In recent years, India’s entertainment industry has seen a rising trend: A-list celebrities are venturing beyond the silver screen and into the world of startups. Leveraging their fame and influence, these stars are launching innovative businesses across various sectors, from fashion and beauty to tech and wellness. This article explores such inspiring celebrity entrepreneurs who are redefining success and shaping India’s dynamic startup ecosystem.
Deepika Padukone (82°E)
Deepika Padukone is a successful Bollywood actress who also has her own self-care brand called 82°E. 82°E is a play on her initials and her birthplace, Denmark. The brand focuses on natural, Ayurvedic ingredients and offers a range of skincare and body care products. The company recently expanded into body care products including a body cleanser and body lotion with SPF.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas (Anomaly Hair Care)
Anomaly Hair Care is designed to be accessible, effective, and environmentally friendly. The brand offers a variety of shampoos, conditioners, and styling products that are free of sulfates, parabens, and other harsh chemicals. The products are also packaged in recycled plastic bottles.
They use high-performance, environmentally-conscious, and clean formulas.Anomaly believes beauty should be affordable, so they focus on superior formulas at an accessible price point.Their bottles are made from 100% recycled plastic trash diverted from landfills and ocean-bound plastic. Their cans are made from infinitely recyclable aluminum.Beauty is personal, and Anomaly is there to help you achieve your best hair day, whatever your definition of beauty may be.
Hrithik Roshan (HRX)
Hrithik Roshan is a renowned Indian actor known for his versatility, dance skills, and Greek God-like looks . But beyond acting, Roshan is also an entrepreneur. HRX, founded by Hrithik Roshan in 2013, is a fitness apparel and accessories brand designed to motivate people to challenge their limits and live a more active lifestyle. The brand offers a wide range of products for men and women, including activewear, footwear, and accessories. HRX clothing is known for its stylish designs and high quality.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu (Saaki)
Samantha Ruth Prabhu is not just a talented actress who has graced the screens in Telugu and Tamil films, but she’s also the co-creator of a fashion brand called Saaki. Saaki is a modern Indian clothing brand that blends global fashion trends with an Indian aesthetic . The brand offers a variety of stylish and comfortable clothing pieces that are perfect for everyday wear or special occasions.Saaki is a modern Indian clothing brand that blends global fashion trends with an Indian aesthetic . The brand offers a variety of stylish and comfortable clothing pieces that are perfect for everyday wear or special occasions.
Rana Daggubati (IKONZ & Social Swag)
IKONZ and Social Swag are two different companies involved in the Indian digital space, but they cater to different audiences and have distinct purposes. Here’s a breakdown:
- Industry: Financial Software (Specifically Blockchain and NFTs)
- Focus: Ikonz is a wealth-building platform designed to bring celebrities and intellectual property (IP) into the metaverse through NFTs. They act as a bridge for IP owners (like celebrities, artists, etc.) to navigate the complexities of NFTs and create new revenue streams.
- Target Audience: Ikonz primarily targets IP owners, artists, established icons, and potentially even crypto investors and enthusiasts.
Katrina Kaif (Kay Beauty)
Launched in late 2019, Kay Beauty was the first celebrity-owned cosmetics brand in India . Katrina Kaif partnered with Nykaa, a leading Indian beauty retailer, to develop the line.Here are some key features of Kay Beauty:
- Focus on Inclusivity: The brand offers a wide range of makeup shades to suit all Indian skin tones.
- High-Performance Products: The makeup is formulated to be long-lasting and effective, while also being gentle on the skin. Many Kay Beauty products bridge the gap between makeup and skincare.
- Affordable Luxury: The brand offers high-quality products at an accessible price point.
- Empowering Message: Kay Beauty’s philosophy, #ItsKayToBeYou, promotes self-love, acceptance, and individuality.
Shraddha Kapoor (Palmonas)
She partnered with the brand’s founder, Nandita Mohadikar, in early 2022 [Economic Times Retail]. Kapoor plays a key role in the brand’s strategy and is also the face of Palmonas. Which is essentially high-quality fashion jewellery that uses precious metals and gemstones but at a more affordable price point compared to fine jewellery. Their products range from ₹900 to ₹8,000. The brand targets a wide audience with its trendy and everyday-wearable designs. Kapoor even has her own curated collection of her personal favourites on the Palmonas website. Palmonas is experiencing rapid growth. Since Kapoor’s association with the brand, their website traffic has jumped 10 times. They are also expanding their physical presence with plans to open 25 new stores across India in the next year.
Sonu Sood (Explurger)
Sonu Sood, the beloved Bollywood actor known for his philanthropic work, has two ventures you mentioned: Pravasi Rojgar and Explurge. Let’s explore each.
- Focus: Social Media App
- Mission: Launched in 2022, Explurge aims to be a unique social media platform focused on travel and community building.
- Reward System: Explurge incentivizes users to share their travel experiences and connect with others who share their passion for exploration.
- Global Focus: The platform aims to connect users from all over the world.
- Travel Inspiration: Users can create “bucket lists” and share future travel plans, fostering a sense of wanderlust within the community.
- AI-powered Features: Explurge utilizes artificial intelligence to create a personalized travel log based on user posts, enhancing the user experience.
Overall, Sonu Sood’s ventures showcase his diverse interests. Pravasi Rojgar addresses a social need, while Explurge caters to the travel enthusiasts and social media users.
Read more: Marketing News, Advertising News, PR and Finance News, Digital News
