Nikhil Kamath: From Gaming Losses to Tequila Ventures & Café Encounters

Nikhil Kamath faced a ₹100 crore gaming loss, launched a tequila venture with Shah Rukh Khan, and had a viral café pitch encounter. Full details here.

Nikhil Kamath, co-founder of Zerodha, is once again in the spotlight – not only for stock market moves but also for gaming losses, a new tequila venture, and a viral café pitch encounter. Let’s dive into his trending stories.

₹100 Crore Gaming Investment Loss

Shares of Nazara Technologies collapsed, nearly denting ₹100 crore in only four trading sessions for Nikhil Kamath and investor Madhusudan Kela. Kamath’s stake had been slashed in value from ₹211 crore to ₹152.7 crore.

New Tequila & Scotch Venture with Shah Rukh Khan

Kamath is collaborating with Radico Khaitan and superstar Shah Rukh Khan to create a premium alcobev venture. The company plans to launch D’YAVOL Añejo tequila in December 2025 at a price of ₹20,000–₹30,000 price point. Kamath has a 5% equity stake.

Viral Café Encounter with an AI Startup Founder

Entrepreneur Yash Gawde handed Kamath, an informal pitch for his startup in the form of a handwritten note at the Subko Café in Mumbai. Kamath read the note, smiled, and waved. The candid moment was instantly shared far and wide, opening up many possibilities for aspiring founders.

A Lesson in Seizing Opportunity

This café experience illustrates the virtues of spontaneity and courage. At times, taking bold action—like giving a pitch with a flimsy piece of paper can unlock unexpected opportunities in the entrepreneurial space.

Conclusion

From gambling too much on games to steeping his toes on tequila investments, Nikhil Kamath is continuing to reshape what it means to be an entrepreneur. His experiences demonstrate that whether it is on the markets or in your café opportunity favours the bold.