#ELLEGourmetCoverStars: Malaika Arora and Amrita Arora Ladak: Sisters Who Serve

As someone who grew up with an older sibling, there’s something instantly familiar and almost comforting about watching Malaika Arora and Amrita Arora Ladak together. On set for the ELLE Gourmet India cover shoot, their easy camaraderie filled the room: deciding outfits together, debating poses, finishing each other’s sentences, and of course, talking about food! Their tastes may differ — one is all about flavour, the other loves the visual appeal; one reaches for pasta, the other craves Thai curry; one eats too fast, the other can handle food straight off the stove. One thing is clear: their love for food is one of the strongest threads that ties them together.

Growing up, food sat at the heart of the Arora home. “Mom was the most fantastic cook, and the kitchen always overflowed with the aroma of her special dishes — dosas, snacks, fish curry, or just freshly cooked rice,” Malaika recalls. “And of course, the Kerala snacks she made after school. Amu and I would sit together and relish everything. That joy of sharing a meal as a family is something I still cherish deeply.”

Amrita shares the sentiment. “Malaika and I loved being fed by Mom. Even the simplest dishes, like ghee rice, dal-chawal, and sambar-chawal, became magic when she prepared them for us. It looked basic, sure, but it tasted out of this world. Even as adults, on some nights, we’d still insist she feed us. Those memories never leave you.”

While both sisters carved their own paths in the entertainment industry, the dream of opening a restaurant was always simmering in the background. The joy of gathering around a table, of feeding and being fed, is what eventually nudged them into the culinary world. Today, they’re living that long-held dream: Malaika with Scarlett House in Bandra and Juhu, Mumbai, and Amrita with Jolene in Goa.

In a candid conversation, the sisters open up about their culinary ventures, their food memories, and the flavours that define them.

An Extension Of Home 

For Malaika, the kitchen became a quiet sanctuary long before it became a professional passion. “My love for food grew as I started spending more time experimenting with flavours. Watching Mom cook was always inspiring, but trying to replicate her dishes was impossible,” she laughs. “I’ve attempted her Malabar fish curry more times than I can count. It’s never the same, so I eventually started cooking dishes I genuinely enjoyed instead of trying to compete with the memory of her food.”

The actress found comfort in simplicity and meals that didn’t need to be dramatic to be meaningful. “Over time, I found immense joy in preparing simple, wholesome meals at home and discovered that food is not just about nourishment, but also about memories, moods, sharing love with family and friends, table settings, and having everybody around the table.”

That instinct naturally grew into a business idea. “Arhaan (her son) and I love food and entertaining people, so having a restaurant felt organic. After travelling the world, eating, experimenting, and hosting at home, we wanted to build a space where people could just be themselves, feel at home, and enjoy.” Scarlett House in Bandra, and now Juhu, is exactly that. “The coolest place where you can chill with friends and loved ones, and enjoy a warm, nourishing, home-cooked kind of meal.”

There are dishes she refuses to let go of. “The Paneer Thecha is non-negotiable. It's a special recipe that I've included. So many people can enjoy it, and it's comforting.” There’s also Malaika’s Masala Khichdi, which is very close to her heart. “Both these dishes are staples in my home.”

Running a restaurant, she admits, has taught her many things. “It's shown me the importance of leading with kindness and staying true to your vision. I've learned that paying attention to every little detail, whether it's food, the space, or the team, makes all the difference. Owning the creative process means sharing what I love and making sure it connects with people in a real way.”

The road ahead is only expanding. “Food is all about reinvention and experiences, and I'm truly very passionate about healthy, delicious food. I plan to launch a chain of cafes and restaurants focused on health-conscious food. There's so much more I want to explore because sharing food is sharing love.” 

Creating A Traveller’s Destination 

For Amrita, the pull towards hospitality came from a simpler truth. “We’re all such foodies!” she grins. Her husband, Shakeel Ladak, is deeply embedded in the world of hotels, so the idea felt natural. “It was a mini dream that took shape around the pandemic and eventually became very real.”

Just like Malaika, the emotional core of Amrita’s inspiration was inherited from her mother. “Our mom always had an open door. No matter how busy she was, her table was abundant. Our affection for hospitality came from that love for feeding and hosting people.”

The restaurant’s name carries its own story. “Jolene is one of my favourite songs by Dolly Parton. If you listen to the lyrics, it’s about a woman's strength and vulnerability, and that's what I wanted to bring about.”

But why choose Goa as its home? “Goa has been our refuge since I got married. We’ve made countless memories there as a family. If my first restaurant was going to be born anywhere, it had to be Goa. We want people to have the same feeling that we feel when we go to other restaurants.”

The design and the menu draw heavily from her travels with Ladak. “We’re big travellers,” she says. “So, Jolene had to reflect the places we love — a blend of Amalfi, Spain, London, and Switzerland. I didn’t want to compromise on the look, feel, or food. It needed to feel like a holiday destination.” The restaurant is a patchwork of favourites collected over years of travel. “It’s an ode to travellers. We wanted people to feel at home.”

As for her personal favourites from Jolene’s menu, she refuses to pick one. “You can’t do this to me!” she laughs. “The Gambas Pil-Pil, the Misal Ramen, the Salt-Baked Fish, the pastas, the pizzas, the classic Goan Prawn Curry — I love them all.”

Expansion is definitely on the horizon, even if she won’t reveal much yet. “My husband and I are looking at expanding with all the love. We've got a Jolene, and I think it's only right that we take it further.”

For Malaika and Amrita, food isn’t just about what’s on the plate but about emotion, memory, identity, and the people you share it with – and that translates in their respective restaurants. Scarlett House and Jolene feel less like celebrity-owned restaurants and more like extensions of themselves. As they continue to grow and dream bigger in their sisterhood, one thing remains unchanged: the belief that food is love, and sharing it is the most meaningful way to connect. And if you find yourself at a table in Bandra, Juhu, or Goa, you’ll taste exactly that.

Quick Fires:

ELLE Gourmet India: Sweet or savoury?

Malaika Arora (MA): Sweet

Amrita Arora (AA): Savoury

ELLE Gourmet India: One dish that instantly reminds you of childhood.

MA: Khichdi

AA: Ghee rice

ELLE Gourmet India: Your 3 a.m. craving.

MA: Dark chocolate

AA: Mixture (mix of leftovers in the fridge, made hot and eaten)

ELLE Gourmet India: One ingredient you can’t live without.

MA: Chilli

AA: Kadi patta 

ELLE Gourmet India: Wellness for you is…

MA: Mindfulness

AA: Happiness 

ELLE Gourmet India: A health/wellness drink you swear by.

MA: My jeera, ajwain, sauf and methi water

AA: Lemon/cinnamon water 

ELLE Gourmet India: If you had to spend the rest of your life having only one cuisine, it would be?

MA: South Indian

AA: Indian/Italian

Editorial Director: Ainee Nizami Ahmedi; Digital Editor: Isha Mayer; Photographer: Abheet Gidwani; Styling: Tejashree Raul, Idris Nidham; Senior Graphic Designer: Sakshi Badani; Makeup: Meghna Butani (Malaika), Tarannum Khan (Amrita); Hair: Flavien Heldt (Malaika), Radhika Yadav (Amrita); Brand Consultant: Nisha Shetty; Assisted by: Rasikka Deorey, Anshu Sheth (styling), Vaishnavi Rana (editorial); Artist PR Management: Bazinga Entertainment (Malaika)