Her father is celebrity lawyer Vijay Shankardass,[13] whose clients include His Royal Highness Nizam of Hyderabad, author Salman Rushdie, actor Michael Douglas, Amnesty International, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, Penguin Books and Virgin Group. Her mother is social historian and Penal Reform International chairperson Rani Dhavan Shankardass.[14] She is the granddaughter of His Excellency Shanti Swaroop Dhavan, Governor of West Bengal and Indian High Commissioner (Ambassador) to the United Kingdom. She is the great-granddaughter of Rai Bahadur (Most Honorable Prince) Bali Ram Dhavan of the North West Frontier Province, formerly of India.