OYO CEO Ritesh Agarwal reveals why Ranveer Singh and Kartik Aaryan were his first choices in ‘Shark Tank India’

Shark Tank India 3 is making waves with its dynamic mix of experienced and new sharks, including the youngest recruit, OYO CEO Ritesh Agarwal. In a recent interview, Agarwal unveiled his ambitious plans to expand OYO’s footprint into Lakshadweep by setting up a chain of hotels. More interestingly, OYO CEO Ritesh Agarwal unveiled the celebrity shark of his dreams, bringing some energy to the reality show and sparking curiosity. He expressed a keen interest in the charismatic actor Ranveer Singh and felt that his unique style could bring a refreshing perspective. Additionally, Agarwal appointed Kartik Aaryan, acknowledging his journey beyond charisma and suggested cricketer Suryakumar Yadav as another suitable candidate .

Speaking to Hindustan Times, the entrepreneur said: “I think Ranveer Singh is that person. He will bring an understanding and energy to the consumer and we are trying to bring that, But of course, he will bring his own perspective. Kartik Aaryan is a small town guy but does very smart things. Not much is said about him but he comes from a small town, And have been very successful in Bollywood. He has done it all but very quietly and systematically with a series of investments. I would say these two are the best.”

Ritesh Agarwal discusses the growing hospitality industry and discusses the current trend of promoting Indian destinations like Lakshadweep to international destinations like the Maldives. Shark Tank India 3 panellist confirms OYO plans to expand its hotels to Indian islands to boost domestic tourism. He said: “I think Lakshadweep is going to be an incredible destination. We are getting ready to announce the launch of our product in Lakshadweep. We are very excited about it.”

The entrepreneur further spoke about several emerging trends in the travel and hospitality industry. First, he highlighted the growing interest in religious tourism. He mentioned that by 2023, their bookings for religious destinations like Banaras and Ayodhya will exceed popular tourist spots like Goa. To cater to the growing demand, OYO will open 65 hotels in Ayodhya and plans to expand further. The second trend he sees is domestic travel, which shows a shift in focus towards exploring destinations within India rather than spending money abroad.

Ritesh Agarwal also pointed out the growing trend of destination weddings in India. He mentioned that OYO has a brand called Weddingz. According to him, there is a growing interest in hosting destination weddings in the country, citing locations like Trivandrum and Rajasthan as examples. Additionally, he highlighted the growing interest in the North East as an emerging wedding destination.