Filmmaker, writer and singer Aishwaryaa Dhanush has invested in SARVA, a wellness startup to spread awareness about the wholesome effects of yoga.
SARVA was founded by Sarvesh Shashi in 2013 as Zorba. The platform is designed as a way to bring the world the benefits of yoga. In March 2016, the company was rebranded as Sarva Yoga Studio. The brand is now eyeing global expansion and has a presence abroad with a center in London. The wellness startup is on a mission to “connect seven billion breaths through yoga”.
SARVA has raised funds from Malaika Arora, Shahid Kapoor, Jennifer Lopez, Alex Rodriguez, and Mira Kapoor. With these investments, Aishwaryaa joins hands with Malaika Arora to become a core part of the Diva Yoga team, leading its growth in the Southern part of India. Diva Yoga is the yoga wellness arm of SARVA.
Aishwaryaa Dhanush, daughter of superstar Rajnikanth and wife of actor Dhanush, is well known in the entertainment industry as a writer, filmmaker, and playback singer.
Aishwaryaa R. Dhanush invests in Sarva as she has taken a slight detour and trained her sights on the fitness front.“I have known Sarvesh for quite a few years now – having practiced yoga and played badminton together. When he started Diva Yoga with Malaika Arora, I felt the concept was new and called him to ask whether we would be able to replicate it in the South as well,” says, Aishwarya.
“Given the situation we are in right now, I felt it was important to spread awareness on good health, in whichever medium possible. There are times when you want to be alone and just breathe but there is so much pressure mounting in your head but that’s not possible. Yoga brings that calmness to combat the restlessness that has become a part of our lives,” she added.
Yoga is not just for fitness but that one thing that can bring changes to one's lifestyle. Since the SARVA app is free for a year, women can take advantage of the fact that all one needs is a mat and a place to practice yoga.
Aishwarya had been indulging in different kinds of fitness routines until she took yoga seriously.
She said, “I grew up seeing my parents practicing yoga and while I was into weights training and other forms of fitness, I thought yoga was boring. Getting back to it took time – I think there has to be some sort of self-realization to realize the wholesome effects of yoga,”
As she has turned investor with SARVA, she says, “I am happy to be in the space I am today and see so many women entrepreneurs showing results. But for now, I’d rather stick to what I am most comfortable with.”
On the entertainment front, Aishwarya is working on a few scripts that might see progress this year.
