Actor Rajeev Khandelwal has been named brand ambassador and host of the Adani Group's Vande Bharatam initiative, a first-of-its-kind national platform designed to identify, mentor, and fund innovators, entrepreneurs, and problem-solvers from every corner of India. Speaking to reporters in Ahmedabad on 14 August, Khandelwal described the initiative as evidence that India's self-reliance ambitions have moved beyond rhetoric.

'Make in India was a campaign for me until I left this platform; today it has become a reality that we can achieve. It is not merely about saying that we will build a self-reliant India. That self-reliant India is actually being built,' Khandelwal said.

What Vande Bharatam Is

Vande Bharatam is structured to reach talent beyond metropolitan centres — from large cities to remote villages — and connect promising individuals with visibility, mentorship, and access to funding. The format required applicants to submit ideas through a dedicated website. When registrations opened, organisers expected around 15,000 entries; they received more than 26,000 applications. Shortlisted candidates were brought to Ahmedabad for a boot camp, where they presented their ideas before a panel of experienced mentors.

The Adani Group's Stated Intent

Khandelwal attributed the initiative's founding idea to Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani. 'He repeatedly says that India has so much potential that there should be a Gautam Adani in every city, and he will do whatever he can to help people become one... So, that was the thought behind the foundation of this entire Vande Bharatam initiative,' Khandelwal said.

Notably, the group has stated it will not seek equity stakes or business partnerships with participants. According to Khandelwal, the panel members were positioned as mentors rather than investors: 'They were not judges, and they were not investors because they were not sitting there merely with an investment mindset... They had said that they were only there to encourage the participants and would not discuss business.'

How Participants Were Selected

A structured scoring system guided the selection process. Candidates who cleared the boot camp were evaluated on the potential of their ideas, with the most promising ones advancing further. Those who did not progress were still registered in a Vande Bharatam database, keeping them linked to the platform's network for future opportunities.

'It takes them to doors which they often felt would never open for them,' Khandelwal said, describing the platform's value for first-generation entrepreneurs and grassroots innovators.

What This Means for Khandelwal

The role marks a shift for Khandelwal from traditional entertainment formats toward purpose-driven public engagement. Unlike a conventional reality show, Vande Bharatam is framed around nation-building and entrepreneurship rather than entertainment metrics — a distinction the actor emphasised when addressing reporters.

With the initiative now past its first selection cycle, attention turns to how the Adani Group will deliver on its mentorship and support commitments to the shortlisted cohort.