Revathi Roy, Founder, Serenity by Reva

Some entrepreneurs build businesses. Others build possibilities. Revathi Roy has done both… time and again. A trailblazer whose remarkable entrepreneurial journey spans decades, Revathi has consistently challenged conventions, shattered stereotypes, and created opportunities where none existed. From pioneering Asia’s first women’s taxi service to making her mark in real estate, she has always believed that entrepreneurship is not merely about building successful ventures; it’s about creating meaningful impact. At 66, when many speak of slowing down, Revathi chose to dream bigger, proving that passion knows no age, and reinvention has no expiry date.

Her latest venture, Serenity by Reva, born during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, is a beautiful reflection of that philosophy. What began with a simple DIY candle-making kit soon blossomed into a thoughtful lifestyle and gifting brand celebrated for its handcrafted candles, sustainable craftsmanship, bespoke creations, and heartfelt storytelling. Every candle she creates is more than wax, fragrance and flame… it’s an experience infused with warmth, creativity, emotion and purpose.

But perhaps what makes Serenity by Reva truly special is the spirit behind it. Sustainability isn’t a trend for Revathi; it’s a conscious commitment woven into every creation. From environmentally friendly waxes and reusable containers to handcrafted finishes and customised fragrances, each product reflects mindful craftsmanship designed to leave a lasting impression… not just on the planet, but in the hearts of those who receive it.

Equally inspiring is her unwavering commitment to women empowerment. Having transformed the lives of thousands of women through her pioneering women’s taxi service, Revathi continues that mission through Serenity by Reva by training homemakers, supporting local artisans, and creating meaningful livelihood opportunities. For her, success isn’t measured merely by sales or scale, but by the confidence she helps ignite in other women who dare to believe in themselves.

What makes Revathi’s story even more compelling is her refreshing honesty about entrepreneurship. She openly embraces mistakes as stepping-stones, continues to learn new-age skills like social media, constantly raises her own standards, and believes that every customer… whether spending ten rupees or ten thousand, deserves nothing less than excellence. It is this rare blend of humility, resilience and relentless curiosity that defines her extraordinary journey.

In an exclusive conversation with Sumita Chakraborty, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, TheGlitz, Revathi Roy, Founder of Serenity by Reva, shares the remarkable story behind building a purpose-driven brand, why dreams should never come with an age limit, the joy of transforming passion into purpose, and how handcrafted creations can light up not just homes, but lives. Her journey is a beautiful reminder that age is just a number and it’s never too late to begin… sometimes, all it takes is the courage to strike the first match and let your inner light shine.

Over To Revathi Roy, Founder, Serenity by Reva

Many people think of starting a business as a young person’s pursuit, yet you successfully launched Serenity by Reva at 66, right in the middle of the pandemic.  Could you tell us a bit about yourself? What gave you the courage to take that leap, and what message would you like your journey to send to aspiring entrepreneurs who believe it’s ‘too late’ to begin?

I didn’t start Serenity by Reva because I was slowing down. I started it because I wanted to add another dimension to my life.

People often assume that when someone starts a creative business after sixty, it’s a retirement hobby. For me, it was exactly the opposite. I had already built businesses, including Asia’s first women’s taxi service, and today, I also run a successful real estate advisory. Candle-making wasn’t a replacement; it became another expression of my entrepreneurial journey.

During the pandemic, I bought a simple DIY candle-making kit from Amazon because I’d always loved candles. Whenever someone gifted me one, I would keep smelling it instead of lighting it. I never imagined that one small purchase would become Serenity by Reva.

The truth is, we knew nothing. We didn’t know different waxes, we didn’t know different wicks, we didn’t know how much fragrance to use. We simply started. Friends stepped in to teach us the basics; we made mistakes, accepted orders before we were fully ready, and learned with every candle we poured.

If my journey says anything, it’s that dreams don’t come with an age limit. Sometimes all it takes is the willingness to begin before you know everything.

What started as a passion for handcrafted candles has evolved into a thoughtful lifestyle and gifting brand. At what moment did you realise this was no longer just a hobby, but a purpose-driven business with the potential to touch lives?

There wasn’t one defining moment; it happened gradually. Initially, candle-making gave me a sense of calm. It’s incredibly therapeutic. When I’m creating a candle, I’m completely immersed in the process, and I genuinely believe every emotion goes into what I’m making. That’s why the brand is called Serenity by Reva. Serenity, to me, isn’t just a word; it’s a feeling that the craft gives me.

But somewhere along the journey, I realised the impact wasn’t limited to me. The women helping me with packaging and production were earning an additional income. My house help learned the craft and today, creates beautiful candles herself. Homemakers started approaching me because they wanted to be associated with something creative and meaningful.

That’s when I realised I wasn’t simply making candles anymore. I was creating opportunities, building confidence, and bringing people together through a shared passion. That’s when Serenity by Reva became much bigger than a hobby.

Today’s consumers are increasingly seeking products that are beautiful, meaningful, and sustainable. How has Serenity by Reva embraced conscious craftsmanship while ensuring every creation tells its own unique story?

I think people today are far more aware of what they bring into their homes, and rightly so.

