If you thought Sanjay Dutt was unlikely to have good memories of Pune―the actor was kept in the Yerawada Jail after being convicted of buying firearms―you might want to do a double take. Countless social media accounts say he is more likely to be spotted having a good time at Ballr Club, a hot nightspot opposite the Trump Towers in the city. He owns the club, which is said to be among the biggest in India. “It’s always good to expand beyond films,” Dutt said in an interview a few months ago.
Another recent launch that made heads turn and tongues wag was Sunny Leone’s Chica Loca, a progressive world cuisine restaurant and gourmet cocktail bar in Noida. The entertainer tied up with hospitality businessman Sahil Baweja to launch the nightspot. Leone told THE WEEK she had “always been passionate about food and dining, and the culinary arts” and that she wanted “something that really represented” herself and everything that she had built.
Restaurants, bars and nightclubs have a long-standing association with celebrities, be it the earthy Dharmendra opening up dhabas on the Delhi-Punjab highway, or Virat Kohli’s high-end diners One8 Commune in Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata and Delhi.
Cricketer Virat Kohli has high-end diners in Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata and Delhi | Instagram@one8.commune
In fact, entertainment stars find eateries and bars an ideal fit for two reasons―not only do they have the ready money that can be invested in such ventures (unlike banks and venture capitalists who would want all kinds of projects and presentations done and studied before money is approved) and give returns soon enough, but also an entertainment spot can be an ideal brand fit, with the celebrity name bringing in the crowds. Case in point are places like Tendulkar’s in Mumbai, which worshippers of the cricket idol from out of town patronised religiously for years while on a visit.
Ironically, Tendulkar’s, as also Ajay Jadeja’s Senso in Delhi’s tony Priya cinema complex market, are classic examples of the F&B dictum that it is the experience that matters. Both restaurants fizzled out after the initial brouhaha.
Yet, the celebrity fixation with hangout spots continues. Established restaurateurs find celebrity partners a perfect fit because they bring in the initial investment as well as the star allure that helps in going viral online. For example, rapper Badshah tied up with ‘restaurant King’ Priyank Sukhija for the bar and lounge ‘Dragonfly Experience’ in the Aerocity in Delhi. They have started a second one in Mumbai, near the airport.
Similarly, beleaguered starlet Jacqueline Fernandes, who already owns a restaurant back home in Sri Lanka, has invested in restaurateur Mishali Sanghani’s (famous for the Pali Village Cafe) new ventures, Pali Thai. Shilpa Shetty Kundra reportedly owns 50 per cent stake in Mumbai’s popular fine dining place Bastian, while the likes of Sussanne Khan (Sanjay Khan’s daughter and Hrithik Roshan’s ex) and Pooja Bedi all own hangouts in the sunny state of Goa. It is expanding beyond the shores as well. Former cricketer Suresh Raina opened a restaurant all the way away in Amsterdam. Named Raina, it features authentic Indian culinary flavours.