Once part of the Panchayat, Mimi & Trial by Fire making team, they quit Mumbai life to build a food forest; now clocking ₹15 Lakh in revenue

When we talk about organic farming, we usually think of growing crops, such as vegetables, mushrooms, saffron, or even sandalwood, without using synthetic chemicals and by following natural farming practices.

Permaculture, however, goes a step further. It is not just a farming method but a design philosophy that focuses on creating self-sustaining ecosystems that provide food, shelter, and energy while maintaining ecological balance.

Sneha Rajguru and her husband, Shantanu Paliwal, who once lived the fast-paced life of Bollywood filmmakers and worked on acclaimed films and series such as Luka Chuppi, Bulbbul (Netflix), Mimi, Dream Girl 2, Lipstick Under My Burkha, Panchayat, and Dabba Cartel, decided to help the environment flourish and shifting toward a more sustainable, nature-led way of living through building BaapBeti Permaculture Farm.

"In Bombay, life was so fast-paced. You had to keep up with the people and the lifestyle. Here, our inclination is towards slow living. Needs are less, expenses are less, and there is peace,” Sneha Rajguru tells Startup Pedia in an exclusive interview.

“In those working years, I never got a chance to sit and think. I barely saw myself breathing. Now, I am living my dream,” she added further.

Initially set up by a father-daughter duo, Anil Rajguru and Sneha Rajguru, the farm is located on the outskirts of Pune, Maharashtra, approximately 64 km from the city and about a 1-hour drive from Talegaon/Pimpri-Chinchwad. Sneha and her husband now oversee the permaculture farm.

It is a home to approximately 1,350 varieties of naturally grown a variety of vegetables herbs and fruit trees such as brinjal, lettuce, herbs, ladyfinger, gawar, spinach, methi, cauliflower, tomatoes, broccoli, cabbage, pomegranate, jackfruit, orange, lemon, ramphal, custard apple, soursop, litchi, mangoes, starfruit, berries, chikoo, Buddha's coconut, coconuts, coffee, avocados, pineapples, and Indrayani rice.

Today, the farm provides a regenerative, homely nature experience that goes beyond a typical resort stay. With three exclusive cottages, it hosts around 180 guests annually from across the globe, offering them a taste of "slow living."

About the Founders of BaapBeti Permaculture Farm, Anil Rajguru, Sneha Rajguru & Shantanu Paliwal

Sneha Rajguru was born and raised in Chinchwad, Pune. She completed her 12th grade around 2012, followed by a Bachelor's in Mass Communication from Sikkim Manipal University in 2015 and a Master's from Mumbai University in 2017. 

Driven by a childhood passion for dance and acting, she carved out a successful career in the Bollywood film industry, working as a script supervisor on projects like the web series Trial by Fire and the film Mimi.

Despite Mumbai's glamour, Sneha found her true calling during outdoor shoots in remote locations. A visit to a permaculture farm in Gorubathan, West Bengal (around 2021), sparked a realisation to move toward nature. 

To prepare for this transition, she formally studied agriculture by completing a Permaculture Design Course in Hyderabad before purchasing the land in April 2022.

"Permaculture is actually very simple: it is just observing nature and mimicking it, because ultimately, nature doesn't need us to survive, but we desperately need nature," the former Bollywood filmmaker tells Startup Pedia.

Anil Rajguru is Sneha's father, who dedicated over 35 + years of his life to Tata Motors, becoming a permanent employee in 1994, the same year Sneha was born.

Along with Sneha, Anil purchased the land and built the farm from scratch. Today, he plays a crucial role in the farm's expansion, having launched a new vertical called "AR Properties," through which he consults aspiring farmers on how to identify and purchase land.

Shantanu Paliwal, Sneha’s husband, is an integral part of the farm's leadership. Born in Jhansi and raised in Kota, Rajasthan, he initially pursued a distance learning degree in Computer Science from a university in Bhopal while simultaneously training in animation. 

However, he found his true passion in cinema and started his film career around 2016-2017, learning the craft on the job. 

He built a robust portfolio in Bollywood as a Chief Assistant Director, working on major hits like Panchayat, Lipstick Under My Burkha, Jai Gangajal, Trial by Fire, Shantibhavan, and Gullak. 

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Initial Motivations for Starting BaapBeti Permaculture Farm

The foundation of BaapBeti Permaculture Farm was driven by a mix of personal realisation and familial responsibility.

For Sneha, the catalyst was the deep contrast between her city life and her experiences on outdoor film shoots. While she enjoyed filmmaking, she missed peace and the slow pace of life. 

The turning point came around 2021, after she finished shooting the film Mimi and visited a permaculture farm in Gorubathan, West Bengal. There, she fell in love with the lifestyle, harvesting fresh food, eating organically, and living in sync with nature.

Back in Pune, her father, Anil Rajguru, was two years away from retiring from Tata Motors and was anxious about his life post-retirement. Sharing a close bond with his daughter, he and Sneha used that time to discuss his future. 

"Retirement shouldn't be the end of the road where you just sit back; it should be the start of a new adventure. For my dad, building this farm is his second innings," Sneha tells Startup Pedia.

They decided to combine these needs into a shared dream: a self-sustainable permaculture farm.

Initial Investment and Challenges

With no prior knowledge of real estate, the family spent nearly a year searching for land. They travelled extensively, from Mulshi to Konkan and Goa, asking locals for leads before finally settling on a plot near Pune.

In April 2022, they purchased a land parcel measuring approximately two acres for an initial cost of Rs 45 lakh, which came from personal savings.