From the very beginning, we’ve consciously chosen environmentally friendly waxes instead of paraffin, and wherever possible, we create products in reusable containers made from materials like glass, mango wood, and handcrafted cement. Sustainability, for us, isn’t something we added later, it has always been part of the process.

Equally important is the craftsmanship behind every piece. We don’t believe in mass production. Most of our orders are customised, and I love experimenting with fragrance combinations that people won’t easily find elsewhere. Sometimes a client comes with an idea, and sometimes, I suggest combinations that work beautifully together. Even our layered candles reveal different fragrance notes as they burn, making the experience evolve over time.

Every product carries thought, creativity, and a little bit of the person who made it. I think that’s what makes handcrafted products truly special.

Women empowerment is at the heart of your brand. How important has it been for you to create opportunities for women through your entrepreneurial journey, and what have been some of the most rewarding moments along the way?

Empowering women has been a constant throughout my entrepreneurial journey; it didn’t begin with Serenity by Reva.

Years ago, through my women’s taxi service, I had the privilege of training thousands of women to become professional drivers and build independent careers. That experience taught me that when you create opportunities for women, you don’t just change one life, you create a ripple effect that reaches entire families.

With Serenity by Reva, the scale may be different, but the philosophy remains exactly the same.

I’ve trained women around me in candle-making and made them partners in the process rather than simply workers. During festive seasons, many of them earn a meaningful additional income. There are homemakers who now market our products because they wanted something purposeful to do after their children grew up.

For me, that’s the real success of entrepreneurship, not just building a brand, but helping others discover confidence in themselves.

In an age of mass-produced gifting, handcrafted creations carry a very different emotional value. Do you believe people today are looking not just for products, but for stories, authenticity and human connection?

Without a doubt. I’ve seen a clear shift in the way people choose gifts. Whether it’s weddings, festivals or corporate gifting, people increasingly want something that reflects thought rather than convenience. They want gifts that feel personal.

That’s why so much of what we create is customised. A wedding hamper isn’t just a collection of products anymore, it’s designed around the couple, the celebration, and the memories people want to create. Every order has a story behind it.

When something is handcrafted, you’re not just buying an object. You’re buying someone’s time, creativity, patience, and care. I think people connect with that authenticity far more than something that’s been mass-produced.

Building a brand during one of the most uncertain periods in recent history could not have been easy. Looking back, what were the biggest challenges you faced, and how did those experiences shape the entrepreneur you are today?

Entrepreneurship has taught me to be comfortable with imperfection. I often joke that if my earliest customers came back today, I’d happily remake those candles free of cost because our craftsmanship has evolved so much. At the time, I genuinely believed I was making something wonderful. Looking back, I can clearly see how much I still had to learn.

But that’s exactly how businesses grow – you experiment, make mistakes, improve, and keep moving forward.

Even today, my biggest challenge isn’t creating candles; it’s constantly raising my own standards. Packaging is something I’m still refining. Social media is something I’m still learning. At 66, I’m still making my own Instagram reels, laughing at my mistakes and figuring things out. Learning never really stops, and I think that’s one of the greatest gifts entrepreneurship gives you.

One principle has never changed. If someone is paying me, even if it’s just ten rupees, they deserve my very best. If I feel a product isn’t up to the mark, I’d rather replace it than let a customer walk away disappointed. For me, repeat customers are the greatest validation of the work we do.

As someone who has successfully transformed passion into purpose, what is the philosophy that you adhere to and what advice would you offer to women who have spent years nurturing a dream but are still waiting for the ‘perfect time’ to turn it into a business?

I always tell people that dreams are free. People spend years waiting for the perfect business plan, the perfect funding, or the perfect timing. In my experience, none of those arrive neatly packaged. What matters is whether that inner spark exists.

Nobody can give you that spark. It has to come from within.

I started with a DIY candle-making kit that cost a few hundred rupees. I wasn’t trying to build a brand. I was simply following something that made me happy. Everything else, the learning, the business, the customers, and the recognition, came later.

So don’t wait until you feel completely ready. Start small. Learn relentlessly. Accept mistakes gracefully. If you’re passionate enough, your business will evolve with you.

TheGlitz Take

Whoever has said that entrepreneurship has an age limit, hasn’t met the intrepid Revathi Roy. At 66, while many are talking about slowing down, she was busy launching a brand, mastering Instagram reels, experimenting with fragrances, and proving that reinvention is the ultimate superpower.

With Serenity by Reva, Revathi has poured passion into purpose, transformed creativity into community, and lit the way for women to dream bigger, earn independently, and believe in themselves. Her story is a masterclass in fearless entrepreneurship, reminding us that success isn’t about when you start; it’s about having the courage to start at all.

At TheGlitz, we’re completely inspired by Revathi’s unstoppable spirit. She’s bold, unapologetically curious, endlessly creative, and wonderfully proof that life’s second, third or even fourth act can be the most exciting of all. If there’s one takeaway from her remarkable journey, it’s this: dreams don’t come with an expiry date…

Here’s to Revathi Roy and bold, enterprising women like her who don’t just light candles… they light the world.