How to Generate ₹120 Cr in Revenue Without Owning Villas | Ft. Deven Parulekar

What happens when two people realise India isn’t lacking luxury, but starving for togetherness?They walked away from stable careers and built a ₹120 CR hospitality brand that proves ‘luxury’ isn’t always required to succeed! In this episode of The Barbershop, Shantanu sits down with Deven Parulekar (Founder of SaffronStays), who built his brand on one simple belief: where families bond. From a honeymoon dream many years ago to a reality in 2015, this vision has expanded into a network of 425 villas, each designed to bring people closer.But here’s the part that sets this story apart: SaffronStays refuses the ‘luxury’ tag. Its heart lies in homes that feel welcoming, with villas kept ready for every moment without anyone stepping in uninvited.An unexpected call about a 130-year-old heritage home changed everything, opening the door to a vision that would one day aim to become the Taj of homestays in India. And through the years, the brand has quietly reshaped how India thinks about travel, belonging, and human connection.What you’ll discover:- Why the brand refuses to be ‘the largest’, but strives to be ‘the finest’, with a mission to combat loneliness.- How human bonds spark real business growth- How hardships during COVID-19 opened the door to unexpected success- How one historic villa changed the company’s direction- The three values that build lasting brands.If you’ve ever experienced the joy of bonding with your people, watch how a villa brand reimagined Indian hospitality by focusing on bonds, over luxury. Navigate your way through the chapters00:00 Coming Up01:44 Introduction03:28 How Deven Built SaffronStays05:42 How Hospitality Has Changed08:27 What Makes Villa Stays Special12:27 Growing and Understanding Guests16:00 How SaffronStays Stands Out19:05 How Travel Trends Affect Hotels26:14 What SaffronStays Promises Guests31:18 Villas Today and Why “Luxury” Feels Overused35:26 The First Home and Brand Journey39:44 Where Most Bookings Come From41:48 Meeting Post-COVID Guest Needs47:57 The Philosophy Behind Caretaking50:25 Using Instagram to Connect53:11 “Where Families Bond” in Action55:19 Favourite Villas and Top Picks59:22 Do Guests Come Back?1:03:25 Making Marketing Meaningful1:08:27 Advice from Shantanu1:14:02 Why They Chose the Blue Ocean1:20:40 Understanding Valuation1:24:53 How Travel Is Changing1:26:45 Closing Thoughts