In this episode of The Jay Rana Show, Jay sits down with Akshay Jhanjee — the man behind the scenes of some of the most recognized Indian dining spots and catering outfits in the tri-state area. Akshay grew up in the business, shadowing his father, Raja Jhanjee, who built the legendary Bukhara Grill in NYC. From that foundation, Akshay carved his own path and is now leading the charge into the next chapter of their culinary empire.
They dive into Akshay’s journey — from working his first wedding event as a teenager to running massive events with 67 different appetizers. He talks about what it means to carry a family legacy, why quality always wins over quantity, and how to navigate the chaos of weddings without losing your cool or your standards.
The two also open up about the emotional connection to venues like the Mahwah Sheraton, how COVID forced everyone in the industry to reset, and how those challenges brought both blessings and hard choices. Akshay explains why he and his team cap events per day, how they deal with unexpected guest overflows, and how to maintain consistency in quality even when scaling up.
They get into the meat of what separates a good caterer from a great one — being on-site, being hands-on, and having a team that’s been in it for decades. Akshay also breaks down the decision behind creating Bukhara Grill Express, how he’s expanding into Indo-Chinese fusion, and what it takes to keep the catering and restaurant arms running without burning out.
Jay and Akshay also get real about business breakups. Akshay explains the split between his father and his dad’s former business partner, the confusion it caused with branding and bookings, and how they’re now focused on building the Bukhara Grill name “by Raja Jhanjee” to make it clear who’s who in the game.
They also talk shop — the grind, the glam, the food waste, and the weird stuff that happens when 450 people show up to a wedding that was supposed to have 300 guests. Akshay doesn’t hold back on how they handle those moments, how they keep clients happy, and why they never say no — even if it means firing up the vans and sending in reinforcements on the fly.
They cover trends, too. The rise of social media-driven aesthetics in catering. The influence of presentation on appetite. Why today's wedding couples want global menus with Indian flair. And how the team at Bukhara is delivering on those demands — with everything from samosa quesadillas to truffle pineapple chicken kebabs.
On the personal side, Akshay talks about the balance between work and family, raising two boys, and how becoming a father himself gave him a new perspective on time, priorities, and what really matters at the end of a 90-hour week. Jay chimes in with his own stories of fatherhood, running Roz Entertainment, and the parallels between the entertainment and catering industries — long hours, high stakes, and constant client-facing hustle.
This one’s packed. If you’re in the food game, the wedding world, or just love a solid behind-the-scenes story about building something real, this episode delivers.
No fluff. Just two guys who’ve lived it — talking straight about what it takes to make it, what they’ve learned from their failures, and what’s next for the industry.
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