Why Celebrities and Industrialists Are Investing in Low-Ticket Real Estate: Lessons from the Anjali Tendulkar Vasai Purchase
In India, when a celebrity or a leading industrialist makes a real estate purchase, it doesn’t just make news—it sets trends. Recently, Anjali Tendulkar, wife of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, purchased a low-ticket-size real estate property in Virar, sparking curiosity among investors and end-users alike. Why would someone from a family that owns luxury residences in Bandra and South Mumbai invest in a relatively affordable suburban market?
The answer lies in a larger trend: wealthy investors are increasingly turning to low-ticket real estate assets in emerging corridors. And this signals something very important for the broader real estate market in 2025.
1. The shift from trophy assets to value-driven investments
Traditionally, celebrities and industrialists were known for buying palatial sea-facing homes in Worli, Juhu, or South Mumbai, which were often worth hundreds of crores. These “trophy assets” were symbols of status, more than investment vehicles. But over the past few years, there has been a visible shift towards value-based purchases.
Take Vasai for example. Located on the western suburban belt of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), Vasai is far more affordable than Bandra or Powai. Yet, its connectivity boost via the Mumbai Metro Line 9 extension, coastal road projects, and the proposed bullet train corridor makes it a future growth hub. For someone like Anjali Tendulkar, buying here is not about prestige, it’s about catching long-term appreciation at the right entry point.
This change reflects a broader investor mindset. Even the ultra-rich are realizing that returns from luxury properties are flattening in saturated micro-markets, while emerging suburbs promise better ROI in both capital appreciation and rental yield.
2. Why low-ticket properties make strategic sense?
The first instinct is to wonder why someone who can afford a ₹200 crore property would be interested in an asset worth ₹50 lakh–₹1.5 crore. The answer lies in strategic portfolio diversification.
Low-ticket properties are:
• Easier to liquidate – Unlike a ₹50 crore bungalow that may sit unsold for years, a ₹70 lakh apartment in Vasai or Mira Road can find buyers quickly.
• Stronger rental generators – Affordable homes have higher tenant demand, especially from working professionals, students, and nuclear families.
• Higher appreciation potential – A ₹50 lakh home doubling in value over 6–7 years creates more effective returns than a ₹50 crore luxury property that grows just 10–15% in the same timeframe.
Celebrities and industrialists are increasingly treating such purchases not as “homes” but as strategic assets similar to investing in stocks, startups, or gold.

Fig 1. Price appreciation in 3 peripherals (2019 to 2025)
3. A vote of confidence in peripheral growth corridors
One of the strongest signals from these investments is confidence in peripheral markets.
Considering the Mumbai Metropolitan Region:
• Vasai-Virar has seen a steady influx of middle-class buyers due to affordability, and now with celebrity endorsements, it gains additional credibility.
• Panvel and Navi Mumbai are attracting attention thanks to the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport, and Bollywood actors have already purchased land parcels and apartments there.
• Boisar and Palghar are also seeing industrialists quietly picking up land, anticipating industrial and residential demand with the expansion of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC).
When someone like Anjali Tendulkar or even younger stars invests in these regions, it is a stamp of approval for end-users who may be hesitant about buying outside central Mumbai. If the wealthy are betting on suburban growth, it signals that these corridors are not just affordable, they’re the future growth engines.
4. Some other real time references
Anjali Tendulkar’s Vasai purchase is only the latest in a series of similar moves:
• Amitabh Bachchan bought land in Ayodhya in 2024, ahead of the Ram Mandir inauguration, recognizing the city’s long-term tourism and commercial potential.
• Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor invested in properties in Bandra but also looked at smaller, relatively affordable commercial spaces in Mumbai for rental income diversification.
• Industrialists from Gujarat and Maharashtra have been quietly acquiring smaller land parcels in Boisar, Palghar, and Panvel, betting on infrastructure-led appreciation.
• Cricketers like MS Dhoni have also invested in agricultural land and plotted developments, showcasing a shift towards land banking rather than only luxury homes.
These examples underline the same theme: the ultra-rich are spreading their investments into affordable or mid-segment markets with growth potential.
What this means for regular homebuyers?
For end-users and smaller investors, this trend is highly significant. If celebrities and industrialists who already own premium real estate are entering markets like Vasai, Panvel, or Ayodhya, it signals a “first-mover advantage” opportunity for the middle-class buyer.
Homebuyers should consider:
1. Peripheral hubs as serious options – Instead of stretching budgets for central locations, look at Vasai-Virar, Dombivli, Kalyan, or Navi Mumbai for better affordability and future connectivity.
2. Rental potential – Affordable homes in emerging corridors enjoy consistent rental demand from migrants and professionals.
3. Capital growth – Infrastructure projects are the biggest drivers of property appreciation. If the wealthy are investing in anticipation of these, smaller buyers can do the same with confidence.
In other words, celebrity investments validate the future of these micro-markets, making them safer bets for first-time buyers and small investors.
5. The bigger trend: professionalization of real estate investments
Another important implication is the professional approach the wealthy are taking towards real estate. Unlike in the past, when buying was mostly about lifestyle or emotional value, today’s investors, even celebrities, treat real estate like any other financial instrument.
They ask:
• What is the ROI?
• What is the exit strategy?
• What is the rental yield?
• How does this compare with stocks, gold, or startups?
This mindset is reshaping India’s property market in 2025. It shows that real estate is no longer just about luxury and lifestyle, it’s about calculated, long-term wealth building.
Anjali Tendulkar’s investment in Virar may seem like a small real estate story, but it reflects a big trend in Indian real estate. The rich are no longer restricting themselves to glamorous high-ticket buys; they are entering affordable, growth-driven corridors that promise stronger returns.
For everyday homebuyers and investors, the lesson is clear: don’t underestimate the power of peripheral markets. If Vasai, Panvel, Boisar, or Ayodhya are attracting the attention of celebrities and industrialists, it’s because these markets are on the verge of transformation.
And if the wealthy are betting on them, perhaps it’s time for middle-class buyers to consider these opportunities before prices rise further.

Source: JLL Primary Research

Authored by: Sumedha Das