The story of Shameema Akhtar — Singer, Woman Entrepreneur and Founder of Dilbaro Foods.
A Journey Rooted in Kashmir
Born in Argam village, Bandipora district, Jammu & Kashmir, Shameema Akhtar grew up surrounded by Kashmir's rich cultural traditions, music and family food heritage. Her journey is a story of connecting people through music and sharing the authentic flavours of her homeland with the world.
A trained vocalist who studied music at Bhatkhande Music University in Lucknow, Shameema has always believed that music can bring people together beyond the boundaries of language, region and culture.
Connecting India Through Music
In 2018, Shameema and her husband, Mohammad Mazhar Siddiqui, moved from Lucknow to Pune, Maharashtra. In Pune, their music studio and the Sarhad Music YouTube channel became platforms for sharing India's cultural diversity. Shameema sang in Marathi, Kashmiri and several other Indian languages, earning love and appreciation from audiences across Maharashtra, Kashmir, other parts of India and listeners in different countries.
One of the memorable milestones in her musical journey came in February 2025, when she performed Maharashtra Geet and Pasaydaan at the inauguration of the 98th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
For Shameema, music has always been more than a performance. It is a way to represent Kashmir, celebrate India's many cultures and build meaningful connections between people.
Celebrating Kashmiriyat
Kashmir is known for its breathtaking landscapes, warm hospitality, rich traditions and the spirit of Kashmiriyat—a culture that values humanity, respect, togetherness and coexistence.
Shameema's journey reflects this spirit. By embracing different Indian languages and musical traditions, she has built connections with people from diverse backgrounds.
Through music, she shared the voice of Kashmir with audiences across India. Through Dilbaro Foods, she now hopes to share another beautiful part of her homeland: its traditional recipes, culinary heritage and distinctive flavours.
A Family Legacy of Kashmiri Pickles
The story of Dilbaro Foods began generations before the brand came into existence.
In Shameema's family, the tradition of preparing Kashmiri pickles began with her late grandmother, Noori Begum. The tradition was carried forward by her father, Mohammad Maqbool Kumar, and continued as part of the family's culinary heritage, including through her mother, Fahmeeda, whose cooking is loved for its distinctive taste.
Growing up, Shameema experienced these traditional flavours as part of everyday family life. She learned about the family's pickle-making traditions, especially from her father.
Whenever she travelled outside Kashmir for her musical work, her father would often send homemade pickles with her. She shared them with friends and acquaintances, who appreciated their authentic taste. Among these, the traditional Munj Haak pickle, made from Kashmiri kohlrabi, received particularly warm appreciation.
Those moments inspired a simple but meaningful idea: Why not take the traditional flavours of her family and the taste of Kashmir to people across India and beyond?
For Shameema, it was not merely about starting a food business. It was about preserving a family legacy, celebrating Kashmiri culinary traditions and sharing the taste of home with the world.
The Birth of Dilbaro Foods
In 2023, Shameema and her husband, Mohammad Mazhar Siddiqui, began turning this family tradition into a business. Dilbaro Foods was registered in 2023, and its first sales began in 2024, with Pune, Maharashtra, as the starting point of their entrepreneurial journey.
Their vision was to introduce customers to authentic Kashmiri flavours while preserving the traditions and family recipes behind them.
In 2024, Dilbaro Foods launched its own website and listed its products on online marketplaces, including Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho and Snapdeal.
The products received encouraging customer responses, with people appreciating their taste and connection to traditional Kashmiri food.
What began as a family tradition gradually became a brand with a larger purpose: bringing Kashmir's culinary heritage into homes far beyond the Valley.
Bringing Kashmir's Flavours to the World
Dilbaro Foods celebrates the diversity of Kashmir's food culture through traditional Kashmiri pickles, fruit-based preserves, nut butters and other food products inspired by the region's ingredients and culinary traditions.
Kashmir's culinary identity extends beyond its famous landscapes. Its apples, walnuts, almonds, local vegetables and traditional preparation methods are all part of a rich food heritage passed down through generations.
At Dilbaro, the aim is to make these authentic flavours accessible to modern customers while respecting the traditions from which they originate.
The brand's long-term vision is to reach customers across India and gradually expand into international markets, including Dubai.
For the founders, every traditional recipe carries a story—a story of family, culture, local ingredients and generations of knowledge.
A Woman Entrepreneur with a Cultural Vision
For Shameema Akhtar, music and entrepreneurship are two different ways of expressing the same connection to Kashmir.
Music enabled her to reach people through language and culture. Dilbaro Foods gives her another platform to share her homeland's identity through its food and traditions.
As the business grows, Shameema and her husband hope to create future opportunities for employment and local entrepreneurship in rural Kashmir, helping traditional food knowledge contribute to sustainable economic opportunities for local communities.
Their ambition is to grow a brand that honours its roots while reaching new homes and markets around the world.
From carrying Kashmir's voice through music to sharing Kashmir's flavours through food, Shameema's journey is about keeping her roots alive while building connections beyond borders.
About Dilbaro Foods
Dilbaro Foods is a food brand inspired by Kashmir's traditional recipes, local ingredients and rich culinary heritage. Its product range includes Kashmiri pickles, fruit-based preserves, nut butters and other food products.
Founded by Shameema Akhtar and Mohammad Mazhar Siddiqui, Dilbaro Foods aims to bring authentic Kashmiri flavours to customers across India and international markets while preserving the family traditions behind its products.
Experience the Taste of Kashmir.
