·
Green Gold Animation and
EBG Group to bring Dholakpur to life through healthy food, learning,
entertainment and family experiences
· The group targets 25 Chhota Bheem Cafés in the first phase with the investment of 50 Crores, with plans to scale to 50 outlets through company-owned and franchise-led expansion
Hyderabad:
After more than two decades of entertaining millions of children across India
and around the world, Green Gold Animation, in partnership with EBG Group,
has launched India's first Chhota Bheem Cafe in Jubilee Hills,
Hyderabad. The flagship cafe brings Dholakpur, the mythical village that has
been home to Chhota Bheem and his friends since the show first aired, off the
screen and into a physical space where families can dine, celebrate and spend
time with their favourite characters.
Conceived
as a children’s wellness destination, the cafe combines healthy food, play and
learning through immersive experiences inspired by the world of Chhota Bheem,
Chutki, Raju, Jaggu and other familiar characters from the series. The launch
marks Green Gold Animation’s expansion into experiential hospitality, creating
a family destination that goes beyond dining by bringing together nutrition,
entertainment and engagement. Along with a themed dining space, visitors can
explore exclusive toys and merchandise, celebrate birthdays, and participate in
activities designed for children throughout the year.
Extending
this focus on children’s wellness beyond the cafe experience, the brand is also
addressing the growing need for healthier food choices among children. With
growing concerns around childhood obesity, the cafe aims to make nutritious,
balanced meals more accessible for children. Recent NFHS - 6 data highlights the continuing
challenges around child nutrition, with only 15.3% of children aged 6 - 23
months receiving an adequate diet, up from 11% in NFHS-5. Reflecting the
growing need to encourage healthier eating habits from an early age, the cafe
is extending its nutrition-focused approach beyond its physical outlet through
its healthy Bento Box subscription service. Designed for school-going children,
the service offers fresh, balanced breakfast and lunch options through offline
delivery channels and cafe outlets, helping families access more wholesome meal
choices as part of their children’s daily routines.
Speaking
about the launch, Dr. Irfan Khan, Founder & Chairman, EBG Group, said,
"Families today are looking for destinations that offer more than
dining. Through the Chhota Bheem Cafe, we want to bring together healthy food,
play, learning and shared family experiences in one place. There's a real
opportunity to build a homegrown Indian family entertainment brand, one built
around characters children have actually grown up with across the country.
Beyond the business opportunity, this is also about creating jobs, in
hospitality and operations today, and in franchising as we expand over the next
few years."
Rajiv Chilaka, Founder & CEO, Green Gold Animation, said, "Chhota Bheem has been part of people's homes for almost twenty years. This café is our way of giving him an address - a place where children and families can step into the world of Chhota Bheem and enjoy an experience inspired by the stories and characters they love, beyond the screen. We've had families write to us for years asking for exactly this kind of experience, and this is our response. It's the first step in a much bigger vision for us: taking our characters beyond animation and into everyday life, starting with food, play, and storytelling brought together in one place."
The
concept has been developed in response to growing demand among parents for
dining experiences that combine nutrition, creativity and entertainment for
children. Reflecting this wellness-focused approach, the menu features familiar
favourites made with more wholesome ingredients alongside dishes inspired by
the Chhota Bheem universe. Millet-based pizzas and burgers, healthier
snacks, themed desserts, signature beverages and the iconic Power Laddoos have
all been created to make nutritious food more appealing for children without
taking away the fun. Families can also expect menu offerings that cater to
both kids and adults.
Among
its key offerings is Junior Chef Quest, a supervised cooking programme for
children designed to build creativity, teamwork and confidence while
reinforcing cooking as an accessible, everyday skill. Over time, the brand also
plans to introduce a children's membership programme featuring rewards,
workshops, exclusive experiences and educational activities that encourage
healthy habits while giving families more reasons to return.
The
Jubilee Hills outlet is the first in a larger expansion plan. Green Gold
Animation and EBG Group will follow a phased approach, beginning with
company-owned and operated outlets to establish and validate the business model
before scaling through franchise-led formats. They aim to establish 25 Chhota
Bheem Cafe centres in the first year with the investment of 50 crores focusing
on major Tier 1 cities. As the model scales, the brand sees potential for
further expansion, including reaching 50 outlets over the next three years,
subject to successful execution.
Future
phases of the Chhota Bheem Cafe will introduce new digital and interactive
formats, alongside workshops, storytelling sessions, mascot meet and greets and
themed events designed to deepen family engagement. As the format expands, the
model is expected to generate more than 500 direct and indirect jobs across
operations, hospitality, kitchen staff and franchise support roles. Each outlet
will continue to operate under FSSAI food safety standards, with responsible
waste management and sustainable operational practices built into daily
functioning.
The
collaboration is also expected to extend beyond Chhota Bheem. As the cafe
business grows, Green Gold Animation plans to explore similar concepts built
around other characters from its portfolio, creating new opportunities for its
intellectual property beyond television, films and merchandise.