Ashish Hemrajani, founder and CEO of BookMyShow, who built India's leading online entertainment ticketing platform through BigTree Entertainment.
Ashish Hemrajani founded BookMyShow and built online entertainment ticketing in India. Explore his career, company, growth, strategy and entrepreneurial journey.
Written by TFN Research Desk | covering startups, technology, venture capital, and business strategy.
Table of Contents
- Who is Ashish Hemrajani?
- Early Life and Education
- Career Before BookMyShow
- How BookMyShow Started
- Funding History
- Revenue Growth and Recent Developments
- BookMyShow’s Expansion
- BookMyShow vs Competitors
- Investor Perspective
- Founder Timeline
- Key Takeaways
- FAQs
- The Take Nobody In The Industry Wants To Say Out Loud
- Sources
- SEO Metadata Block
Who is Ashish Hemrajani?
Ashish Hemrajani is the Founder and CEO of BookMyShow and BigTree Entertainment. He founded BigTree Entertainment in 1999 with Parikshit Dar and Rajesh Balpande, eventually building BookMyShow into a major online entertainment-ticketing platform in India. The business pioneered online ticketing for entertainment and expanded the way Indian consumers discover and book movies, events and other entertainment experiences.
Early Life and Education
Ashish Hemrajani holds an MBA in Marketing from Sydenham Institute of Management, Mumbai University.
His formal education in marketing was followed by experience in advertising, giving him an understanding of consumer behaviour and brand communication before he entered the technology and entertainment business.
Career Before BookMyShow
Before becoming an entrepreneur, Hemrajani worked at J. Walter Thompson, now commonly known as JWT, as an Account Manager.
During his advertising career, he worked with brands including Hindustan Petroleum and CEAT Tyres.
The experience gave him exposure to consumer marketing and brand strategy. That background later became relevant when BookMyShow needed to convince consumers to move from traditional ticket purchasing toward online booking.
How BookMyShow Started
Hemrajani founded BigTree Entertainment in 1999 with Parikshit Dar and Rajesh Balpande.
The idea behind BookMyShow was influenced by online ticketing services Hemrajani encountered while holidaying in South Africa. The experience demonstrated how technology could simplify the process of finding and purchasing entertainment tickets.
The founding team brought different capabilities to the business. Hemrajani focused on the broader business, while Dar and Balpande took responsibility for technology and finance respectively.
BookMyShow eventually became the consumer-facing platform through which the company built its online entertainment-ticketing business.
The timing was important. As internet adoption increased in India, consumers became more comfortable discovering and purchasing entertainment online.
Funding History
| Round | Year | Amount | Lead Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early funding | Not publicly disclosed | Not publicly disclosed | Not publicly disclosed |
| Institutional funding | Various | Not publicly disclosed | Various investors |
BookMyShow has attracted institutional investment during its growth, but a complete funding history with verified round-by-round amounts and lead investors is not supported by the information provided.
The company has remained focused on building its entertainment-commerce ecosystem rather than relying solely on ticketing.
Revenue Growth and Recent Developments
| Fiscal Year | Revenue | Net Profit/Loss |
|---|---|---|
| Latest figure | Not publicly disclosed | Not publicly disclosed |
The information provided does not include a verified current consolidated revenue or profitability figure.
BookMyShow has continued to operate as an entertainment-ticketing platform, with its business extending beyond movie tickets into live events and other entertainment experiences.
BookMyShow’s Expansion
BookMyShow’s original proposition was straightforward: make entertainment ticketing easier through the internet.
Over time, the platform developed into a broader entertainment-discovery and booking business. Consumers can use the platform to discover movies, live events and other entertainment experiences.
This shift matters because ticketing platforms can become more valuable when they control both discovery and transaction. Instead of simply processing a ticket purchase, the platform becomes part of how consumers decide what entertainment to attend.
BookMyShow vs Competitors
| Company | Founded | Positioning |
|---|---|---|
| BookMyShow | 1999 | Entertainment discovery and ticketing |
| Paytm Insider | 2017 | Events and entertainment ticketing |
| Ticketmaster | 1976 | Global ticketing and live entertainment |
| District | 2024 | Dining, movies and entertainment |
BookMyShow’s long presence in India’s entertainment market gives it significant consumer familiarity.
