Raj and Mona started their journey in the restaurant business back in 2003. They arrived in the United States from India for the first time in June 2001, with plans of settling down and building a life for themselves with their 1-year-old daughter. Raj had run a manufacturing plant for cabinet hardware for over 28 years before coming to the States, while Mona had been a housewife with no prior experience in the restaurant industry.

Initially coming to the States with the goal of expanding the cabinet hardware business, Raj and Mona found themselves in a position where they needed to devise a new plan to make ends meet. This was the moment when what is now Bollywood Masala began to take shape. Both Raj and Mona had a love for cooking from a very young age. They would help their parents in the kitchen growing up, learning cooking techniques from their mothers—unaware that these skills would one day shape not only their lives but also their family’s future.

Raj’s family hailed from Uttar Pradesh, a state renowned for its use of special herbs and spices in cooking, while Mona’s family came from Punjab, known for its rich and hearty cuisine. Combining these two distinctive cooking styles, Raj and Mona created a unique culinary experience that is showcased in all the recipes on the menu at Bollywood Masala.

The family began catering for Indian families in the DC area before being presented with the opportunity to open their first restaurant in 2003. Having never worked in, let alone owned, a restaurant, the family moved to St. Mary’s County in 2003 to purchase their first establishment in San Souci Plaza, under the name Curry of India. Curry of India became a learning curve, helping the family understand the intricacies of owning and operating a restaurant. However, after a failed partnership, the restaurant closed its doors 13 months later.

Despite this setback, Raj never let go of his vision of opening a successful restaurant and bringing the most authentic Indian cuisine to the people of St. Mary’s County. After many struggles, in October 2008, Bollywood Masala opened in the exact same location where Curry of India once stood. Over the years, the couple has perfected their recipes and proudly claim: “We bring you the most authentic North Indian cuisine.”

All the recipes and cooking techniques are family traditions that have not been shared with anyone outside the family. Raj and Mona continue to personally prepare the mother sauces in their restaurants, ensuring that the authenticity and quality of their cuisine are never compromised.

So, come and treat yourself to what is, if not the most, then certainly one of the MOST AUTHENTIC NORTH INDIAN CUISINES served in the United States.