Deya deal marks Caine's comeback as a restaurateur

Celebrated actor Sir Michael Caine is to make a return to the restaurant world with a new Indian venture opening later this month in London.

Caine is teaming up with restaurateur Claudio Pulze and business partner Raj Sharma - the men behind Aubergine, Zaika and Al Duca - to open Deya, a 70-cover modern Indian restaurant with a 30-capacity bar.

The new restaurant is due to open at the end of April in the Grade II-listed building, 34 Portman Square.

Deya is Caine's first foray back into restaurants since opening Canteen in London 12 years ago. "I have been out of the restaurant business for quite a few years," he said. "This particular project is the first venture that has excited me enough to get back into the business."

Sanjay Dwivedi, formerly of Zaika, will head up the new kitchen to create a lighter menu than is normally associated with Indian cuisine. Full … la carte, lunch and dinner menus, as well as a five-course tasting menu for both meat and non-meat eaters, will be available. Average spend is expected to be about £30 a head.

"We're not looking to reinvent Indian food, but we are looking to evolve its perception to one of healthy, innovative, high-calibre cuisine," said Sharma.

Cocktails will come courtesy of Massimo di Paola, formerly personal barman to designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana.

Caine was also once a business partner with Richard Shepherd and Peter Langan at Langan's Brasserie in Green Park, London. Shepherd bought Caine out of the business in 1999.