- Akshay Kumar, Karan Johar, Manish Malhotra, and Malaika Arora launch India’s first fashion-entrepreneur reality show
₹40-crore investment pool set to empower next-gen fashion founders on JioHotstar from October 20
Produced by Fashion Entrepreneur Fund and Dharmatic Entertainment, the show blends Bollywood glamour with startup grit
NE ENTERTAINMENT BUREAU
MUMBAI, OCT 16
Bollywood glamour met entrepreneurial ambition at the grand unveiling of ‘Pitch to Get Rich’, India’s first-ever fashion-focused entrepreneurial reality show, hosted by JioHotstar. The glittering launch event in Mumbai saw Akshay Kumar, Karan Johar, Manish Malhotra, and Malaika Arora unveil the trailer, signalling a bold new fusion of fashion, finance, and fame.
Also present at the event were Sanjay Nigam, Founder of the Fashion Entrepreneur Fund (FEF) and the visionary behind the show; Apoorva Mehta, CEO of Dharmatic Entertainment; and Sushant Sreeram, Head of SVOD Business and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), JioStar, alongside other industry leaders and fashion entrepreneurs.
Produced by Fashion Entrepreneur Fund and Dharmatic Entertainment, and powered by Vimal Elaichi, the JioHotstar Specials series will premiere exclusively on October 20. The show boasts a ₹40-crore investment pool to back emerging fashion founders, giving them an unprecedented opportunity to transform creative ideas into scalable ventures.
“Fashion, finance, and fame come together with purpose”
Describing the concept, Apoorva Mehta, CEO of Dharmatic Entertainment, said, “Pitch to Get Rich represents a powerful collaboration between innovation and imagination. Partnering with the Fashion Entrepreneur Fund and JioHotstar, we wanted to craft a platform where fashion founders could tell their stories, pitch their dreams, and transform their passion into thriving global businesses.”
The launch also featured a mini runway show by 14 emerging founders from the series, each presenting their unique brands — from Cloud Tailor and House of Armuse to Philocaly, Dmodot, Stylox, Banana Labs, and Heritage Bazaar — showcasing India’s creative diversity and entrepreneurial energy.
“Entrepreneurship is about courage”: Akshay Kumar
Bollywood icon Akshay Kumar said, “Entrepreneurship is about courage — the courage to take risks, reinvent, and lead. Pitch to Get Rich celebrates that spirit while championing the vision of Make in India, giving real opportunities to fashion creators who are ready to build India’s next big global brand.”
Adding his perspective, Karan Johar remarked, “Fashion is not just about glamour; it’s serious business. Pitch to Get Rich is where creativity meets commerce. I’m thrilled to see India’s young designers pitch, hustle, and dream big. At Dharmatic, we’ve always believed in breaking moulds and pushing boundaries — this show celebrates that same fearless spirit.”
A stage where ambition meets opportunity
Sushant Sreeram, SVOD Head and CMO, JioStar, said, “Pitch to Get Rich is a shining example of the new India — creative, confident, and unafraid to bet on its own ideas. It’s a stage where fashion, ambition, and enterprise collide to celebrate a generation that’s not just thinking big but shaping the future of our country on the global stage. At JioHotstar, we believe great entertainment also serves inspiration, and this show is designed to ignite ambition and showcase innovation.”
He added, “With Pitch to Get Rich, we’re not just launching a show — we’re creating a launchpad where ambition meets opportunity. Today’s youth are redefining success with ideas that are fearless, innovative, and rooted in purpose.”
“A new era for fashion founders”
Sanjay Nigam, Founder, Fashion Entrepreneur Fund, said, “Pitch to Get Rich is where fashion, finance, and fame converge. We are excited to bring this format to audiences nationwide in partnership with JioHotstar. It’s entertaining yet empowering — a space that nurtures a new generation of fashion founders who will redefine the future of the industry in India and globally.”
The judging and investor panel unites Bollywood stars and business titans, including Akshay Kumar, Karan Johar, Manish Malhotra, Malaika Arora, and leading industrialists like Naveen Jindal, Dhruv Sharma, Ravi Jaipuria, Darpan Sanghvi, Gaurav Dalmia, Vagish Pathak, Vinod Dugar, and Gautam Singhania.
Adding extra sparkle, Saif Ali Khan, Sara Ali Khan, Ananya Panday, Ronnie Screwvala, Diipa Khosla, and Shibani Dandekar will make special guest appearances, blending mentorship with star power.
Set to stream exclusively on JioHotstar from October 20, Pitch to Get Rich promises to turn fashion dreams into business empires — proving that in today’s India, style truly means business.
