True brew

Rub a dub dub, three women n' a pub. And if the women happen to be Mehroo Irani, Zinia Lawyer and Bakhtawar Chenoy, you can bet they are...

Rub a dub dub, three women n8217; a pub. And if the women happen to be Mehroo Irani, Zinia Lawyer and Bakhtawar Chenoy, you can bet they aren8217;t there just for the pleasure of downing a couple of beers but for hard-core business as well. The threesome are well-known in the field of liquor business today, heading Associated Breweries and Distilleries Pvt Ltd, believed to be the only brewery in the world managed and owned by women.

With their well-manicured fingers curling around a frosted mug of San Miguel, Zinia in her 8220;mid-40s8221; and Bakhtawar 40 made an arresting picture at Pune8217;s 1000 Oaks last week, at the launch of the golden brew.

Rewinding to how they stormed a male-dominated bastion, Zinia says, 8220;We took our first step into the business in 1985, after the demise of our father Noshirwan Irani. Having visualised a potential for beer of excellent quality in the Indian market, he had started the company in 1973 and launched brands like London Pilsner, London Diet. I had already begun working with him for some time but it was after his death that we decided that my mother and sister step in and take over the reins of the company,8221; explains Zinia.

So how did it feel walking into a business dominated almost entirely by men? 8220;That8217;s one query we8217;re answering all the time!8221; smiles Bakhtawar, 8220;Frankly, while we didn8217;t give that aspect much importance, many did think that we wouldn8217;t last. It feels good to know that not only have we lasted but we8217;ve also done a pretty good job too. And if anyone had apprehensions about us as bosses, it was probably because we are women, period, and not because we are women heading a brewery. Actually, people are more broad-minded than we like to think. And our experience has shown us that India is not as conservative it used to be.8221;

8220;We had the full support of all our relatives. Actually, since there were no sons in the family, it was always understood that someday we would take over,8221; adds Zinia. Getting to know the ropes did pose a challenge initially, though, and this is where their belief in hands-on experience reaped them rich dividends. Bakhtawar, an ardent beer fan herself, managed to develop a knack for differentiating between various beers with the expertise of a professional. 8220;One sip and I can tell you the brand, and discern its strong and weak points,8221; she laughs.

Bakhtawar, incidentally, is a regular visitor to Pune, spending most weekends with her grandmother on Boat Club Road. 8220;My father was a Puneite who had studied at St Vincent8217;s High School and Fergusson College before moving to Mumbai for business. Another thing that brings me here is my passion for races, compounded by the fact that my husband is a trainer. So it was a deliberate decision to coincide the San Miguel launch with the racing season here,8221; says Bakhtawar.

Having schooled in England and done their college in Mumbai, Bakhtawar and Zinia abide by the belief that at the end of the day, what really matters is how well you know your job. Gender is a secondary issue. And while beer is soft liquor, they are pretty confident that they would have managed the hard stuff just as well. 8220;There would not have been any problem because we would have put our energies into making a success of that too,8221; emphasises Zinia. As they say, that8217;s the spirit!

Sunanda Mehta

Sunanda Mehta is the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Pune. She is a distinguished journalist, columnist, and author with over three decades of experience in the media industry. Educational background: A merit-lister in her 12 th in CBSE (5th rank in Humanities) Sunanda stood first in History in the Board for which she was awarded the Dr Tarachand Gold Medal. She is a triple-graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (History Honours) from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, Bachelor of Education, Delhi University (on scholarship) and Bachelor of Communication and Journalism, University of Pune. Professional Background Role: As Resident Editor, she oversees the Pune edition of The Indian Express, managing local news coverage, investigative features, and editorial direction for the city. Author: She is an accomplished author, known for her biographies. Her notable books include: The Extraordinary Life and Death of Sunanda Pushkar published by Pan Macmillan (2019). The book was long-listed for the Atta Galatta award for nonfiction and Auther award for best debut author. Majestic Musings - Translation of poems from 100 year old Badshaian from Punjabi to English (2023) Behind the Big Screen- the untold stories of child actors published by Bloomsbury India (2024) Focus Areas: While Sunanda has reported on various subjects from civic to political to investigative and crime, her forte remains long-form human-interest stories, heritage and gender issues. Core Column: "Against All Odds" Sunanda curates and writes a signature series titled "Against All Odds," which profiles individuals who have overcome significant personal, medical, or professional challenges. Recent notable articles (2025) The Story of Dr. Harinder Dhaliwal (July 2025): A Pune AFMC topper who became a neurologist in Canada despite becoming paraplegic. Jayoo Patwardhan’s Cancer Journey (Jan 2025): How the National Film Award-winning designer defeated cancer. Partha Iyengar’s Emergency mid-air (Aug 2025): The story of how Gartner’s India head survived a massive heart attack during a long-haul flight. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage continues to explore deep personal narratives and Pune’s socio-environmental landscape: 1. Personal Narratives & Closure "'I grieved for him 10 years after his murder, found closure to unsolved case'" (Dec 14, 2025): A poignant feature on Vineet Alurkar, son of the late Pune music legend Suresh Alurkar, and how digitizing his father’s collection helped him heal. "A 40-day journey home: how Christopher Benninger's partner gave him the gift of memories" (Nov 23, 2025): A moving tribute to the late acclaimed architect Christopher Benninger and his final trip to the US. "'After 38 years I finally met my biological mother'" (Sept 28, 2025): Chronicling the journey of an adopted daughter from Zurich searching for her roots in Pune. 2. Civic & Heritage "'Vetal Tekdi belongs to common citizens'" (Oct 20, 2025): An interview with environmental activist Dr. Sushma Date on the community-led protection of Pune’s vital green lungs. "'Military village' Apshinge recalls living through war days" (Aug 12, 2025): A report from a village in Maharashtra where nearly every household has a member in the armed forces, focusing on their legacy and current anxieties. 3. High-Profile Commentary & Investigations "Malegaon blast acquittals: 'I was expecting this verdict'" (July 31, 2025): An interview with former special public prosecutor Rohini Salian following the controversial acquittals. "Grounded, license cancelled... she decided to soar higher" (March 30, 2025): The story of Dr. Harpreet A De Singh, Air India’s first woman pilot from 1988, and her transition to leadership and meditation. Signature Style Sunanda Mehta is known for her empathetic storytelling. Unlike standard news reporting, her features often read like narrative non-fiction, focusing on the psychological and emotional resilience of her subjects. One of her articles in The Indian Express titled 'The Quality of Mercy' was converted into a film Rubaru Roshini produced by actor Aamir Khan. She is a strong advocate for Pune's heritage and environment, frequently using her platform to amplify citizen-led movements. X (Twitter): @sunandamehta and @ExpressPune ... Read More