Vedant Malik is the Co-Founder, Mizu Izakaya, Mumbai & Goa. It is city’s first and most quintessential Japanese Izakaya, Vedant has helped shape a space that feels both cinematic and deeply personal. His early years in film as an assistant director left him captivated by the rhythm that drives good storytelling, the quiet chaos behind every seamless scene. That same rhythm now guides how he builds experiences.
Mizu’s story began in Worli in 2017, when Vedant and his childhood friend and Co-Founder, Chef Lakhan Jethani, set out to introduce Mumbai to authentic izakaya culture, warm, unpretentious, and full of soul. When the pandemic struck, the restaurant was forced to shut its doors. But what could have been a setback became a turning point. The experience taught them resilience, strength and clarity lessons that shaped the next chapter of their journey.
In 2020, Mizu Izakaya reopened in Bandra, the neighbourhood they grew up in and still call home. This version of Mizu reflected all that the duo had learned, more confident in its identity, sharper in its storytelling, and deeply rooted in emotion. It redefined Japanese dining in Mumbai, bringing the warmth and informality of izakaya culture through a distinctly Bombay lens. Together, Vedant and Lakhan crafted a space that balances structure with spontaneity, where every element from the lighting to the playlist is designed to feel effortless.
RI PASS