He Sold Samosas For Re 1 To Survive Partition, Now His Shop Is Mumbai’s Food Landmark

Last Updated:September 12, 2025, 09:01 IST

Vishindas Wadhwa, the owner of Guru Kripa, started with a small stall and eventually transformed it into a landmark food destination. The crispy samosas remains a crowd favourite. Guru Kripa is now run by Vishindas Wadhwa’s son and grandchildren. (Photo Credits: Instagram)

Guru Kripa is now run by Vishindas Wadhwa’s son and grandchildren. (Photo Credits: Instagram)

Since 1975, Guru Kripa has been delighting Mumbaikars with flavours they can’t forget. What started as a small stall in Sion gradually transformed into a landmark food destination, famous for its crispy samosas with chole and a variety of other irresistible snacks. Its reputation grew so strong that legendary film stars and renowned chefs, including Raj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Sanjeev Kapoor and Ranveer Brar, have all savoured its offerings.

Over the years, their samosas became such a hit that they even supplied food to several single-screen theatres across Mumbai. At its peak, the eatery was selling nearly 15,000 to 20,000 samosas in a single day. But with time, as single screens lost their shine and multiplexes took over, this side of the business saw a sharp dip. The numbers dropped to around 4,000 to 7,000 pieces a day. But what makes this place special? Let’s find out how Guru Kripa became Mumbai’s most iconic and unshakable snack stop.

The Iconic History of Guru Kripa

The story of Guru Kripa dates back to the aftermath of Partition, when countless Sindhi families migrated to India in search of a new beginning. Among them was the Wadhwa family, who were forced to leave their home and belongings behind in Karachi before settling in Mumbai. In the bustling City of Dreams, their son, Vishindas Wadhwa, began selling samosas for just Re 1 from a small cart to support his family.

His simple yet delicious snacks quickly won the hearts of many, and as demand grew, Vishindas expanded his offerings to include more food items. The growing popularity gave him the confidence to dream bigger. By 1975, driven by hard work and determination, he bought a small shop and named it Guru Kripa.

Remembering Vishindas, his grandson Bharat, once speaking with Times of India, said, “My grandfather will continue to remain an inspiration to us. His family came to India empty-handed as refugees after Partition, leaving behind their ancestral home in Karachi. He set up Guru Kripa as a small stall, which then grew in stature and fame after his recipes became so popular. He continued working till the day he fell ill suddenly and had to be hospitalised.”

A New Beginning

For nearly fifty years, people have lined up at this iconic spot in Sion to savour what is widely regarded as the best snack in the city. In June 2025, Guru Kripa expanded its legacy by opening its second outlet at Charni Road, near the Royal Opera House, bringing its flavours to even more food enthusiasts.

In February 2021, the eatery lost its founder, Vishindas Wadhwa, to a heart ailment. Today, his son Govind, along with grandchildren Bharat and Sunaina, proudly carry forward the legacy Vishindas built with unwavering hard work and passion. While the new generation has introduced fresh items to the menu, the crispy samosas remain the undisputed favourite, continuing to delight foodies across Mumbai.

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Location :

Delhi, India, India

First Published:

September 12, 2025, 08:47 IST

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