The BarberShop with Shantanu How to Generate ₹120 Cr in Revenue Without Owning Villas | Ft. Deven Parulekar
Dec 5, 2025
Deven Parulekar, founder of SaffronStays, transitions from a corporate career to revolutionizing Indian hospitality with a focus on family bonding. He shares insights on how their unique approach, eschewing luxury for warmth, has led to the growth of 425 managed villas. Deven discusses how the pandemic unexpectedly shifted consumer preferences toward villa stays and the importance of local caretakers in creating authentic experiences. Tune in to discover how their heritage and design choices combat loneliness while fostering connection.
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First Home Sparked The Brand
- Deven and Tejas quit stable corporate careers and launched SaffronStays around 2015 to run villas they wished existed.
- Their first move was renovating a 130-year heritage home which became the model for controlled, managed villa stays.
Positioning Around Togetherness
- SaffronStays deliberately positions villas as places for families to bond rather than chasing traditional 'luxury' definitions.
- This focus simplifies operations and creates a distinctive emotional brand promise.
Operator As Custodian, Not Landlord
- Villas are emotionally tied to homeowners, so operators act as custodians, not landlords, preserving home spirit and local caretaking.
- That custodial model demands trust, guest quality control, and mint-fresh maintenance.