The Hindi film industry boasts numerous stars who, in addition to acting, also run side businesses. It’s not uncommon for celebrities to venture into the hospitality business. Shilpa Shetty, Gauri Khan, and Kapil Sharma, among others, have achieved considerable success in their restaurant businesses. Now, we’ll tell you about a star from the film Dhurandhar who hasn’t had as much luck in this regard.
India’s First Members-Only Celebrity Nightclub
In fact, he opened what may have been India’s first high-profile, members-only nightclub. It was a bold and innovative experiment, but after legal troubles and a police raid, the club had to close down. The founder was none other than Arjun Rampal.
Not Easy to Enter the Club
Unlike typical celebrity restaurants, Arjun’s club wasn’t easily accessible. Launched in 2009 at the ITDC-run Hotel Samrat in Delhi, the club was only open to members or their accompanying guests. The club spanned 17,000 square feet and boasted ultra-luxurious interiors, Swarovski chandeliers, a baroque fountain as a centerpiece, and over six resident DJs.
A Favourite Among Delhi’s Elite
LAP quickly became a favorite destination for Delhi’s high-profile figures. In 2011, it hosted the official after-parties of the Formula One Indian Grand Prix, which Lady Gaga also attended. The following year, Arjun Rampal closed the club for four months to redesign it. The club was then renovated, adding elevated seating areas, comfortable sofas, large paintings with a vintage feel, a larger dance floor, a new bar, and a pop-up restaurant outside the club.
Speaking about it at the time, Rampal told IANS, “I want to create an experience for people. When I realized it didn’t look as good anymore, we decided to rebuild the structure and see what’s new. The pop-up restaurant will change the menu every six months.”
Expensive Entry and Membership Costs
Entry to LAP was very expensive. Walk-in entry during F1 parties costs between Rs 15,000 and Rs 25,000, while premium guests had to pay up to Rs 40,000, which included food and drinks. Membership initially cost Rs 100,000, which was later increased to Rs 200,000.
Members received discounts and were allowed to bring up to six guests. To book a center table, which could seat up to 10 people in the middle of the club, one had to guarantee a minimum spend of Rs 50,000. Arjun Rampal often visited the venue with his friend Shah Rukh Khan and played DJ.
Impact of New Regulations on Nightclubs
Then, after the Nirbhaya case in 2012, the nightclub industry in Delhi suffered a major setback. Stricter regulations were implemented, and strict restrictions were placed on club opening and closing times. Most clubs were forced to close by 1 a.m. At the time, Arjun Rampal publicly opposed this decision, arguing that early closing costs jobs and doesn’t address the issue of women’s safety.
Arjun said, “We also employ people. When you close clubs and institutions, they’ll lose their jobs. What will they do? They’ll commit more crimes because they’re not graduates. My bouncers and security guards were thugs who have now found good jobs. I’m rehabilitating them. The government needs to pay attention to all this.”
Police Raid and Permanent Closure
The actor’s final blow came in July 2016, when the Narcotics Unit of the Crime Branch raided LAP, alleging overtime operation and functioning on an expired license. The actor was also accused of not paying dues. According to reports, Arjun Rampal owed approximately Rs 4.5 crore in rent to Hotel Samrat, of which only Rs 2.5 crore had been paid. Following these controversies, LAP was closed permanently.
