Actor and entrepreneur Priyanka Chopra Jonas has invested in Gymkhana Fine Foods, a premium Indian food brand inspired by London’s celebrated two-Michelin-starred restaurant Gymkhana. The investment marks her entry into another consumer-focused business venture, as the brand looks to bring restaurant-quality Indian cuisine into home kitchens.
Chopra Jonas announced her investment through social media during her Diwali celebrations at her Los Angeles home. The announcement highlighted her personal connection with Indian food and her experience discovering Gymkhana while filming in the United Kingdom. The financial details of her investment have not been disclosed.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas Backs Gymkhana Fine Foods
Chopra Jonas revealed her association with Gymkhana Fine Foods through an Instagram post, explaining how Indian cuisine helps her maintain a connection with home while living overseas.
She said she discovered Gymkhana during a filming assignment in the UK and developed an appreciation for the restaurant’s food. Her announcement also highlighted the opportunity to bring the same dining experience to consumers who want to recreate premium Indian meals at home.
The investment announcement coincided with a Diwali celebration at her Los Angeles residence, where the Gymkhana team prepared an Indian feast for her family and friends.
According to Chopra Jonas, the brand offers an opportunity to bring the restaurant’s signature flavours directly into consumers’ kitchens.
Although the company has not revealed the investment amount or the specific terms of the deal, her involvement provides the brand with a high-profile investor and additional visibility in the premium food market.
What Is Gymkhana Fine Foods?
Gymkhana Fine Foods is a premium home-dining brand inspired by Gymkhana, the renowned Indian restaurant located in London’s Mayfair.
The restaurant is known for its contemporary interpretation of Indian cuisine and received its second Michelin star in 2024, strengthening its position among London’s leading fine-dining destinations.
Gymkhana Fine Foods was created to extend the restaurant’s culinary experience beyond its physical dining locations. Instead of requiring customers to visit an expensive restaurant, the brand allows them to prepare restaurant-inspired Indian meals at home.
Its product portfolio includes cooking sauces, marinades and chutneys developed using recipes created and approved by the restaurant’s chefs.
The products are designed to simplify home cooking while maintaining the flavours associated with Gymkhana’s restaurant experience.
The company’s original product range included:
| Product Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Cooking sauces | Butter Masala, Goan Curry, Rogan Josh and Vindaloo |
| Marinades | Classic Tandoori and Roasted Garlic & Chilli |
| Chutneys | Peanut & Sesame and Tandoori Onion |
The brand’s approach combines convenience with premium positioning, targeting consumers interested in preparing restaurant-style meals without spending hours developing complex recipes.
Who Founded Gymkhana Fine Foods?
Gymkhana Fine Foods was developed through a partnership between Gulrez Arora and JKS Restaurants, the hospitality group behind the original Gymkhana restaurant.
JKS Restaurants was founded in 2008 by siblings Jyotin Sethi, Karam Sethi and Sunaina Sethi. The group has built a portfolio of restaurant brands across different cuisines and dining formats.
Gulrez Arora, who previously worked at Mars, brought consumer-brand experience to the venture. His background in building consumer products helped translate Gymkhana’s restaurant offering into packaged food products for retail customers.
The idea emerged from the growing interest among Gymkhana customers in taking the restaurant’s flavours home.
The business was established to address that demand by making premium Indian cooking products available through retail channels.
Gymkhana Fine Foods’ Funding and Expansion Plans
Gymkhana Fine Foods has already attracted institutional investment as it expands its presence in the premium packaged food market.
In April 2024, the company announced a $3 million seed funding round led by CAVU Consumer Partners. The investment supported its ambitions to build the brand and expand its retail presence.
The company subsequently secured an $8.5 million Series A funding round in April 2026, also led by CAVU Consumer Partners.
The latest funding announcement coincided with its national launch in the United States through Whole Foods Market.
The expansion represents an important step in the company’s international growth strategy, taking its products beyond its original UK market.
Gymkhana Fine Foods has also expanded its UK retail distribution through retailers including Whole Foods Market UK, Waitrose and Sainsbury’s.
Its growing retail presence reflects the company’s ambition to establish itself as a recognised premium Indian food brand rather than remain a small extension of a restaurant business.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas’s investment adds another dimension to this expansion strategy, although the company has not announced how her involvement will influence its future funding or distribution plans.
Why Premium Indian Food Brands Are Attracting Attention
The investment comes at a time when packaged food companies are increasingly exploring premium products, international cuisines and convenient meal solutions.
Consumers are showing interest in products that offer restaurant-inspired flavours without requiring extensive preparation. Cooking sauces, marinades and ready-to-use ingredients have become important parts of this evolving food market.
Indian cuisine presents an opportunity for companies targeting this segment, particularly in international markets where demand for diverse flavours continues to develop.
Gymkhana Fine Foods is attempting to position Indian food within the premium grocery category by using the reputation of an established Michelin-starred restaurant.
This approach also differentiates the brand from conventional packaged cooking sauces. Rather than competing exclusively on affordability, it focuses on culinary credentials, product quality and convenience.
For the company, the challenge will be maintaining that premium positioning while expanding distribution and reaching a wider consumer base.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas Expands Her Investment Portfolio
Chopra Jonas has developed business interests across entertainment, production and consumer-facing ventures.
Her investment in Gymkhana Fine Foods adds another category to her business portfolio and reflects her interest in companies connected to consumer experiences and cultural identity.
Her association with the brand also has a personal dimension. As someone who frequently travels and lives outside India, she has spoken about missing Indian food and the connection it provides to her roots.
That personal connection could help communicate the brand’s proposition to international consumers, particularly members of the Indian diaspora looking for familiar flavours.
However, the commercial impact of her investment will depend on factors such as product quality, distribution, pricing and the company’s ability to build repeat purchases.
The Bigger Picture
Gymkhana Fine Foods represents a broader opportunity for Indian cuisine in the global packaged food industry.
For years, Indian food has enjoyed popularity in international restaurants, but premium Indian cooking products have had a different journey in mainstream grocery retail. Brands are now attempting to bridge that gap by offering convenient products inspired by established restaurant kitchens.
The company’s association with a two-Michelin-starred restaurant gives it a distinct positioning in this market. Its expansion into the US through Whole Foods Market also provides an opportunity to reach consumers beyond the traditional Indian diaspora.
Chopra Jonas’s investment brings additional visibility to this business model, connecting celebrity-backed entrepreneurship with the growing international appetite for premium Indian food.
Looking Ahead
Gymkhana Fine Foods will need to convert its restaurant reputation, investor backing and growing retail presence into sustained consumer demand. Its ability to expand distribution while maintaining product quality and premium positioning will be important as competition increases in the packaged food market.
For Priyanka Chopra Jonas, the investment represents another step into consumer businesses with international potential. While the financial terms remain undisclosed, her backing places additional attention on Gymkhana Fine Foods as it works towards becoming a recognised global Indian food brand.
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