(October 5, 2025) From an academic and humanitarian in France to the co-founder of NCR’s authentic pastry and bakery house, L’Opéra that brings true French fare to India, Christine Samandari’s journey is a story of reinvention.
A sociologist and anthropologist with a Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Paris Diderot University (University of Paris VII), Christine spent over two decades in senior roles with international NGOs, leading humanitarian and educational initiatives across Europe. Born to an artist mother and an academic father, Christine grew up surrounded by aesthetics, intellectual curiosity, and classical music. That sensibility continues to shape her life and work.
In 2008, she moved to New Delhi with her husband Kazem, intending to be closer to her son and grandchildren. What followed was an unexpected but remarkable new chapter. Together, the family founded L’Opéra, an authentic French pâtisserie and salon de thé that has become synonymous with Parisian fare in India.
Christine Samandari
Flashback to a different career
Christine’s professional life began far from ovens and bakery products. For 20 years, she served society in multiple capacities, most prominently from 1988 to 2008 as Head of the European and Francophone Branch of the Bahá’í International Community’s Office of Public Information in Paris. “At first glance not directly related to finance and business but extremely valuable in understanding and shaping relationships which are at the core of every business and human undertaking,” she tells Global Indian.
By 2008, with her family relocating to India, a new entrepreneurial idea took shape. Her son Laurent, who had moved to India in 2007 for work with Usha International, longed for the French breads and pastries. His craving became the seed of L’Opéra. After market surveys and feasibility studies, the first outlet opened in Delhi’s Khan Market. Today, the venture is even studied at Oxford University’s MBA programme as a case in entrepreneurship.
Christine with her husband Kazem and son Laurent who are co-founders of L’Opéra
Changing vistas
Christine calls her transition into food an enriching “second life.” “Few people can engage in something so new and so different as a ‘late’ career. Yet, I could and continue to use all my accumulated knowledge and experience gained over the decades of my previous professional life in my new role as the custodian of the L’Opéra brand on the one side and as the promoter of L’Opéra’s core values on the other,” she reflects.
She played a pivotal role in shaping L’Opéra’s 10 core values. “They consist of commitment to excellence & quality, truthfulness, honesty & transparency, gender equality, meritocracy & equal opportunity, courtesy, collaboration & mutual respect, consultation, ownership & accountability, spirit of service and finally responsible and sustainable growth,” she elaborates.
Food files
Bringing authentic French flavors to India has been both rewarding and complex. “It is not easy if you wish to remain faithful to your high standards and core values, which are the bedrock of our business. You need a clear plan, focus, commitment, perseverance in the face of obstacles and obviously plenty of hard work,” Christine explains.
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To women who wish to enter the food industry, her advice is straightforward: “Do not just imitate and copy other businesses. Remain undeterred, elaborate a solid plan which covers all aspects of the business, including, obviously, the financial side, and then persevere for as long as it takes to succeed.”
For Christine, the aesthetics of art and design are inseparable from food. “I have tried, together with our son Laurent, to reflect this heritage in the design and decoration of the L’Opéra outlets,” she notes, drawing from her upbringing in a household enriched by her mother’s impressionist art and her grandfather’s design sensibilities.
Overcoming hurdles
Every new venture has its trials. For Christine, the first was grappling with the financial and commercial implications of business decisions—territory that was very different from her NGO background. The second was adapting to India’s unique physical, cultural, and business environment. Both demanded resilience, but she navigated them with her characteristic perseverance.
Wise words
What drives Christine is not just entrepreneurship but the joy of creation and connection. “Building a powerful and respected brand and bringing joy, happiness and satisfaction to the faces of hundreds and thousands of people with whom we interact every day is what motivates and inspires me every day,” she says.
The entrepreneur believes that values transcend industries. “I feel that it really does not matter in what field of activity you are engaged; the core values and principles of humanity remain valid all along. One needs to not only acknowledge but also live a meaningful life which goes beyond commercial and financial considerations.”
Christine and Kazem Samandari
Looking ahead
Christine and her family have ambitious plans for L’Opéra. “We are putting the last touches on an ambitious expansion plan which will see the number of our outlets grow to 250 or more pan-India over the next six-seven years. This plan also includes the creation of a culinary and hospitality school capable of training some 4,000 students over the same period,” she shares.
On a personal note, the entrepreneur continues Hindi classes and hopes to dedicate time to writing her second book, which would be an account of her family’s life and learnings. “I originally wanted this to be addressed to my grandchildren but was encouraged to broaden its scope and make it available to larger audiences,” she concludes.
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ALSO READ: Chef Avin Thaliath: Building a culture of baking in India with skills honed in France
