Bollywood Actors Who Have Successful Side Businesses

1) Shah Rukh Khan

SRK is co-chairman of the motion picture production company Red Chillies Entertainment and its subsidiaries. His production company produces films and its VFX division offers VFX and animation services to other production houses and filmmakers. Shah Rukh Khan is also the co-owner of the Indian Premier League cricket team Kolkata Knight Riders. Khan acquired ownership rights for the franchise in 2008 in partnership with Juhi Chawla, who has been her co-star in many successful films. KKR is one of the richest teams in the IPL, with a brand value of several million. Shah Rukh Khan is also an award show host and television presenter. He endorses a number of brands from where he makes a hell of a lot of money.

2) Shilpa Shetty

In addition to films, the bold and beautiful Shilpa Shetty has her involvement in other profit generation ventures, most of them being bankrolled by her husband Raj Kundra. After Shilpa and Raj sold out their stakes in the IPL team of Rajasthan Royals after Supreme Court held Raj guilty of placing bets on IPL games, Shilpa engaged herself in other business ventures of her husband. She also laid the foundation of her own film production company and produced a film titled Dishkiyaoon (2014), which unfortunately did not work at the box office. Shilpa Shetty also co-owns the Indian chain of spas and salon called Iosis. She launched her fitness Yoga DVD in 2015, which received overwhelming response. Besides managing all her business ventures, Shilpa is now more active on television. She has judged numerous shows on television, the most recent one being the dance reality show Super Dancer on Sony Entertainment channel. So, apart from being an actress, she is a businesswoman, producer, model and television host.

3) Suniel Shetty

Smart and shrewd operator Suniel Shetty first ventured into the business of fitness and opened many gyms across India. Franchises of his gyms can be spotted in many parts of the country. Suniel Shetty also owns a film production house called Popcorn Entertainment, which has produced a string of films like Khel (2003), Rakht (2004), Bhagam Bhag (2006), Mission Istanbul (2008), EMI (2008) and Loot (2011). If you thought that the list of his business endeavours ends just there, then think again. Suniel is also the owner of Mischief, a chain of boutiques spread across the entire length and breadth of Mumbai. Not just that, the actor also runs a several restaurants specializing in Udupi cuisine in the city. He has even ventured into designing and development of luxury real estate projects through his company S2 Reality. Suniel is a television presenter also. He is also said to have a 50 percent stake in Hakim Aalim’s salons.

4) Twinkle Khanna

The gorgeous Twinkle Khanna runs a candle business with her mother Dimple Kapadia and makes a lot of money. Just for your information, this is not a small candle business. Their candle company does not operate in Indian markets only, but their candles are exported in many other countries also. Twinkle Khanna also started an interior designing firm called ‘The White Window’ in Mumbai. Within a very short span of time, both her business ventures flourished leaps and bounds and the actress was back in the reckoning once again. In addition to all this, Twinkle who has a unique flair for writing is also a noted newspaper columnist. Her columns appear in reputed newspapers like DNA and The Times of India. She is an author also. Her debut novel ‘Mrs Funnybones’ came out in August 2015 sold more than 1 Lacs copies across the world, making Twinkle India’s highest-selling female writer of 2015. Twinkle wrote her second book titled ‘The Legend Of Lakshmi Prasad’ which debuted at No 2 on Amazon. Twinkle Khanna is also a film producer and has produced almost six films under Grazing Goat Pictures. She has recently set up her separate production house. ‘Padman’ starring her husband Akshay Kumar, will be her first film as an independent film producer.

5) Ajay Devgn

The intense and talented Ajay Devgn has very wisely invested a certain percent of his money in a number of ventures. The actor is a part investor in the Charanaka solar project in Gujarat. Ajay along with the Roha Group invested multi-crores in the 25 MW plant. Set up in a record period of just eight months, the plant is functional from December 31, 2011. In addition to that, Ajay also owns a production house called Ajay Devgn Films. Established in the year of 2000, its maiden venture was Raju Chacha (2000) featuring Mr. Devgn and his wife Kajol. Ajay also owns a VFX Studio.

6) Sushmita Sen

Beauty queen Sushmita Sen is an efficient businesswoman now, along with being a great actor and single mom to two daughters. She has set up a production company which goes by the name of Tantra Entertainment. Sushmita also owns a jewelry retail store in Dubai, which is managed by her mother. She has a restaurant called ‘Bangali Mashi’s Kitchen’ in Mumbai which serves you a variety of authentic Bengali food in modest price.The actress also has plans to open a chain of hotels and spas under her company Sensazione. Sushmita was also heading the Miss Universe franchise ‘I Am She’ which was recently taken over by Femina.

7) John Abraham

After working in a number of commercially successful films, John Abraham decided to turn producer and laid the foundation of his production house JA Entertainment. The first film made under the banner was the groundbreaking film Vicky Donor (2012), starring Ayushman Khurrana and Yami Gautam. The movie walked away with a National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. John also received the Creative Entrepreneur of the Year title at the seventh edition of NDTV Profit’s Business Leadership Awards. His other films as a producer also received rave reviews and success at the ticket window. Apart from films and bikes, John is also a fitness freak. If the buzz is to be believed, the actor is now all set to join forces with British boxing legend David Haye to set up a fitness franchise that will focus on the art of boxing.

8) Karisma Kapoor

After a successful Bollywood innings, Karisma Kapoor aka Lolo started her own venture. The actress runs a well-known e-commerce portal that sells baby and mother care products. She has recently invested in the venture.

