Ruchita Jadhav builds 100-bungalow rental venture

A holiday home looks simple from the outside. A pool, a view, a weekend tariff, and a family checking in with bags of snacks.

For Ruchita Jadhav, that simple idea has now become a serious business. The Marathi actor, once known for television roles, says she now manages more than 100 rental bungalows across popular getaway markets in Maharashtra.

That is not a small side hustle. In places where Mumbai and Pune families hunt for weekend breaks, 100 furnished homes can become a proper hospitality engine.

From television sets to weekend homes

Jadhav became familiar to Marathi viewers through shows such as Love Lagna Locha, Yek Number and Majhiya Priyala Preet Kalena. She also appeared in films including Maanus Ek Mati and Bhutacha Honeymoon.

After her marriage to Mumbai businessman Anand Mane in May 2021, Jadhav slowly moved away from acting. She said Mane, who works in real estate, gifted her an entire company.

That one line tells you a lot. This was not a celebrity putting her name on a brand for promotion. She entered a business where land, homes, furnishing, maintenance and guest service all matter.

Jadhav said Mane’s real estate work included building weekend homes. In some projects, the family kept one bungalow for itself. Over time, such properties added up.

Her parents also owned hostels in Pune and shops that were given on rent. So the idea of earning from property was not new to her family.

What changed was the format. Instead of simply holding assets, she turned them into short-stay holiday rentals.

How the bungalow business works

Jadhav said she looked at the homes and asked a practical question. Why not rent them out?

That is where the business model begins. A bungalow sitting idle earns nothing. A furnished bungalow with a pool, clean rooms and basic services can earn through weekend bookings.

She said she started a company and placed these homes in the rental market. The business began small, but has since expanded.

According to Jadhav, the portfolio now has more than 100 bungalows. Around seven or eight are in Mahabaleshwar. Others are in Karjat, Lonavala and Alibag.

These are not random locations. They sit in the mental map of urban Maharashtra’s weekend economy. Mumbai families think of Alibag for sea air. Pune families look at Mahabaleshwar and Lonavala. Karjat has become a quick escape for groups that want space without a long drive.

Jadhav said she furnished the bungalows and added facilities such as swimming pools. That detail matters. In holiday rentals, the house is only half the product. The experience sells the booking.

For guests, the calculation is simple. A large family or group of friends may prefer one bungalow over several hotel rooms. They get privacy, common space and a more relaxed setting.

For the owner, the calculation is equally clear. A good weekend tariff can beat ordinary long-term rent, provided occupancy stays healthy and maintenance does not eat up margins.

Why this market is growing

India’s domestic travel market has changed after Covid. Many families still like short road trips over longer holidays. They want places close enough for two nights, but different enough to feel like a break.

That shift has helped villas, farm stays and serviced bungalows. The demand does not only come from wealthy travellers. Young professionals split costs across groups. Extended families book larger homes for birthdays, anniversaries and small gatherings.

This is where the business can look attractive. A single bungalow can serve many types of customers, from a family weekend to a corporate offsite.

But this is not easy money. Holiday homes need constant attention. Bedsheets, bathrooms, kitchens, pools, security and power backup all become part of the product.

A guest may forgive an old hotel corridor. They are less forgiving when a premium bungalow has a dirty pool or a broken air-conditioner.

For a business owner, that means staff, systems and supervision. A kirana store owner near a tourist town may see higher sales when guests arrive. Local cooks, drivers, cleaners and caretakers may also get work.

At the same time, fast growth can strain local areas. Weekend traffic rises. Water use increases. Neighbours may complain about noise. These issues often follow popular rental-home clusters.

That is why the serious players in this space need more than Instagram photos. They need rules, upkeep and accountability.

The app could change the scale

Jadhav said an app for the bungalow rental business is also on the way. That could be the next important move.

An app can make bookings easier, but it also raises expectations. Customers will compare prices, photos, reviews and refund terms in seconds.

For Jadhav’s company, an app can bring direct bookings. That helps reduce dependence on outside travel platforms. It also gives the company its own customer data.

In plain English, customer data means knowing who books, when they travel, what they spend and which locations they prefer. That can guide pricing and new investment.

But an app does not solve the hard part by itself. The hard part remains the stay. If the home looks better online than it feels in person, reviews will punish the business quickly.

This is where a celebrity profile cuts both ways. Jadhav’s fame can bring attention, trust and curiosity. But it also raises the bar.

People may book because they know her from television. They will return only if the service works.

Her shift also reflects a broader pattern among actors. Entertainment careers can be uncertain, especially in regional industries. Roles come and go. Income can swing.

Property and hospitality offer a different kind of control. They are not risk-free, but they build assets. For many performers, that stability can matter as much as fame.

Jadhav’s story is interesting because it sits between glamour and ground reality. On one side, there is a known actor with access to real estate assets. On the other, there is a very practical business problem: how to make empty homes earn every month.

If she can keep quality consistent across more than 100 bungalows, this can become more than a celebrity business story. It can show how India’s weekend travel economy is moving from scattered farmhouses to organised rental brands. For ordinary travellers, the real test will be simple: clean homes, fair prices, honest photos and a stay that feels worth the drive.