“Do what you love,” is a principle most entrepreneurs live by. Many Bollywood celebrities follow the same thought. Apart from their booming career in show business, they have various other interests that they have pursued. Some have survived the rigour of entrepreneurial life to form successful businesses and brands that are now known widely.
#1. Salman Khan’s Being Human
Salman Khan successfully used his stardom and image as a “mass man” to propagate his charitable trust, Being Human. It works towards providing education and healthcare to underprivileged children. The Trust also leveraged Salman Khan’s image in the eyes of the masses. An interesting revenue model was all this foundation needed to reach great heights. Salman Khan entered a licensing agreement with Mandhana Industries Ltd. In 2009 he released the Being Human fashion line during the India Couture week. The brand has been performing exponentially well ever since. It launched in Europe in 2012. Since 2015 it has been available online as well as in exclusive retail stores in Europe, India, Middle East, Nepal and South Africa. All of the royalties received go towards the Being Human cause. Being Human Clothing is now a Rs. 100 crore brand. His revenue model and his stardom are a combination that can only make success an unstoppable feat.
#2. Shekhar Kapoor and A.R. Rahman’s- Qyuki
A.R. Rahman’s passion for music and creation is well known amongst most Indians. Therefore it was not surprising when he collaborated with Shekhar Kapoor and Samir Bangara to start a new Social Media platform for creators called Qyuki. Qyuki invites inventors to use its wide variety of facilities (recording rooms, animators, etc.) for free to create their content and show case it on the website. Sometimes it reserves the Intellectual Property rights and helps in the distribution process as well. To further satisfy his passion for music, A.R. Rahman launched Jammin’ through Qyuki. With Jammin’, musicians from the Bollywood industry could scout talent on YouTube to create a musical blend never seen before by India. This also gave Bollywood a chance to move away from mainstream music and explore a plethora of options. Qyuki can connect creators with organisations and vice versa. This is a one stop shop for Indian creators to sign up and launch their careers with a strong starting point.
#3. Deepika Padukone’s Live, Love, Laugh Foundation
The story behind the start of this organisation is a very famous one. Deepika Padukone being a victim of depression herself has established this foundation to help all those who suffer from the same predicament. This is a cause that ignites a lot of passion and has been overlooked in the Indian Society. Recently they have come up with two major campaigns ‘You are not alone’ and ‘More than just sad’ that assure depression victims that there is genuine help and a group of people who understand their adversities. Queen of Bollywood by profession and social entrepreneur by heart, Deepika Padukone has definitely made her mark on the world.
#4. Kunal Kapoor’s Ketto
Kunal Kapoor was determined to support charities when he started Ketto along with his partner Varun Seth in December 2012. Ketto is a crowdfunding platform where anyone can connect with and support charities by donating to them. More than 500 campaigns are thriving with the help of Ketto. It has the power to save lives and make community fundraising a simpler process for NGOs. The simple procedure of setting up your campaign and active members allow for generating quick funds during emergencies. Whether it is supporting a loved one during times of trouble or fundraising for a social organization, this platform is effective in solving any dilemmas.
#5. Malaika Arora, Sussane Khan and Bipasha Basu’s The Label Life
Through their style, business acumen and charm, these three strong Bollywood personalities have started a business that caters to their primary interest: Fashion. Whether it is fashion at home or fashion outside, you can rely on their store, The Label Life, for an eclectic and elegant collection of home décor, clothes, shoes and accessories. Their main aim is to promote an inspired life filled with style.
#6. Ronit Roy’s Ace Security and Protection Agency
Ronit Roy’s ownership of a security agency was an unexpected surprise. His highly sophisticated connections in the Bollywood industry landed the agency many high profile clients like Yashraj Studios, Amir Khan Productions and Ashutosh Gowarikar Productions. They have also been of service to many Hollywood celebrities such as Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Naomi Campbell and John Travolta through their visits to India.
Several celebrities are turning to social entrepreneurship to support causes they truly care about. Some are using entrepreneurship to support their industry while some are exploring extremely different interests. There are countless celebrities such as Shah Rukh Khan, Malaika Arora, Shilpa Shetty who have started their own enterprises that are thriving. Following their heart and taking a calculated risk comes naturally to so many of India’s personalities. There is certainly something to learn from how they leverage their passion and personal brand to achieve their business goals.
Entrepreneurs are not made, they are born. You need to find the right inspiration for it and for that you need a right working space. Choose co-working space in Churchgate, Mumbai or shared office space in Connaught Place, New Delhi
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