9) Arjun Rampal

You must we wondering how Arjun Rampal earns his bread and butter since his Bollywood innings has not really been the success it should have. Buzz has it that like many actors in Bollywood, Arjun Rampal, too, makes a handsome amount of money through his side business. LAP is his very own lounge-bar-restaurant in Delhi. Spread over 17,000 sq. ft., the sprawling lounge-bar-restaurant boasts of creamy crowd. LAP is designed with furniture planned by none other than Shah Rukh Khan’s wife Gauri Khan, designers Tarun Tahiliani and Rohit Bal. He also runs an event management firm called Chasing Ganesha. So, next time you wonder how the actor maintains his hi-fi lifestyle, you don’t have to rack your mind.

10) Lara Dutta

Lara Dutta has added another feather to her cap by turning a film producer. She set up her own production company called Bheegi Basanti, in the year 2011 and produced a film called Chalo Dill’, featuring Vinay Pathak and herself. It was an average grosser at the ticket window. She has also launched her sari collection in collaboration with Chabbra 555. She also has a fitness DVD to her credit. Lara Dutta recently unveiled her skincare brand, Arias at Health and Glow, Mumbai. The brand is a culmination of Dutta’s experiences as an actress, model and entrepreneur. These are enough sources to make a lot of money.

11) Salman Khan

Salman Khan is also into branching into businesses other than film production, harnessing their popularity to establish revenue streams in industries as diverse as entertainment, competitive sport, endorsements and branded clothing. The Being Human brand is licensed to Mandhana Retail Ventures, which operates dozens of outlets in various cities selling fashion accessories and apparel. As per the buzz, the Bollywood superstar, who owns the Being Human clothing brand, has registered the BeingSmart trademark for smartphones targeted at the entryto-middle market segment. He has also selected the Chinese plant and initial phone models that will run on Android and cost below Rs 20,000. Salman has a 5% stake in Yatra.com, which is an ad-for-equity deal. For the uninitiated, an ad-for-equity clause entails promoting and marketing the brand.

12) Hrithik Roshan

Hrithik Roshan, who started his acting career in 2000 with his father Rakesh Roshan’s Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai, a blockbuster hit, recently sold the majority stake in his fashion brand HRX to Flipkart-owned Myntra, an online shopping portal. His brand of fitness wear called HRX was launched in 2013 exclusively on online fashion portal Myntra and is now being rolled out in physical retail stores. Recently, the actor picked up equity stake in Bengaluru-based fitness startup CureFit and designed a signature workout HRX workout -for its gym center Cult.

13) Mithun Chakraborty

Mithunda owns the Monarch group of hotels, across the country. He was also the co-owner of Royal Bengal Tigers, a cricket team of the now abandoned Indian Cricket League. A sesnible and astute business guy, Mithun has been quite successful.

14) Dino Morea

Dino Morea‘s restaurant cum bar Crepe Station has branches all across the country which serves European delicacies. His retail line called Cool Mall Merchandise was launched by Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The next time you are in Mumbai, gorge on some waffles, pancakes and don’t forget the eggs Benedict at the Crepe Station!

15) Ronit Roy

Roy owns a security agency Ace Security and Protection. He also provides personal security to the top Bollywood stars like Aamir Khan and SRK. Quite a smart move!

16) Malaika Arora

Malaika along with being an actor, a TV presenter, a judge, dancer is a smart business women, Malaika collaborated with Bipasha Basu and Sussanne Khan, to create an online fashion website called The Label Life, where she is the style editor for clothing.

17) Abhishek Bachchan

Abhishek Bachchan is quite an amazing businessman. He bought the Pro Kabaddi League franchise team Jaipur Pink Panthers and in 2014 co-bought the Indian Super League football team Chennaiyin FC. In 2014 his Jaipur Pink Panthers won the first ever championships and in 2015 the Chennaiyin FC won the ISL.

18) Preity Zinta

The dimpled darling of Bollywood and the IPL business, Pretty Zinta has given a number of the hits in her acting career but her achievements don’t stop there. Holding a degree in Criminal Psychology, this pretty lady has many more achievements in her kitty. She is a columnist, an activist and also co-founder of the IPL team Kings of Punjab! She’s also a successful business woman and a perfect example of beauty with brains.

19) Bobby Deol

Bobby Deol has invested in a restaurant called ‘Someplace Else’ way back in 2006. This place has an amazing interior and lip-smacking Indo-Chinese cuisine. He also owns another place known as Suhana for exclusive Indian cuisine and Zion for exclusive Chinese fare.

20) Sunny Leone

Sizzling Sunny Leone is the face of the online adult store IMBesharam.com. It was launched on September 1, 2012. The store sells a variety of products like adult toys, lingerie, adult products, sexy wear, sexy costumes, swim wear, footwear, party wear, lifestyle accessories and more. Leone, whose line of investments include fragrances, a franchise for a box league cricket, a web-based short story and an online game among others, is also said to be keenly looking to enter categories such as shoes and apparels with her own line of products. Leone’s venture called ‘Lust’ – a perfume range ‘Lust’, wa launched in a Dubai. The actor and model is said to be now gearing to launch her line of cosmetics, starting with a lip kit of sticks, liners and glosses.

Comments

comments

Nishanth Muraleedharan, also known as "Nishani," is an IT engineer who transitioned into entrepreneurship, driven by a profound passion for the textile industry. As the president of Save Handloom Foundation, (SaveHandloom.org) and the Founder & CEO of DMZ International Imports & Exports Pvt Ltd., I am passionate about reviving the Indian handloom industry and empowering the weavers and artisans across the country. With 25+ years of experience in the textile industry, I have developed deep market insights and a rich network of handloom weaving societies, master weavers, and self-help groups, who exclusively make products for our trust.