Punita Malhotra Owner of Bollywood Masala La Plata and Dahlgren locations
LA PLATA, Md. — After nearly a decade serving the La Plata community, Bollywood Masala, an Indian restaurant started by Rajat Malhotra and his wife, Punita Malhotra, is preparing to relocate, with plans to open a new location in Waldorf in summer 2026.
According to co-owner Punita Malhotra, they had expected their lease at the La Plata location to renew automatically based on prior conversations with property management. However, in October, they were informed the lease would not be renewed. A new lease proposal included multiple conditions the Malhotras said they were not comfortable signing.
After reviewing the terms and considering what they described as limited accommodation over the years, the Malhotras decided relocating was the best option.
“We never intended to move,” said Rajat Malhotra. “We were told it would automatically renew, but instead we received a conditional renewal that required major costs on our end. We had already replaced an air-conditioning unit last year at our expense, and they wanted us to pay to replace the roof as well. That kind of replacement would’ve cost $20,000 to $30,000 — for a building we don’t even own. At that point, we didn’t feel we were given a real choice.”
The Malhotras said they initially focused their search on nearby locations because they didn’t want to move too far from La Plata or their loyal customer base. They also looked in White Plains but said nothing was available that met their needs.
“We really thought the lease would renew, and when it didn’t, we had to make some difficult decisions,” said Punita Malhotra. “We did look at a few places in La Plata first, but it just didn’t work out.”
The future address is listed as 3804 Crain Highway in Waldorf.
Permitting for the new location began this week with Charles County. The Malhotras said they are aiming for a smooth transition, with hopes of closing the La Plata restaurant and reopening in Waldorf with minimal downtime.
“We’re hoping everything moves smoothly so we can make an easy transition with as little gap as possible,” Panita said, noting the opening timeline will depend on permitting and county approvals.
The anticipated move is planned for mid-summer 2026, though the exact opening date will depend on permitting and inspection processes. The restaurant plans to share official updates through Facebook and other social media platforms as progress continues.
Bollywood Masala has been a staple in the local dining scene for nearly 10 years and has been recognized multiple times over the decade, most recently earning honors for Best Appetizer during the 2024 Charles County Restaurant Week.
The Malhotras expanded the brand beyond Charles County in recent years, opening a second Bollywood Masala location in Alexandria, Virginia, in 2024. They previously operated a location in Dahlgren, Virginia, but later closed it after determining that most of their customer base was concentrated in Charles County.
Customers can follow Bollywood Masala on Facebook for relocation updates, menu specials, and announcements. Online ordering and additional information are available at bollywoodmasalarestaurant.com.
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