Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath has expressed his deep appreciation for Bengaluru, calling it his favorite city despite the challenges faced by its residents. Kamath praised the people of Bengaluru for their warmth and friendliness, stating, “The big, big differentiator at the end of the day—scr** all the roads, the traffic… those things don’t matter—the people of Bengaluru are second to none because of the love they have for the city and how nice they are as people.”
Kamath highlighted the unique qualities of various Indian cities, noting Hyderabad’s fame for its Biryani, Mumbai for its attractive populace, and Delhi for its affluent residents. He emphasized that Bengaluru stands out for its “nice people,” who are welcoming, “normal,” understated, and subtle.
In a podcast discussion, Kamath emphasized the advantages Bengaluru offers to startups, particularly in terms of access to talent. “If you have to build something, if you have to start a company, the access to talent at the cost you get in Bengaluru, I don’t think you get that anywhere in the world,” he said.
Kamath also mentioned his interactions with prominent business leaders in Bengaluru, including Biocon executive chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw. He noted their collaborative efforts to enhance Bengaluru’s appeal both in reality and perception. “We are constantly working on projects to… how do we make Bangalore cooler in actual and from a narrative standpoint,” Kamath added.
