<p>Cooking, fashion designing, organising drama shows, feeding stray dogs, running community clubs and groups &ndash; Mumbai-based <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/lifestyle/culture/article/mothers-day-2025-a-moms-mantra-dont-take-your-home-to-work-dont-bring-your-work-home-23523555" target="_blank" rel="none noopener"><strong>mother</strong></a> Devyani Kothari isn&rsquo;t one to give up on her creative interests even at the age of 75.</p>
<p>After she got divorced over 50 years ago, at a time when it was still taboo, her family&rsquo;s support empowered her personally and professionally.</p>
<p>&ldquo;It was a love marriage. I was very young and divorced him within a year of marriage. Getting divorced back then was a taboo. People would comment, but I didn&rsquo;t care. The society doesn&rsquo;t feed us, it only talks,&rdquo; she shares.</p>
<p>While she didn&rsquo;t get married again, Kothari adopted one of her brother&rsquo;s twin sons and brought him up. &ldquo;His love became the purpose of my life and kept me going,&rdquo; she expresses.</p>
<p>&ldquo;My brother once said that Devaki Ma gave birth to Lord Krishna, but Yashoda Ma brought him up. So, you are like Yashoda Ma,&rdquo; the mother of one reflects.</p>
<p>While her family was incredibly supportive after her divorce, she saw her mother and brother struggle after her father passed away. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s when I decided I wanted to work and support them. I worked hard and proved myself,&rdquo; the Vile-Parle resident states.</p>
<p>Kothari pursued several jobs, primarily at apparel stores, and learnt the tricks of the trade. Eventually, she started her own business. &ldquo;I used to design a range of things from sarees to home linen. I am not educated but using my creativity. I would design prints on paper and send for stitching,&rdquo; she reveals.</p>
<p>But her creativity, passion and purpose couldn&rsquo;t be restricted to one thing. Over the years, she has not only been a <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/lifestyle/culture/article/mothers-day-2025-baking-her-way-to-freedom-this-vasai-mothers-recipe-for-financial-independence-23523531" target="_blank" rel="none noopener"><strong>home chef</strong></a> but also a drama show organiser. &ldquo;I cook dishes on order. Ladoo and Shrikhand are especially popular,&rdquo; Kothari states. Sharing more about her drama group, she says, &ldquo;I have been organising drama shows for the past 35 years, bringing exceptional work of theatre to my group members. Because I love feeding people, I also offer complimentary snacks at these shows. I have received a lot of blessings from people of the group. I also run a housie club and kitty party groups,&rdquo; she shares excitedly.</p>
<p>While these pursuits keep her busy, what she finds the most joy in is feeding stray dogs every day. &ldquo;I wake up at 5 am every day, finish all the food orders by 7 am, and then feed stray dogs,&rdquo; Kothari reveals.</p>
<p>Her son and daughter-in-law are well-settled, and she is also a grandmother, but Kothari refuses to let go of her <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/lifestyle/culture/photo/in-photos-meet-these-mumbai-mothers-who-have-found-their-passion-to-do-the-things-they-love-104907/1" target="_blank" rel="none noopener"><strong>individual interests</strong></a> which have shaped her identity and continues to dream further.</p>
<p>&ldquo;When my family asks me to rest, I always tell them that Dhirubhai Ambani also had money, but he still worked every day. If I work, I&rsquo;ll be able to help others. I am planning to start a musical group now. And I really want to build a home for stray dogs,&rdquo; she concludes.</p><p><script type="text/javascript">atOptions={'key':'d0ddb8ef8f1a62a8cdd22fac27fc5ea7','format':'iframe','height':90,'width':728,'params':{}};</script></p><p>
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Home / Lifestyle / Culture / Article / Defying norms, embracing passions: How this 75-year-old Mumbai mom never gave up