Zomato has brought on board Kunal Khambhati, the former head of live events and intellectual property at BookMyShow, as part of its strategic move to bolster its entertainment and ‘going out’ offerings. This hire comes as the food-tech giant prepares to launch its upcoming app, District, which will serve customers seeking a diverse range of experiences such as restaurant reservations, live performances, sports events, and more.
While Zomato’s management has confirmed Khambhati’s inclusion in the team, his specific role or designation remains undisclosed. However, it is expected that Khambhati will leverage his vast experience in managing live events and intellectual properties to play a key role in the app’s live entertainment segment.
Khambhati’s transition to Zomato marks a significant milestone following his exit from BookMyShow in April 2024. During his seven-year tenure at BookMyShow, Khambhati played a pivotal role in the development of live events and intellectual property, overseeing operations in major markets such as India, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka. Now, he will collaborate with Zomato’s senior leadership, including former executives Rahul Ganjoo and Pradyot Ghate, who rejoined the company in July to spearhead the launch of District.
Zomato has been actively preparing for the app’s launch since August 2024. Designed as a one-stop platform for users to discover and book restaurant experiences, movie tickets, live performances, and sports events, District is poised to challenge industry giants like BookMyShow in the entertainment space. The company’s acquisition of Paytm’s entertainment ticketing business for ₹2,048 crore underscores its ambition to establish itself as a major player in this sector.
In an interview with Moneycontrol, Zomato’s founder and CEO, Deepinder Goyal, hinted at further plans to enhance the live event experience through infrastructure upgrades across India’s stadiums. “We’ll have to upgrade stadiums at some point, otherwise the entire experience will not be worthwhile,” Goyal said. He also suggested that Zomato could partner with stadium operators to propose these infrastructure improvements, in exchange for rental-free days to host events.
Zomato’s new hires and aggressive moves in the entertainment space signal its commitment to expanding beyond food delivery and into the broader live events and entertainment market. With Kunal Khambhati’s expertise, District is set to position itself as a formidable contender, offering customers a seamless and enhanced experience when it comes to dining and live entertainment.