As India’s travel-tech sector gains momentum, celebrities are stepping beyond endorsements and becoming serious investors — with Ritesh Agarwal’s Oyo emerging as a top choice.
In a strong show of faith in India’s growing online travel ecosystem, several Bollywood personalities and high-profile individuals have invested in Oyo, which recently raised over ₹1,400 crore in its Series G funding round.
Among the notable backers is Gauri Khan, producer and interior designer, and wife of superstar Shah Rukh Khan. As per a report by Skift, Gauri Khan acquired around 2.4 million shares in the company ahead of its anticipated IPO, which could value Oyo at $6–7 billion, according to preliminary discussions with investment banks.
Oyo, which has already made waves in the global hospitality sector, is reportedly in talks with banks to float its IPO soon. Gauri’s investment follows her previous involvement in Innov8, Oyo’s co-working subsidiary.
🎬 Bollywood’s Growing Stake in Startups
The Skift report also reveals that Madhuri Dixit, her husband Dr. Sriram Nene, and Dr. Ritesh Malik (Innov8 founder) have collectively purchased 2 million shares in Oyo.
Adding to the star-studded list are Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani, who had earlier invested in the company, as well as actress Amrita Rao and her husband, RJ Anmol Sood, who picked up a stake in Innov8 via the secondary market.
While celebrity investments in startups are not new, the trend is becoming more prominent. In past years, Salman Khan had picked up a small stake in Yatra when he became its brand ambassador, and Sachin Tendulkar acquired 7.5% sweat equity in Musafir.com in 2013.
However, the growing frequency of these investments today suggests a significant shift in celebrity participation — from passive endorsement to active financial involvement — signaling broader confidence in the travel-tech sector’s future.
