‘I Became My Own Raani’: Yasmin Sait On Reinventing Herself In Her 60s

At SheThePeople’s first edition of 'Bangalore Raani', Yasmin Sait, author, life-purpose coach, and founder of Sunset Finishing School, took the stage alongside her daughter, actor Kubbra Sait, for the first time. For years, she has been the person behind the scenes. The organiser. The problem solver. The one everyone relies on. This time, the focus shifts to her and the journey that made her who she is.

Yasmin's very presence at Bangalore Raani was a rebellion, dressed in red - a colour she believed did not belong in her wardrobe - claiming space and sharing her story unapologetically.

Retail Raani on a Scooter

Yasmin grew up in Mysuru in a conservative family. "When I came to Bengaluru, I did not think this city would accept me. I was very timid, spent time by myself, and had no friends."

Between Bengaluru and Mysuru, Yasmin was raising her children and building a business at the same time. After eleven years of marriage, she found herself a single mother, fully responsible for everything at home. 

I had to wear the crown myself and say, 'I'm the Raani' now. -Yasmin Sait

She established retail stores in Bengaluru, competing with well-known chains. “I’d ride across the city on my scooter, windcheater over my salwar-kameez, park at the Taj, hand the keys to the valet and walk in,” she recalled.

That scooter was freedom; it was her way to say, 'I am no longer the shy girl. Watch me own the room.' She also passed on this sense of agency to her children, Kubbra and Danish Sait.

Raising Kids With Fearlessness

Yasmin opened up about being a strict, dependable, and hands-on mother. “I didn’t want my kids to depend on anyone,” Yasmin said. “They should be able to survive anywhere.”

She became Kubbra’s first manager, tracking hosting gigs and schedules before her daughter even asked. However, this freedom always came with discipline: chores first, fun later.

People criticised Kubbra for working late nights or hosting at bars early in her career. Yasmin's response was simple: “Let people talk. You just work.” Kubbra’s versatility today rests on that foundation.

When Kubbra decided to leave Bengaluru to enter the entertainment industry, Yasmin encouraged her to move to Dubai instead, focusing on a career that matched her degree in finance.  

Later, when Kubbra wanted to become an actor in Mumbai, Yasmin put forth a condition: "I will give you a number. When you save enough money to reach that number, you can pack and come."

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Writing Manan and Starting Again at 60

For decades, Yasmin’s life revolved around her children. Their growth, safety, future and somewhere along the way, her own dreams quietly slipped aside.

At 58, I asked myself, 'Beyond all these labels, who am I?' -Yasmin Sait

In her late fifties, she stepped down from managing her Kubbra and Danish's work. However, she decided, 'I am not ready to hang up my boots.' 

Watching her children live independently pushed her to look inward. That reflection became Manan, her book about women in their sixties who feel trapped in expectations yet disconnected from themselves.

Yasmin stepped into life as an author, storyteller, and life coach. "I realised ageism often doesn't come from outside; it comes from within. In my 60s, I have changed my mindset and reinvented myself."

Reinventing Health, Ageing, and Independence

Yasmin's approach to ageing is refreshingly honest. “When it aches, it aches,” she said plainly. “Age is age. Why pretend?” Instead of chasing perfection, she focuses on consistency by staying active and open to change.

Yasmin believes many mothers exhaust themselves trying to compete with the world. “Stop competing,” she said. “Compete with yourself. See how much you’ve grown. That’s enough.” 

When Kubbra once asked what she wanted to be, the answer wasn’t a queen. “I want to be a princess,” she said.

After a lifetime of being strong for everyone else, she explained, “Even independent women want to be loved and nurtured. For once, you don’t want to be responsible for everything.”