STORY BEHIND BOOK MY SHOW

Ashish Hemrajani is the co-founder and CEO of BookMyShow, India's leading online ticketing platform for movies, events, and entertainment. His journey as an entrepreneur is filled with determination, challenges, and remarkable success. Here's a brief overview of his story:

Early Days and Inspiration:

Ashish Hemrajani was born and raised in Mumbai, India. He completed his education in commerce and finance and then pursued an MBA. Before founding BookMyShow, Ashish worked in the family business and later joined JWT, an advertising agency. However, the desire to become an entrepreneur and make a significant impact on the entertainment industry fueled his passion.

The Birth of BookMyShow:

In 1999, along with his co-founders Parikshit Dar and Rajesh Balpande, Ashish established "Big Tree Entertainment," the parent company of BookMyShow. The idea for the platform emerged when the trio attended a Rolling Stones concert in 1999 and experienced the hassle of purchasing tickets through traditional means.

They envisioned a platform that would allow users to book tickets for movies, concerts, and other events conveniently from the comfort of their homes. Initially, the journey was challenging, as the internet penetration in India was limited, and e-commerce was still at a nascent stage. However, Ashish and his team persevered, believing in the potential of their idea.

Overcoming Challenges:

In the early 2000s, the dot-com bubble burst, leading to a severe economic downturn that affected many startups. BookMyShow was not immune to these challenges, and they struggled to attract funding and expand their operations. At one point, the founders even considered shutting down the business.

However, Ashish's determination and resilience kept them going. They bootstrapped the company, worked tirelessly to improve their platform, and focused on building partnerships with cinemas and event organizers. Slowly, they gained traction, and their platform started gaining popularity among users.

Rapid Growth and Success:

By the mid-2000s, BookMyShow had established itself as a reliable platform for online ticket bookings. As internet penetration and smartphone usage increased in India, the platform's user base grew exponentially. They expanded their services to include not only movies but also sports events, concerts, theater shows, and more.

Ashish's visionary leadership and the team's commitment to customer satisfaction helped BookMyShow become a household name in India. They continually innovated their platform, introducing features like seat selection, cashless transactions, and loyalty programs, further enhancing the user experience.

BookMyShow's success attracted investment from various venture capital firms, providing the necessary funds for expansion and technological advancements.

Legacy and Impact:

Under Ashish Hemrajani's leadership, BookMyShow has become one of India's most successful and trusted online entertainment platforms. It has expanded beyond India and now operates in several other countries, catering to a global audience.

Ashish's entrepreneurial journey serves as an inspiration to many aspiring entrepreneurs in India, showing that with passion, perseverance, and a focus on solving real problems, one can build a successful business that impacts millions of lives.

Please note that the details mentioned above are based on information available up to September 2021, and there might have been further developments in Ashish Hemrajani's journey beyond that date.