10 things we learnt about Sara Tendulkar

The little girl, who was once spotted in the stands while her celebrated cricketer father—Sachin Tendulkar—smashed one six after another, wears more hats than one today. But at the core, Sara Tendulkar is generous and hopes to give back to those in need. The model and entrepreneur also has a master’s degree in clinical and public health nutrition! Read along as the 27-year-old gives us a sneak peek of her life. 

She’s more than a legendary last name... 

Sara’s identity does not end with her family legacy and influence in cricket. She’s also an influencer, socialite, philanthropist, nutritionist, and—if the rumour mills are to be believed—a soon-to-be actor. “While I am incredibly proud of my family and its legacy, it is only a part of who I am as an individual,” she shares. “At the end of the day, we are navigating our own path, every one of us with our unique dreams and aspirations.” 

For her, it is all about giving back... 

Much of Sara’s wisdom is directed towards her philanthropic work through the Sachin Tendulkar Foundation (STF)—a non-profit that focuses on sports, health, and education for economically vulnerable children across 13 Indian states. She often accompanies her parents on their trips to the STF centres. “Helping people brings me joy,” Sara shares. “My parents always taught me the importance of giving back to society, and I look forward to taking the legacy ahead in any way that I can. With our work [at STF], we aim to leverage my mother’s experience as a doctor, my dad’s as a sportsperson, and mine as a nutritionist.” 

 

‘Influence’ is serious business for her 

About 7.4m followers on Instagram is rare for a celebrity who isn’t part of the mainstream entertainment industry. Apart from sharing moments from her life, Sara also posts about her work with beauty and fashion brands as well as her social work with the foundation. She hopes to use her influence responsibly: “I am aware of the influence these platforms grant me, and I try to stay authentic with everything I post. I see it as an extension of my real life, so I often like to share brands that I genuinely love or work with that reflect my values.” 

It’s all in the family 

Sara is blessed with a confidante mom, an inspirational dad, and a fitness-freak brother. In her parents who are poles apart as people, Sara finds comfort. From her father, the world-renowned former batsman Sachin, she “learnt to constantly push beyond my comfort zone” and in her mum, Dr Anjali Tendulkar, she looks for wisdom and perspective. “Over the years, my relationship with my parents has evolved into a beautiful friendship, with love and respect at the centre of it all,” says Sara, who’s also close to her brother, cricketer Arjun Tendulkar. “We were born two years apart, but he has always been the baby of the family. From time to time, he does rely on me for advice, and I can always rely on him for giving me a lot of grief in the gym!” 

She’s a girl’s girl 

Being born with a silver spoon also means having opportunities to get carried away with fame and glamour. But Sara doesn’t take her celebrity status too seriously. “I am grateful to have had genuine and down-to-earth people around me who have always kept me grounded,” she says, thanking her stars for her trusted group of girlfriends that she’s known since childhood. “I can be myself with them. It is all laughter, shared memories, and being there for each other that makes our bond really strong.”

Couture + comfort? Yes, please! 

Sara made her modelling debut in 2021 in an advertisement campaign. Only a couple of years into the fashion industry, she’s made her mark steadily, having consistently starred in campaigns for fashion, beauty, and jewellery labels. Her wardrobe is a mix of elevated basics and couture in Indian and westernwear. “I appreciate style that effortlessly combines comfort and classic elegance,” she says, though thankful to have access to some of the best designers. “On any given day, I would choose comfort and ease over chasing the trendiest in fashion. I absolutely love accessories and enjoy pairing them to complement what I’m wearing.” 

 

It’s all about focusing on the positives 

Sara is not one to let external elements bog her down, and she follows the same philosophy when dealing with the negativity ingrained in the online world of anonymity. “I ignore the negativity and focus on the good! It can be upsetting at first, but tuning out the noise allows me to focus on the things that truly matter to me,” she comments.

Bollywood might be on the cards!? 

Given the familiar modelling-to movies trajectory that many follow in India, we were curious to know whether that’s the next step for Sara as well. It was only recently that we heard rumours that she had been taking acting lessons. So is she on track to make her Bollywood debut? Whether that’s how things are panning out for her, we’ll only know when we see it for sure. Sara avoids the question: “My entrepreneurial dreams and ambitions are in the wellness and fitness space. At the moment, that’s all I can share with you!” 

Always on the go 

If you’ve ever stalked Sara’s Instagram profile, you certainly cannot miss her love for travel. From Goa, Paris, and Nice to Bangkok and Koh Samui, from Budapest and Bali to the expansive Masai Mara in Kenya, Sara is quite the globetrotter. “Travel gives me a fresh perspective on life! The experiences open my mind to new ways of thinking. I love to try new cuisines and connect with people from different cultures. While beach destinations leave me feeling peaceful and rejuvenated, Italy holds a special place in my heart. It has history, art, culture, natural beauty and, of course, incredible food.” 

Pawsome company for Sara = her dogs! 

Sara understands the need to disconnect and seek moments of quiet, which she finds at the gym (“It refreshes my mind and makes me feel much better emotionally and physically”) and also with her dogs, Spike and Maxx. “Spending time with them is an immediate pick-me-up! To really unwind, I retreat to the spa for some serious pampering. I also believe in doing a digital detox periodically. Just putting my phone on airplane mode allows me to switch off mentally; it can be incredibly freeing,” she confesses.

This article was originally published in Cosmopolitan India's November-December 2024 issue.

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