized by Forbes India in its 30 Under 30 list and was also selected for the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list. In 2019 she received the Mould-Breaker of the Year award from Grazia magazine. She has undertaken advertising and promotional work for brands such as Kwality Wall's, Hellmann’s, Surf Excel and Oreo.
Public profile
Dhingra is often described in media as a leading figure in India’s patisserie scene and has been referred to as the "Macaron Queen of India." She is active on social media, where she posts about new products and business developments. Her work has brought her into social and professional circles that include Indian film and fashion personalities; she has baked for celebrities and attended high-profile events.
Dhingra speaks openly about the challenges she faced as a young woman launching a food business in a male-dominated environment, including difficulties securing suppliers, equipment and real estate. She credits her Swiss and Paris training, early hospitality internships and international travel for shaping her approach to hospitality and product development. She views travel as a source of creative inspiration and has spoken about adapting global tastes to her own culinary ecosystem.
Latest updates
During the 2020 pandemic Dhingra temporarily closed cafes because of operational and financial strains, later opening a new outlet at Palladium Mall, Lower Parel. She continued to diversify her business during this period by expanding retail product lines, publishing a cookbook, and producing her NoSugarCoat podcast series. She advises aspiring entrepreneurs to keep their finances in order and to clearly plan how they will manage funds as they grow.
Personal
Dhingra is Indian by nationality and identifies as non-vegetarian. She remains unmarried. Her family includes her mother Seemaa Dhingra, who works as a therapist and healer, and her brother Vaarun, who is active in the restaurant industry. She has spoken about competitors copying recipes while noting that ideas and vision remain uniquely hers.
Public recognition and media attention continue to follow her work as she expands Le15's footprint and pursues new products and content avenues.
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Recent Work
Launched DIY cake mixes, cookies, hot chocolate mix and Le 15 merchandise for home baking
Cookbook written during the 2020 lockdown
2020Podcast interviewing entrepreneurs and celebrities about entrepreneurship and life journeys
Career Highlights
- Founded Le15 Patisserie in Mumbai in 2010, introducing macarons on a larger scale in India
- Selected for Forbes India 30 Under 30 and Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia
- Author of bestselling cookbooks The Big Book of Treats and The Wholesome Kitchen
- Winner of Grazia's Mould-Breaker of the Year award (2019)
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was Pooja Dhingra born?
Pooja Dhingra was born on 5 August 1986.
What is Pooja Dhingra known for?
Pooja Dhingra is known for pastry chef, Businesswoman.
What is Pooja Dhingra’s marital status?
Pooja Dhingra's marital status is listed as Unmarried.

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