Inside Mouni Roy’s Upscale Eatery Badmaash: Jhalmuri At Rs 395, Masala Peanuts For Rs 300

Since her television debut in 2006, Mouni Roy has emerged as one of the most recognizable faces on Indian TV, thanks to hit shows like Mahadev and Naagin, along with numerous brand endorsements. In 2023, she expanded her portfolio to the culinary world, opening her restaurant Badmaash in Bengaluru’s Sarjapur area and Mumbai’s Andheri. Today, Mouni owns over six restaurants across India, with even simple street-style snacks like Jhalmuri priced at Rs 395.

A Jungle-Themed Culinary Haven

Badmaash is distinguished by its unique jungle-inspired décor, featuring lush greenery suspended from the ceiling and interiors painted in earthy ochre and green tones. One of the restaurant’s most frequented locations is in Kolkata, drawing food enthusiasts with its immersive ambiance.

Menu Highlights: Traditional Flavours with a Modern Twist

The menu at Badmaash showcases a wide range of vegetarian and non-vegetarian Indian dishes, with most items falling between Rs 300 and Rs 800. Desserts retain a classic charm, with Shahi Tukda and Gulab Jamun available for Rs 410 each.

For Jain patrons, the restaurant offers specialties such as Tomato Tulsi Shorba and Palak Nariyal Ka Shorba, priced at Rs 315 each.

A notable innovation is the Avocado Bhel (Rs 395), a creative fusion of avocado with traditional Jhalmuri. Mouni shared with IndianRetailer.com, “I love avocado and I love jhalmuri, so we created Avocado Bhel.”

Signature Drinks and Snack Staples

Among beverages, the standout is Mounilicious (Rs 695), a refreshing concoction of gin, cucumber, kiwi, lemon, elderflower, and sparkling water. “I’m not a fan of desserts, so we came up with a drink that’s delightful yet not overly sweet,” Mouni explained.

Other popular offerings include Masala Peanuts, Masala Papad, Crispy Corn, and Sev Puri (Rs 295 each), Kanda Bhajiya (Rs 355), and prawn dishes priced around Rs 795. The bread selection comprises Tandoori Roti (Rs 105), Naan (Rs 115), and Amritsari Kulcha (Rs 145).

Journey into the Hospitality Industry

Mouni attributes her leap into restaurants to her husband, Suraj Nambiar, and his close friends, who invited her to join VRO Hospitality Pvt. Ltd., one of India’s fastest-growing F&B groups with 27 outlets across major cities and Dubai.

“Whenever I travelled, I would sit at a café with a book, coffee, and croissant. That experience planted the idea of owning my own café. It didn’t happen initially, but thanks to my husband and his friends at VRO, I finally got the opportunity to run a restaurant — and I took it wholeheartedly,” she recounted.

Passion for Indian Cuisine

Speaking about her culinary inspiration, Mouni said, “I love Indian food. On work trips, I search for Indian restaurants wherever I go. I realized we lack high-quality Indian eateries, especially in Bengaluru and Mumbai. Badmaash was my way of bridging that gap.”

Income Sources and Business Strategy

In a discussion with Zero1 Clips by Zerodha, Mouni revealed insights into her earnings: “Around 40% of my income comes from social media. Films contribute roughly 20%. Revenue from businesses like restaurants is reinvested for growth over the next five years. Another 40% comes from brand endorsements — sometimes exceeding film earnings.”