Amid growing buzz around Bastian allegedly clocking Rs 2–3 crore in daily turnover, actor and co-owner Shilpa Shetty along with restaurateur Ranjit Bindra have addressed the speculation. In a recent conversation, the duo spoke about the brand’s journey, their partnership, and the viral revenue claims.Shilpa joined Bastian in 2019 and currently holds a 50 percent stake in the hospitality brand.
From customer to co-owner
Shilpa revealed that she first walked into Bastian in 2016 as a regular diner.She told Curly Tales, “I am so happy Ranjit and I met. I met him in Bastian when I came there as a customer in 2016. That’s when we started talking, and he told me he was opening another outlet in Worli, which also went on to become an iconic place. But I want to share the story behind it — I was not convinced at all because that location was just a barren space back then. He was simply convinced that he would turn it into a top-running restaurant. We opened during Covid, but that’s where the brand Bastian truly took shape. Today, we have eight restaurants across four different brands under Bastian.”What began as an 80-seater in Bandra has now expanded into eight outlets across four verticals.
‘She was my lucky charm’
Ranjit said Shilpa’s presence changed the energy of the brand.“She had a different energy. When I spoke to her, there was always a positive vibe. I always wished Shilpa should become a part of Bastian — and I was right. She was my lucky charm.”On celebrity backing, he added, “Celebrity matters because you get exposure through that. It helps people recognise you everywhere. Shilpa plays that part tremendously. Her inputs always matter to me. She is like an older sister to me, so whatever she says, I just follow.”He also revealed that Bastian took nearly four years to turn profitable.
The Rs 2–3 crore claim
When asked about reports that Bastian earns Rs 2–3 crore a day, Ranjit responded, “I hope that was true. I am sure one day it would be true, so let’s keep our fingers crossed.”The claim originated after author Shobhaa De said on Mojo Story, “One single restaurant in Mumbai has a turnover of Rs 2-3 crore a night. On slow night, the turnover is Rs 2 crore and on weekends it is Rs 3 crore. I walked into that restaurant to see it myself because when I heard these numbers… I said this can’t be true.”When asked by Barkha Dutt which restaurant she meant, Shobhaa replied, “It’s Bastian. It’s the new Bastian. It’s on the top. It is 21,000 sq ft, it’s not even reality. You walk in there and you feel ‘where am I?’ You have a 360° view of the city.” She further stated, “They do two seatings, each of 700 people and they cover 1,400 people in one night. They have a waiting list of people waiting downstairs on the road in Dadar, which is like the heartland of old Maharashtrian conservative area in Mumbai. There are people coming in Lamborghini and Aston Martin. You name it. Who are these people? I have no idea.”While the numbers continue to spark debate, Shilpa and Ranjit maintain that growth has been steady — and that the best, perhaps, is yet to come.
