From aspiring actor to owing the best quick-service-restaurant; Rameshwaram Cafe owner, Raghavendra Rao, opens up about his career in culinaryshow Bombaat Bhojana

The culinary show Bombaat Bhojana is renowned for its tradition of featuring special guests, and this time was no exception. The show welcomed Raghavendra Rao, the founder of Rameshwaram Cafe, as its esteemed guest. Amidst the delightful ambiance of the kitchen, Raghavendra indulged in some specially crafted Mandakki Idli prepared by the beloved host. In addition to savoring the culinary delights, Raghavendra shared insights into his career journey, aspirations, and a myriad of other topics, making for an engaging and memorable episode.

While studying engineering, I immersed myself in theater, honing my skills in acting and stunts. Alongside, I worked part-time at a prestigious Bengaluru hotel to cover expenses. Even after graduation, I juggled full-time hotel work with pursuing acting opportunities during my spare moments. Over a decade, I tirelessly sought roles, maintaining a delicate balance between career aspirations and job commitments.

In 2012, amid struggles and financial uncertainty, I realized that I needed to take charge of my destiny. Fueled by enthusiasm and supported by friends, I embarked on a new venture by launching a small food cart on the streets. This marked the beginning of my journey in the hospitality industry.

Established in 2021, Rameshwaram Cafe pays homage to the esteemed scientist Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, a native of Rameshwaram, embodying its immediate association with South Indian culture.

Initially established in Indiranagar, Bengaluru, we faced numerous challenges. Initially, our use of areca nut plates led to issues with customers not disposing of them properly. Additionally, navigating through chaotic traffic added to the struggles. Despite these obstacles, we received remarkable support from customers, who were consistently helpful and considerate. From day one, customers have been the cornerstone of Rameshwaram Cafe's success.

They started in Indiranagar, Bengaluru, first. We did encounter a lot of struggles. Initially, we were using the areca nut plates, so, the customers used to just leave it wherever they ate and not use the dustbin. So, this was one major issue we faced from the residents. And then the traffic was chaos. Besides all these, we did get amazing responses from the customers. They were very helpful and thoughtful about everything. Customers have always been the biggest support to Rameshwaram Cafe since day one.

While attending the pre-wedding celebrations of Ananth Ambani and Radhika Merchant, I received a call from Bengaluru regarding a bomb blast. Our team was responsible for providing South Indian cuisine for the festivities. Initially, I assumed it was a gas leak or a short circuit. However, it soon became apparent that it was far more alarming and frightening. I returned to Bengaluru on the next available flight. By the time I arrived, our team had already taken control of the situation, ensuring everything was under control, including attending to medical emergencies.

By evening, following the investigation, it was disclosed that it was a bomb blast. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming support received nationwide during this period.