On the latest episode of Shark Tank India season, judged and viewers were in for a novel business idea: a portable wedding hall. It is set up by a man from Latur, Maharashtra, who is into mandap decoration business.
Dayanand Darekar featured on the episode with his wife Sangeeta and son Omkar and together they run ‘Chalte Firte Mangal Karyalay’. The moveable hall comes with a capacity of 300 people, and is equipped with AC, sound and lights. The trio has hosted over 4o events inside the portable hall, which can be set up in any terrain, since they started in January 2023.
Designed by Dayanand, who is a 12th pass, the hall is mounted on a truck, which turns into a giant enough space when in operation. During the episode, the Sharks then took a tour of the portable Mangal Karyalay, which has a rent of Rs 50,000 per day. “Lag nahi raha hai truck mein hai,” Anupam Mittal said as they entered.
The founder approached the shark for Rs 2 crore in exchange for 10% equity, sharing that the vision is to eventually have 900 trucks operating at major towns. Though ambitious, the set uo had some faults which the Sharks called out.
Dayanand said before he started growing big in madap decoration business, he used to drive an auto, sell vada pav, worked as a cleaner in Pune. He then started making over Rs 1 cr as a profit when he shifted to madap decoration and has now put close to Rs 4 cr to set up the new business of the portable hall.
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Impressed by his risk and passion, the Sharks though wondered if he was being over ambitious with wanting to expand at this stage and increase trucks, rather than take the one available truck to areas of demand and invest in bettering the hall itself.
Namita Thapar pointed out “safety issues” of the portable hall set up, including fire hazard and a shaky platform which she dubbed “risky”. Peyush Bansal lauded the business idea but asked them to not be in a “rush” to make it grow to the vision they wanted.
Anupam Mittal noted how he quit vada paav business and got into marriage halls because the latter was more profitable. But if it wasn’t, he wouldn’t have started the same business in a new city. “You have been trying and investing in this for 8 years, and then started it last year where you averaged three and a half bookings a month. You are not ready to accept that there is no demand.
“For 8 years you put your heart, soul and your existence in it that now you are in love with the idea itself. Ye kis type ka deewanapan hai aapka ki aapne kaha main 900 trucks lagauga? Just think about it, may be refocus on your mandap business, earn that profit of Rs 1 cr, because if that grows, this business will grow as well,” he added.
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