The competitive environment, however, continues to evolve. Digital platforms can compete on convenience, event inventory, pricing, partnerships and user experience.
The company therefore has to remain useful beyond simply providing a digital version of the traditional ticket counter.
Investor Perspective
Hemrajani’s advertising background is relevant to BookMyShow’s development because entertainment ticketing depends heavily on consumer discovery and engagement.
His decision to build an online ticketing platform at a time when internet adoption in India was still developing required a long-term view of changing consumer behaviour.
The opportunity remains tied to India’s large entertainment market and increasing consumer preference for digital booking.
The main challenge is competition. Ticketing itself can become commoditised when consumers have several ways to purchase the same event or movie ticket. The stronger strategic position is therefore created by owning discovery, inventory and the customer relationship.
BookMyShow’s ability to remain relevant will depend on how effectively it expands its entertainment ecosystem while maintaining a simple consumer experience.
Founder Timeline
- 1999: Founds BigTree Entertainment with Parikshit Dar and Rajesh Balpande.
- Early career: Works at J. Walter Thompson as an Account Manager.
- Later: Develops the online entertainment-ticketing business that becomes BookMyShow.
- 2014: Featured in Fortune India’s 40 Under 40.
- 2026: Continues as Founder and CEO of BookMyShow.
Key Takeaways
- Ashish Hemrajani founded BigTree Entertainment in 1999.
- He co-founded the business with Parikshit Dar and Rajesh Balpande.
- He currently serves as Founder and CEO of BookMyShow.
- The idea for online entertainment ticketing was influenced by his experience in South Africa.
- His previous advertising career helped shape his understanding of consumer behaviour.
FAQs
Who founded BookMyShow?
Ashish Hemrajani founded BigTree Entertainment with Parikshit Dar and Rajesh Balpande, the company behind BookMyShow.
What is Ashish Hemrajani’s current role?
He currently serves as Founder and CEO of BookMyShow.
When was BigTree Entertainment founded?
BigTree Entertainment was founded in 1999.
What inspired BookMyShow?
Hemrajani was inspired by online ticketing services he encountered while holidaying in South Africa.
Where did Ashish Hemrajani study?
He holds an MBA in Marketing from Sydenham Institute of Management, Mumbai University.
Where did he work before becoming an entrepreneur?
He worked at J. Walter Thompson as an Account Manager.
Who were Ashish Hemrajani’s co-founders?
Parikshit Dar and Rajesh Balpande co-founded BigTree Entertainment with Hemrajani.
What does BookMyShow do?
BookMyShow is an entertainment discovery and ticketing platform covering movies, live events and other entertainment experiences.
How much funding has BookMyShow raised?
A complete verified funding total is not supported by the information provided.
Is BookMyShow profitable?
A current verified consolidated profitability figure is not provided in the available information.
What is Ashish Hemrajani’s net worth?
His current personal net worth is not publicly disclosed in the information provided.
What awards has Ashish Hemrajani received?
He was featured in Fortune India’s 40 Under 40 in 2014.
The Take Nobody In The Industry Wants To Say Out Loud
Our editors weigh in.
Ashish Hemrajani’s biggest achievement may not be building a ticketing website. It was recognising that entertainment itself could become an online commerce category in India before consumer behaviour had fully shifted in that direction. The uncomfortable part is that ticketing is not automatically a durable moat. Once consumers become accustomed to booking online, competitors can offer similar functionality. BookMyShow therefore has to compete through inventory, partnerships, discovery and the strength of its customer relationship. Hemrajani’s advertising background gives him an advantage in understanding consumers, but the company’s long-term position depends on keeping the platform useful beyond the transaction itself. The next stage is less about proving that Indians will buy tickets online and more about proving that BookMyShow remains the place they choose to discover what is worth watching.
Sources
- BookMyShow, Official Website
https://in.bookmyshow.com/ - BookMyShow, Company Information
https://in.bookmyshow.com/about-us/ - Ashish Hemrajani, LinkedIn
https://in.linkedin.com/in/ashishhemrajani - Fortune India, 40 Under 40
https://www.fortuneindia.com/ - Economic Times, BookMyShow Coverage
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ - Forbes India, BookMyShow Coverage
https://www.forbesindia.com/ - Moneycontrol, BookMyShow Coverage
https://www.moneycontrol.com/
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