Celebrity Investors Put ₹4,328 Cr Behind Indian Startups

Celebrity startup investing in India is becoming far more than an occasional endorsement deal. A Tracxn analysis cited by The Economic Times identified 10 prominent actors and cricketers who participated in 49 disclosed funding rounds across 34 startups between 2021 and 2026, with those rounds collectively valued at about $458 million, or ₹4,328 crore.

Shilpa Shetty Kundra led the group with participation in 10 disclosed rounds. Her portfolio spans consumer brands and technology companies including Mamaearth, WickedGud, KisanKonnect, Alpino, Sustainiam and Limelight. She was also an early angel investor in Mamaearth before parent Honasa Consumer went public in 2023. Cricket stars have also built sizeable startup portfolios. MS Dhoni participated in six disclosed rounds across companies including SolarSquare, Garuda Aerospace, EMotorad, Rigi TV, Tagda Raho and Shaka Harry. Sachin Tendulkar also appeared in six rounds, with five investments in used-car platform Spinny from its earlier stages through its $250 million Series E, alongside a stake in apparel brand XYXX.

Shraddha Kapoor has backed businesses across fashion, mobility and wellness, including Purple Style Labs and Chargeup, while Virat Kohli’s portfolio includes Agilitas, Rage Coffee and Blue Tribe. Alia Bhatt participated in four disclosed rounds, backing sustainability-focused businesses such as Phool, Ed-a-Mamma and SuperBottoms. Anushka Sharma, Ranveer Singh, Rohit Sharma and Suniel Shetty also feature among Tracxn’s most active celebrity startup investors.

The portfolios show how celebrity capital is spreading well beyond consumer brands that naturally fit endorsement deals. Investments now span clean energy, drones, EVs, logistics, deeptech and industrial technology. For startups, a celebrity investor can bring capital, visibility and distribution leverage; for celebrities, startup equity offers exposure to private companies well before they reach public markets.