However, the land was far from ideal; it was situated on a steep, rocky slope where rainwater had washed away most of the topsoil, leaving behind exposed rocks. Additionally, the access road was a raw, unpaved track (kacchi road). 

"When we first bought this land, it was nothing but rock and barren slopes, and everyone told us nothing would grow here, but today, seeing this greenery, nature has proved them all wrong," Pune-based agriprenuers tells Startup Pedia.

This created major logistical hurdles during the construction phase, as trucks carrying plants and materials would often skid or get stuck in the mud, requiring tractors to pull them out.

Because of the difficult terrain, significant additional capital was required for landscaping and contouring to make the land arable. 

Approximately Rs. 15 lakh (from personal savings) were further invested into landscaping, constructing their eco-friendly home and guest cottages, setting up the necessary infrastructure for both living and hosting.

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About BaapBeti Permaculture Farm

Located near Pune, BaapBeti Permaculture Farm is an educational and regenerative agricultural model established on a 2-acre plot of land. 

It was founded as a shared dream between Sneha Rajguru and her father, Anil Rajguru, alongside Sneha’s husband, Shantanu Paliwal. 

The farm operates on a regenerative farming and education model. Rather than relying on the traditional sale of crops, Sneha and Shantanu monetise the experience and knowledge of farm life.

Permaculture involves setting up a system that functions like a natural jungle. In a jungle, no one waters the trees or adds manure; it sustains itself. 

"We made a conscious choice not to sell our raw vegetables because sending a truck of organic food all the way to the city burns more carbon than the organic food saves, and that is not true sustainability," Shantanu tells Startup Pedia. 

Current Operational Status

The farm is situated on a hilly slope. When purchased in 2022, it was barren land where rainwater had washed away the topsoil, leaving behind exposed rocks. 

To make the land arable, they performed extensive landscaping and contour farming. By working with the natural slope rather than against it, they created structures to retain water and build soil.

Since the land lacked soil initially, the first two years (2022 and 2023) were dedicated to "making soil" and establishing the ecosystem.

The farm is designed using the 5-zone system of permaculture. Zone 1 includes the high-maintenance area near the house, dedicated to annual vegetables and herbs that require daily attention. 

Zone 5 is a complete forest area left wild for nature. Unlike a monoculture farm, founders have established the seven layers of a forest between zones 2-4, namely canopy, sub-canopy, fruiting trees, star trees, shrubs, grasses, herbs, and climbers.

Currently, apart from functioning as a food forest, the farm serves as an experience centre offering stays where guests can immerse themselves in natural living. 

Additionally, Sneha and Shantanu conduct educational tours and permaculture workshops, teaching visitors how to design their land and build soil. 

They also provide online consultations and design services for those looking to start similar ventures.

"Moving here wasn't just about changing our location or pin code; we completely redefined what success looks like. It’s no longer about the next promotion, but about the quality of the air we breathe and the food we grow," she says.

Business Model and Pricing

The farm operates on a regenerative agritourism and education model. Rather than relying on the traditional sale of crops, Sneha and Shantanu monetise the experience and knowledge of farm life.

"Our business model isn't about the volume of crops we produce but about the value we create; we want people to come here and take back knowledge and inspiration, not just a bag of produce," Sneha tells Startup Pedia.

The farm generates income through three primary verticals, with farm stays being the main source of revenue. They offer three exclusive cottages where guests can stay and experience natural living, fostering a personal connection with the forest and the hosts.

For couples, the stay charges are Rs. 4,500 per night, while the cost for an additional adult is Rs. 1,000. Guests enjoy a "Farm-to-Table" lifestyle experience, where they harvest their own vegetables and fruits, which are then cooked into simple, Sattvic, home-style meals.

Beyond overnight stays, the farm caters to learning enthusiasts through its day farm tour, priced at Rs. 999 per person. 

This five-hour session serves as an introductory workshop where founders Anil or Sneha guide visitors through the food forest, explaining core permaculture principles like soil building and the seven layers of a forest, often accompanied by a simple farm meal. 

Additionally, the family provides specialized consultancy services, which are priced on request based on the project's scope

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Annual Revenue

BaapBeti Permaculture Farm began commercial operations in February 2023, immediately following the completion of house construction. It generates a minimum of Rs. 1 lakh per month from stays by securing approximately 12–15 booking nights monthly.

Combining overnight guests and day-tour visitors, the farm hosts between 400 and 500 visitors annually. 

The visitor base is international, with guests arriving from the UK, China, Japan, Australia, and Canada, while occupancy peaks during the monsoon and winter seasons. 

Financially, while hosting contributes the majority of the income, approximately Rs. 12 lakh per year, the additional revenue driven by educational tours, workshops, and design consultations brings the total annual revenue to between Rs. 15-18 lakh.

Since 2023, the farm has hosted approximately 1,200-1,500 visitors, comprising both overnight guests and workshop attendees.

Future Objectives

The founders are aiming to extend beyond their current operations' reach a stage of "zero intervention," where the food forest mimics a natural jungle and sustains itself without human-assisted watering or manuring. 

On the commercial front, the family has a clear roadmap to launch an online store by 2027, intending to sell value-added products and staples like Indrayani rice once production volumes are high enough to justify the carbon footprint of transportation. Simultaneously, they plan to scale their impact through education and consultancy.

"Our ultimate goal is to create a system that outlives us, because if this farm still needs us to intervene and manage it in ten years, then we haven't done our job right," Shantanu concluded.

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