Rajeev Khandelwal Named Ambassador and Host for Gautam Adani's Vande Bharatam Initiative

Rajeev Khandelwal, a prominent actor and television personality, has taken on the dual role of Ambassador and Host for Vande Bharatam, Gautam Adani's nationwide entrepreneurship programme designed to identify grassroots innovators and entrepreneurs.

In his capacity as Host, Khandelwal will guide the initiative through its key phases, including interactions with finalists, mentors and business leaders, leading up to the national Grand Finale scheduled for Ahmedabad around Independence Day. As Ambassador, he will promote the initiative's vision across India, ensuring that entrepreneurial talent from smaller cities, rural areas and underrepresented regions receives recognition.

Khandelwal brings extensive experience in television, cinema and digital media to the role. Throughout his career, he has hosted numerous popular reality and talk shows, earning recognition for his ability to engage audiences nationwide. This skill set aligns well with the programme's goal of uncovering entrepreneurial potential from every region of the country.

Addressing the announcement, Adani reflected on his own beginnings: "When I started, I had nothing. Everything I have become and achieved comes from the blessings of Bharat's soil. While our nation possesses tremendous talent, opportunities have not always reached all parts of the country."

He continued: "India now hosts one of the world's most robust start-up ecosystems, yet most founders still hail from a limited number of metropolitan centres. Vande Bharatam represents our commitment to identifying the innovators, problem-solvers and entrepreneurs whose contributions merit recognition, backing and a wider audience. We encourage every Indian with the vision to build and the drive to innovate to join us."

Khandelwal commented on his involvement: "My career has given me the privilege of encountering people with remarkable journeys, but Vande Bharatam offers something unique—the opportunity to discover these stories at their inception, before they capture public attention. Playing a role in helping an entrepreneur from a remote area or village gain recognition is a mission I genuinely embrace. I am eager to encounter these innovators and assist in bringing their work to national attention."

The search spans all 36 States and Union Territories across more than 800 districts. Through a competitive selection process, 75 finalists will be chosen and invited to participate in a comprehensive programme in Ahmedabad featuring mentoring sessions, networking with industry professionals, and meetings with investors and corporate leaders, before the Grand Finale near Independence Day.

The application window for Vande Bharatam commenced on 24 June through vandebharatam.org.