From canteen food to sleepy cat to lectures, Navya Naveli Nanda shows what her IIM Ahmedabad student life looks like

Navya Naveli Nanda, granddaughter of Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan, has offered a rare glimpse into her everyday life as a student at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad. Through a recent Instagram post, Navya shared a series of candid moments from the campus, shifting the focus from celebrity lineage to the routine realities of student life. The pictures, which quickly gained traction online, highlighted friendships, lectures, simple meals and the calm rhythm of life at one of India’s most demanding academic institutions.

The photographs shared by Navya captured her spending time with her batchmates at different corners of the IIM Ahmedabad campus. In some images, she was seen sitting alongside friends, with the institute’s well-known architecture in the background. Other pictures showed her smiling, chatting and posing with classmates, reflecting a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. Some frames also showed Navya speaking while her peers listened, her canteen food and even a sleeping cat, offering a glimpse into her campus life as an IIM Ahmedabad student.

'Happiest of times' on campus

While sharing the post, Navya described this phase as one of her happiest, crediting the people around her for making the experience meaningful. Her caption reflected a sense of belonging and contentment, which resonated strongly with followers. Social media users responded with warm messages, noting how comfortable and at home she appeared in the campus setting. Many comments focused on friendships formed during this period, calling them lasting and valuable.

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Returning to student life at IIM Ahmedabad

Navya enrolled at IIM Ahmedabad in 2024 for its blended MBA programme, which combines on-campus classes with online learning modules. In an earlier interview with Mojo Story, hosted by Barkha Dutt, she had spoken about the challenges of returning to academic life. She explained that the programme is demanding, particularly given IIM Ahmedabad’s strict academic environment, but also described it as deeply rewarding.


She has previously shared that one of the most significant aspects of her journey has been learning from her batchmates. According to her, the insights gained through peer interactions have gone beyond what is taught inside classrooms, making the overall experience richer.

When news of Navya’s admission to IIM Ahmedabad first surfaced, it drew criticism from a section of social media users who questioned her choice to study in India despite her international education and background. At the time, IIM Ahmedabad professor Promila Agarwal publicly addressed the criticism, clarifying on X that Navya had cleared the programme’s cut-off on merit, like any other candidate.