They are not just actors and sports people, these well-known celebrities are great entrepreneurs too!
You have seen them as patriots, doctors, villains, singers, slum-dwellers and more. But some of our most beloved celebrities also fit into the role of successful entrepreneurs. Here is a look at 9 Indian celebrities who were bitten by the business bug.
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Shilpa Shetty
Shilpa Shetty has a great body and a mind to match it. Although her association with the Rajasthan Royals is no secret, her other equally successful ventures often escape mention. Shilpa has launched a chain of spas. She’s even tried her hand in the gold jewellery business. In 2014, her company, Essential Sports and Media, also produced its first film, Dishkiyaoon.
Suniel Shetty
This action man is as agile with his business sense as he is on the big screen. While he is known for his restaurants, that’s certainly not the only thing that keeps him busy. Suniel has also played his part as a film producer and even dabbled in the clothing and home decor segments.
Sushmita Sen
Yes, even the former Miss Universe has turned into an astute businesswoman. Her positive attitude is evident from the success of her retail jewellery store in Dubai. She also runs a company called Sensazione and aspires to open a chain of hotels and spas under it.
John Abraham
The health-conscious actor was busy making benchmark decisions when no one was looking. His production house, JA Productions, helped him win the Creative Entrepreneur of the Year title at the seventh edition of NDTV Profit's Business Leadership Awards. He is also set to team up with British boxing legend, David Haye, to establish a fitness franchise that will focus on the art of boxing.
Lara Dutta
Lara Dutta has a permanent place in the hearts of many, but this former beauty queen is anything but another pin-up girl. She owns a production house called Bheegi Basanti, launched her saree collection in collaboration with Chabbra 555 and even released a fitness DVD.
Twinkle Khanna
Twinke Khanna is almost single-handedly defying the idea that actors can only be actors or nothing. As a regular columnist for DNA India and The Times of India, Mrs ‘Funnybones’ Khanna has been successfully reaching out to people with her writing. Apart from writing, she has also lent her genius to the production house, Grazing Goat Pictures, which she co-founded. Twinkle is also the co-owner of The White Window, a chain of interior design stores based out of Mumbai.
While Bollywood leads the way in scripting success stories of actors moving outside their comfort zones to try their luck at business, some of our celebrated sports stars aren’t too far behind either. Equipped with a solid understanding of numbers, these legends are also testing the waters in business.
Virender Sehwag
While he has blasted his way to fame and admiration on the cricketing pitch, Virender Sehwag has also embraced social responsibilities that his success allows. Sehwag has opened the Sehwag International School in Jhajjar, Haryana. A knockout choice, wouldn’t you say?
Zaheer Khan
This talented bowler has managed to bowl over Pune’s youngsters with his restaurant, ZK. ZK was launched in 2005 as a part of his hospitality business known as Zaheer Khan’s Hospitality.
Sania Mirza
While she continues to slam her way to success on court, her enthusiasm for coffee led her to start her first business venture – the Ristretto Coffee Shop, a café touted to be one of the biggest cafes in Hyderabad. She plans to open her next outlet in Visakhapatnam and expand to other parts of South India soon. Her dream project, Sania Mirza Tennis Academy, has also garnered much appreciation.
It would suffice to say that one never tires of chasing one’s dream. And with some of our most loved celebrities leading the way and showing us how it’s done, it’s hard to imagine what’s keeping us from taking the plunge too.
(Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of YourStory)