MUMBAI: Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma’s search for authentic Delhi-style chole bhature for her husband, cricketer Virat Kohli, reportedly helped transform the fortunes of a small food outlet in Mumbai.
The eatery, known as “Delhi Se,” operates in Chembur and now claims to sell around 3,000 plates of chole bhature every day through four outlets, with monthly sales reportedly reaching around Rs20 million.
However, the business was once struggling with debt and was reportedly close to shutting down.
Brothers Jaspal Singh Khalsa and Mahinder Singh Khalsa had started the small 250-square-foot outlet with just three tables and nine seats. By September 2022, declining sales had reportedly left them with debts of around Rs1.8 million, prompting them to consider closing the business.
A turning point came on September 13, 2022, when stand-up comedian Abhishek Upmanyu visited the outlet, tried its chole bhature and recommended it on Instagram.
The recommendation eventually reached Anushka Sharma, who was looking for authentic Delhi-style chole bhature in Mumbai for Virat Kohli.
According to Jaspal, the brothers began receiving repeated calls from someone claiming to be calling from Anushka’s residence in Mumbai’s Juhu area. The caller requested two plates and asked for the restaurant’s bank details.
Initially, Jaspal suspected that the calls were a prank. He reportedly discussed his concerns with his brother, even worrying that sharing bank details could put their account at risk.
After several calls, the brothers learned that the order had actually come from Virat Kohli’s residence.
Anushka later mentioned the eatery on Instagram, saying she had finally found Delhi-style chole bhature in Mumbai and thanking Upmanyu for the recommendation.
The impact was reportedly immediate. Jaspal said a large crowd gathered at the restaurant within half an hour of the post.
He also said that within just three days, the quantity of chickpeas prepared by the restaurant increased dramatically, from around 8 kilograms to 100 kilograms, as demand surged following the actress’s social media mention.
The story has since become an example of how a celebrity recommendation can bring sudden attention to a small local food business.