From Tres to Bohca, then Le Cantine, and now working as the head chef at Dear Donna, Lilyma Khan has built a strong and successful career in Delhi’s fine dining scene. But her path to the top was not easy. Her story shows us that even if you are born with nothing, and even if life is very unfair, you are still in charge of your future. With perseverance and talent, Lilyma reached the top. Her journey is a true inspiration to all of us. Chef Lilyma Khan featured on Hauterrfly’s newest season of Chief Naari, hosted by Rida Tharana, and here is a glimpse of her life that she shared with us.
Lilyma was born into a humble family in Taimur Nagar, Delhi. She lived with her parents and three siblings. Then tragedy struck. Her father passed away. Six months later, her mother died of tuberculosis. Her sister too took her own life soon after getting married. Lilyma’s brother, unable to cope with the pain, turned to drugs. He sold their house to a neighbour for just 10,000 rupees. Later, he was jailed for theft. An aunt took in Lilyma’s younger brother, but Lilyma was left alone.
A neighbour offered to take her in, but only if she picked and sold rubbish every day in return for food. Things got worse when they started making unwanted advances. Lilyma ran away and started begging for food and picking food through bins to survive. But not everything was dark. When she was 14, a man named Pramod asked if she wanted to study. He helped Lilyma move into an orphanage called Udayan Care, where she got the opportunity to study for the first time in her life.
Later, an aunt contacted Lilyma and invited her to live with her. Lilyma was happy because she finally felt a sense of belonging. But soon, her aunt started to abuse her. Two years later, her brother came back and asked Lilyma to return to Taimur Nagar with him. Lilyma refused and instead, she called Harsh Mander, an activist she had worked with on a film at Udayan. He helped her move into Kilkari Rainbow Home, a shelter for girls in Kashmiri Gate.
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Lilyma got her first job at Tres, a fine dining restaurant in Jorbagh. She started by cooking food for the staff, but she wanted to do more. So, she asked the head chef to teach her more about cooking and the culinary arts. Over time, Lilyma became in charge of Tres’ pantry section.
After Tres closed, she continued to work at other top restaurants in Delhi. In 2019, she joined Dear Donna as a Chef de Partie. One year later, she became Sous Chef, leading a team of 35 people. With hard work, focus, and dedication, Lilyma built a life she dreamed of without letting her past define her. Today, she is a role model for anyone who wants to rise above their struggles.