Anushka’s chole bhature order for Virat helped revive ₹18 lakh-debt restaurant
A struggling Mumbai restaurant, Delhi Se, avoided closure after a viral social media recommendation led to a high-profile order from Virat Kohli. The business transformed from being in significant debt to serving thousands of plates daily.
Why it matters
It highlights the immense power of social media influencers and celebrity endorsements in reviving small, local businesses in the digital age.
A 250-square-foot restaurant with three tables and nine seats was once close to shutting down. Today, Delhi Se claims to serve more than 3,000 plates of chole bhature every day across four outlets. The dramatic change began with one comedian's Instagram recommendation, followed by an unexpected order from Anushka Sharma's home for Virat Kohli.A restaurant that was almost ready to shutBrothers Jaspal Singh Khalsa and Mahinder Singh Khalsa started Delhi Se in Chembur on October 15, 2021. The small outlet was built around a simple idea: serve Delhi-style food in Mumbai.But the business struggled. Sales began falling from January 2022, and by September, the brothers said they had accumulated about ₹18 lakh in debt. Closing the restaurant seemed like the only practical option.“From January, our sales started declining. By September 2022, we were planning to close the restaurant,” Jaspal told Pinkvilla.There is something striking about that timeline.
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