A POPULAR western suburbs restaurant forced to close last year when its owners and family members were tragically killed in a car crash will reopen this month with a new look — but with the memory of its former owner, Rupendra Datta, very much at the forefront.

Urban India’s former manager Namit Mangal and business partner Tim Datta will open the doors to a “young, funky Mexican diner” called Blue Cactus at the Henley Beach Rd, Mile End site on April 27.

Rupendra, Urban India’s former owner, was tragically killed along with six family members in a car crash while on holiday in India early last year.

Mr Mangal said he had been planning the huge remodel with his best mate Rupendra before his death.

media_camera A suburb mourns: Flowers left at the restaurant when news broke of the tragic car accident in India. Picture: Stephen Laffer

New part-owner Tim Datta is not related to the family.

“It was a hard time for us; coming inside this property, I know each and every corner of this place,” Mr Mangal said.

“That’s why I’m trying to keep a lot of the things that were there, to keep the memorabilia but with a new look.”

He said the original Urban India features to remain included the bar, counters and tables.

Mr Mangal was part of the opening team of Urban India about 12 years ago.

After working there as the restaurant manager for three years he opened his own Mexican restaurant in Semaphore with the help of Rupendra.

“He’s always been my family friend ... he was the best man at my wedding,” Mr Mangal said.

Tim was also a friend of Rupendra.

The business partners have hired the former head chef of Mr Mangal’s previous Semaphore restaurant for the new Mexican diner team, Ashley Nguyen.

“I worked with Namit running the Viva Zapata kitchen for three years,” Mr Nguyen said.

He said the new diner menu would include fresh, light and vibrant dishes, but he was keeping the menu details under wraps for now.

media_camera Namit Mangal and Ashley Nguyen plan to reopen the doors at Urban India, in memory of the former owners who were killed in a horror crash in India.

Mr Mangal has been in contact with former Urban India staff to get them back on board.

Blue Cactus Mexican Diner is located at the former Urban India site at 127 Henley Beach Rd, Mile End.

There will be a grand opening scheduled after the soft opening later this month.

The restaurant closed its doors in January last year after former owners Rupendra and Anamika Datta, their daughters, Nikita, 8, and Bipasha, 12, son, Digbijoy, 17, Anamika’s sister, Sonia, and father, N.K. Paliwal, died following a crash while travelling to the Taj Mahal.