The contrasting public images of two prominent Indian startup founders, Zomato’s Deepinder Goyal and Ola’s Bhavish Aggarwal, have sparked discussions on social media. Both are alumni of the esteemed Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) and lead successful companies, yet their approaches to public engagement differ significantly. While Aggarwal has faced backlash for what many perceive as arrogance, Goyal is being celebrated for his customer-focused interactions.
The disparity became evident in a viral post on X (formerly Twitter) after Aggarwal engaged in a heated exchange with comedian Kunal Kamra, who had shared a photo of neglected Ola Electric scooters at a service center. In contrast, another user pointed out how Goyal spent his weekend: donning Zomato’s signature red attire alongside his wife, Grecia Munoz, to serve as a delivery partner. Goyal explained that this initiative was aimed at gaining insight into and improving the working conditions of Zomato’s delivery staff.
Goyal’s actions have been lauded as a “PR masterclass,” while some X users questioned why Aggarwal’s PR team hadn’t intervened during his Twitter outbursts. One user, Anirban, who advises brands, commented, “This whole thread is such bad PR. Zero good outcomes. Engagement that comes across as arrogant doesn’t help the brand at all.”
Aggarwal’s confrontational exchanges have only resulted in negative publicity for Ola, with many users criticizing him for his demeanor, especially as complaints about Ola scooters have reached a staggering 80,000 per month. Critics urged Aggarwal to focus more on resolving customer issues rather than trading insults online. One user noted, “Bhavish Aggarwal will soon learn how costly it can be to be publicly arrogant as a wealthy businessman in India.”
In contrast, Goyal has garnered positive attention for various charitable initiatives, including a recent Dua Lipa concert for charity. In July, he marked Zomato’s 16th anniversary by celebrating with children from a school supported by the company’s Feeding India CSR program. The festivities included a “roast” where comedians humorously critiqued Zomato and its leadership, a move that received widespread admiration for showcasing a CEO willing to embrace humor at his own expense.
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