The Community Builder: Sara Tendulkar, Entrepreneur & Philanthropist I always knew I wanted to start my own business, says Sara Tendulkar, entrepreneur & philanthropist

Her father was called the "God of Cricket" in India. Growing up, she had been shaped by a deep-rooted belief in giving back to the community. "This shaped my own values early on," says Sara Tendulkar, entrepreneur & philanthropist, in an exclusive to Entrepreneur India.

Joining her parents at the Sachin Tendulkar Foundation was an organic instinct. The foundation's work across health, sports and education, allows her to engage with passion in healthcare. That's when she decided to turn her passion into a project: the genesis of her entrepreneurial journey. "I always knew I wanted to start my own business, any business."

"Health and fitness being subjects of interest to me naturally piqued my curiosity. Through my experiences living abroad and in India, I realised there is a clear gap between interest and access when it comes to fitness centres. I did take up a 9-to-5 role after college, which helped me understand structure and scale, but I ultimately knew entrepreneurship was something I wanted to pursue," she recalls.

In 2025, she launched Pilates Academy in Andheri, Mumbai. This will be the fourth branch of the popular Dubai-based franchise in India. The academy is designed as a space where mindful movement, strength, and holistic thinking comes together. Was Pilates always her calling?

"My journey with Pilates began about three years ago in London, but not in the way most people might imagine. I had sustained a back injury, and honestly, I was quite frustrated with the whole recovery process. That was when I was introduced to Pilates, and what I discovered was so much more than physical therapy. There's something incredibly grounding about the mind-body connection in Pilates. When I moved back to India, I was looking for a place that brought back the same feelings of ease and energy. That's when the idea of franchising the Pilates Academy started taking shape," she continues.

The Pilates Academy is her way of bringing together a community of wellness-seekers at home.

In 2026, she is exploring a new business venture that aligns with wellness and impact, coupled with her aim to expand the reach of the foundation across more states in India. "Our partnership with the Gates Foundation marks a very meaningful milestone, and it has opened up new possibilities to scale our work and deepen our impact," she adds.

She is focused on creating impact, in a direct and tangible way, across areas that matter deeply, including sports, health and education for children.

"My father often says that India should be a sports-playing nation, not just a sports-loving one, and through the Foundation, we work to create real opportunities. It is a role I take great pride in, the intention is to continue expanding our footprint and touching many more lives. Alongside this, my Pilates studio is another extension of how I think about wellness. It is about creating a positive, inclusive space where people feel a sense of community and balance, something I am personally very invested in," she concludes.

Facts:

● Age (as on February 1, 2026): 28 years

● Number of Employees In Your Venture: 9 (excluding STF)

● Year of Company Inception: 2025

● External Investors (if any): None