Investment firm KKR has agreed to acquire a minority stake in BookMyShow, the Indian ticketing and live entertainment company.
The deal gives KKR a position in the business whose live division, BookMyShow Live, has staged concerts in India by Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Travis Scott, Guns N’ Roses and Post Malone.
KKR will make the investment through funds it manages, under definitive agreements signed on Wednesday (August 19).
Financial terms of the KKR investment were not disclosed, and the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals.
Founded in 2007, BookMyShow is owned and operated by Bigtree Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. and says it operates across more than 700 towns and cities in India.
Its ticketing platform covers over 7,000 cinema screens, while BookMyShow Live handles talent and IP acquisition, production, promotion and audience development for concerts, theatricals and sports.
Past BookMyShow Live properties include Lollapalooza India, U2‘s The Joshua Tree Tour, the NBA‘s debut games in India, Disney‘s Aladdin and Cirque du Soleil BAZZAR.
“We believe BookMyShow will play an important role in advancing India’s ambition to become a global entertainment hub and a premier destination for leading artists and acts from around the world.
Akshay Tanna, KKR
Akshay Tanna, Partner and Head of India Private Equity at KKR, said: “BookMyShow has been a pioneer in delivering high-quality entertainment experiences in India.
“We are pleased to support BookMyShow as it continues to lead the next phase of growth in India’s out-of-home entertainment sector.
“We believe BookMyShow will play an important role in advancing India’s ambition to become a global entertainment hub and a premier destination for leading artists and acts from around the world.
“We look forward to combining our deep local knowledge with our global investment experience and network to support BookMyShow in its next stage of transformation and further elevate the world-class experiences it delivers to audiences across India.”
“The timing of this investment is particularly exciting, as we have significantly expanded our presence across the live entertainment landscape and are seeing the opportunity for India‘s entertainment economy grow like never before.
Ashish Hemrajani, BookMyShow
Ashish Hemrajani, Founder and CEO of BookMyShow, said: “We are delighted to welcome KKR as an investor in BookMyShow.
“Their global perspective, deep expertise and strong understanding of consumer businesses will be invaluable as we enter the next phase of our journey.
“The timing of this investment is particularly exciting, as we have significantly expanded our presence across the live entertainment landscape and are seeing the opportunity for India‘s entertainment economy grow like never before.
“We are also grateful to our longstanding investors Network18 (part of Reliance Industries Limited), Accel Partners, Elevation Capital, Stripes Group, and TPG for their continued support.”
The investment adds to KKR‘s presence in live entertainment and music.
In 2024, the firm acquired European festivals company Superstruct in a deal valued at around $1.4 billion.
Alongside Dundee Partners, KKR also established music-rights platform Chord Music Partners by acquiring a catalog from Kobalt for $1.1 billion in 2021.
KKR sold its stake in Chord to a consortium led by Dundee in 2024 – a transaction that also saw Universal Music Group acquire a 25.8% stake in Chord.
Other entertainment/media investments from KKR in recent years have included ByteDance, Epic Games, PlayOnSports, OverDrive, and Simon & Schuster.
BookMyShow sits at the center of an India live-events market that grew 44% year-on-year in 2025, according to a recent FICCI-EY report.
The company co-promoted Travis Scott’s India shows with Live Nation, which drew more than 125,000 fans across two dates, MBW reported.
Beyond India, BookMyShow says it operates in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the UAE and Sri Lanka.
Avendus Capital served as exclusive financial advisor to BookMyShow on the deal, with Trilegal acting as legal advisor.Music Business Worldwide
Investment firm KKR has made a significant move in the Indian entertainment sector by agreeing to acquire a minority stake in BookMyShow, a prominent ticketing and live entertainment company based in India. This acquisition marks KKR’s entry into a company recognized for its extensive involvement in staging major concerts and events in the country, including performances by international artists like Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Travis Scott, Guns N’ Roses, and Post Malone. The definitive agreements for the investment were signed on August 19, although the financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed, and it is pending regulatory approvals.
BookMyShow, which was founded in 2007 and is operated by Bigtree Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., has established itself as a key player in the Indian entertainment market. The company operates in over 700 towns and cities across India, with its ticketing platform covering more than 7,000 cinema screens. Additionally, BookMyShow Live, the company’s live entertainment division, is responsible for talent and intellectual property acquisition, production, promotion, and audience development for various events, including concerts, theatrical productions, and sports. Notable past events organized by BookMyShow Live include Lollapalooza India, U2’s The Joshua Tree Tour, the NBA’s inaugural games in India, Disney’s Aladdin, and Cirque du Soleil’s BAZZAR.
KKR’s investment is seen as a strategic move to support BookMyShow’s growth and to contribute to India’s aspiration to become a global entertainment hub. Akshay Tanna, KKR’s Partner and Head of India Private Equity, expressed confidence in BookMyShow’s potential, stating that the company has been a pioneer in providing high-quality entertainment experiences in India. He emphasized the importance of combining KKR’s local knowledge with its global investment experience to assist BookMyShow in its next stage of transformation and growth.
Ashish Hemrajani, the Founder and CEO of BookMyShow, welcomed KKR as an investor, highlighting their global perspective and expertise in consumer businesses as valuable assets as the company embarks on its next phase of development. Hemrajani noted the exciting timing of the investment, as BookMyShow has significantly enhanced its presence in the live entertainment sector and is poised to capitalize on the growing opportunities within India’s entertainment economy. He also expressed gratitude to existing investors, including Network18 (part of Reliance Industries Limited), Accel Partners, Elevation Capital, Stripes Group, and TPG, for their ongoing support.
KKR’s involvement in the entertainment industry is not new. The firm has a history of investments in live entertainment and music, including the acquisition of European festivals company Superstruct in 2024 for approximately $1.4 billion. Additionally, KKR partnered with Dundee Partners to create Chord Music Partners, a music-rights platform, by acquiring a catalog from Kobalt for $1.1 billion in 2021. KKR later sold its stake in Chord to a consortium led by Dundee in 2024, a transaction that also included Universal Music Group acquiring a 25.8% stake in Chord. Other significant entertainment and media investments by KKR in recent years have included companies like ByteDance, Epic Games, PlayOnSports, OverDrive, and Simon & Schuster.
BookMyShow is strategically positioned at the heart of the rapidly growing live-events market in India, which has shown remarkable growth, increasing by 44% year-on-year in 2025, according to a report by FICCI-EY. The company has also co-promoted high-profile events, such as Travis Scott’s concerts in India alongside Live Nation, which attracted over 125,000 fans across two performances.
Beyond its operations in India, BookMyShow has expanded its reach to several international markets, including Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the UAE, and Sri Lanka. This expansion is indicative of the company’s ambition to not only dominate the Indian market but also to establish a presence in the broader Asia-Pacific region.
In summary, KKR’s investment in BookMyShow represents a significant development in the Indian entertainment sector, providing the company with the resources and expertise needed to further strengthen its position in the market. As BookMyShow continues to expand its influence in live entertainment and tap into the growing opportunities within India’s entertainment economy, the partnership with KKR is expected to play a crucial role in its future endeavors. The collaboration aims to elevate the quality and accessibility of entertainment experiences for audiences across India and beyond, positioning BookMyShow as a leader in the evolving landscape of global entertainment.
