Latest news with #ThePrakharGuptaXperience
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
'Where's the party tonight?' Boat's Aman Gupta recalls finding secret Goa parties through foreigners; says Indians were not respected
Goa, known today as one of India's most popular party destinations, wasn't always as welcoming to Indian tourists as it is now, according to boAt co-founder and Shark Tank India judge Aman Gupta . Recently, on The Prakhar Gupta Xperience podcast, he reflected on this transformation and shared personal stories from the early 2000s. Back then, Goa's underground party culture was dominated by foreigners, and Indians were often sidelined and not welcomed, particularly at exclusive forest parties and beach locations like Anjuna. Gupta's experience offers a glimpse into how much the tourist landscape has evolved over the years. When Indians Weren't Welcome Recounting his youth, Aman Gupta recalled partying with friends in the forests of Goa, where the party culture was largely dominated by international tourists. He said that during those days, Goa wasn't a common destination for Indian youth, and Indian tourists were not treated with the same hospitality that foreign visitors received. Gupta specifically mentioned Anjuna Beach, where, according to him, the scene was controlled by Israeli travelers. Local hosts in that area were known to reserve accommodations for foreigners, leaving little room for Indian visitors. 'It was a time when the local community didn't seem to respect Indian tourists as much,' he explained. 'We used to go there and often found ourselves turned away while Israelis got the best spots.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Eaton: Top Spots for Weddings [Discover] Destination Weddings Learn More Undo A Sense of Exclusion One of the highlights of Gupta's early visits was the underground party scene. These parties were not publicly announced; instead, partygoers would find their way by networking with foreigners who knew the locations. Gupta recalled using scooters to roam around asking international acquaintances, 'Where's the party tonight?' He and his friends often found themselves as the only Indians at these gatherings, a clear reflection of the exclusivity that marked Goa's party scene at the time. 'There were times when we felt like outsiders in our own country,' Gupta reflected. Shift in Attitudes and Tourist Dynamics Fast forward to the present, and Gupta noted a significant shift in how Indian tourists are perceived in Goa. He pointed out that today, domestic travelers are not only welcomed but are also a major economic force. 'Indian tourists now have more spending power than ever before. That has changed how we're treated,' he said. Goa, once seen as a foreigner's playground, has evolved into a popular destination for Indians across the country. Gupta added that the vibe has matured, and the inclusivity that was once missing is now more prominent. Despite this evolution in attitude and accessibility, Goa's tourism sector is currently grappling with a downturn. The Shack Owners Welfare Society recently reported a steep drop in visitor numbers. By mid-March of the 2024–25 season, domestic tourist arrivals had fallen by about 60%, while international arrivals dipped by 40%. Popular beaches like Calangute, Colva, and Majorda have seen several shacks shut down early due to the reduced footfall. The decline follows a strong start to the season, but with British tourists typically leaving by March and only a few Russian travelers remaining, many local businesses are now bracing for a tough off-season. Nostalgia for Goa Despite these challenges and the changes over the decades, Aman Gupta maintains a deep connection with Goa. He expressed that even with fluctuating crowds and shifting party scenes, his fondness for the state remains unchanged. 'Even now, when others say they don't enjoy Goa like before, I still feel the same excitement. It feels like the real Goa is coming back,' he said. Gupta even joked about how closely Dil Chahta Hai, the iconic Bollywood film that romanticized Goa trips, mirrored his own experiences. 'We used to go even before that movie came out. It felt like our story was being told on screen.'
NDTV
11 hours ago
- NDTV
"When Indians Weren't...": Shark Tank's Aman Gupta On 2000s Goa Parties
New Delhi: Aman Gupta, the co-founder of boAt Lifestyle, took listeners back to a very different Goa during a conversation on The Prakhar Gupta Xperience podcast. It was a time when Indian partygoers were rare and the underground rave culture was dominated almost entirely by foreign tourists. Mr Gupta, also a Shark Tank India judge, spoke about his early party escapades in Goa, long before it became a mainstream destination for domestic travellers. One of his most vivid memories is of the secret forest parties, where finding the venue was an adventure in itself. Recounting his early 2000s party adventures, Mr Gupta said he and his friends often found themselves to be the only Indians among crowds of international revellers. 'These parties, they were such parties that we didn't know the venue. We would take our scooter and ask our foreigner friends, ' Aaj party kahan hai (where's the party today)?'' he recalled. Watch the podcast here: One of the more iconic venues from that time, he said, was the Bamboo Forest, a hidden gem that hosted wild parties frequented by foreigners. 'That time, when we used to go to Goa, there were no Indians. We were the only Indians there (at forest parties),' Mr Gupta noted. He also reflected on the social dynamics of Goa's popular tourist areas like Anjuna Beach, known for its Israeli backpacker crowd. Indians, he said, were often given a cold shoulder by the local hospitality industry. 'I remember a time we used to go to this place called Anjuna Beach. Back then, only Israelis would get accommodation there. That's how it was. Indians hardly got space to stay because the place was full of Israelis. They were a tight-knit group, and honestly, they didn't make Indians feel very welcome,' he said. Looking at the present, Mr Gupta observed a shift in Goa's tourism dynamic. Once dominated by foreign visitors, Goa is now very much a destination for Indian travellers, who are not only more accepted but also economically influential. Despite the shifts in crowd and culture over the years, Mr Gupta's love for Goa has remained constant. "I've always loved Goa. Even now, when people say they don't enjoy it anymore, I still do. In fact, I feel like now that the crowd has thinned a bit, the real Goa vibe is back. There was a time when it got too crowded, but I've loved Goa since childhood," Mr Gupta said. We used to go there even before Dil Chahta Hai made it popular, he said. "I don't know how the Dil Chahta Hai folks picked up a story that was pretty much our own and put it into their film, it really felt like our story".
Mint
13 hours ago
- Mint
Shark Tank's Aman Gupta recalls time when ‘Indians weren't respected in Goa': ‘Only Israelis were…'
BoAt co-founder, and Shark Tank India judge Aman Gupta opened up about the changing party culture in Goa, recalling how the scene was very different in the early 2000s. Speaking on The Prakhar Gupta Xperience podcast, the 43-year-old entrepreneur shared his memories of partying in the forests of Goa with friends and foreign tourists. Gupta said that back then, Indian tourists were not as welcome in certain parts of the state. 'At Anjuna beach, only Israelis were given a place. I remember, this was a Goa where Indians did not get a place to stay as Israelis used to lead that place. All these Goan people actually did not respect Indians that much,' he recalled. The boAt co-founder also spoke about the exclusive nature of the forest parties at the time. 'These parties, they were such parties that we didn't know the venue. We would take our scooter and ask our foreigner friends, 'Aaj party kahan hai?'' he said, adding, 'In 2000, Bamboo Forest was very popular in Goa.' Gupta noted that during those times, he and his group were often the only Indians at such gatherings. 'This time, when we used to go to Goa, there were no Indians. We were the only Indians there at Bamboo forest parties],' he said.
