Eesha Kulkarni

Apple’s esteemed CEO, Tim Cook, graced the bustling streets of Mumbai during his visit to inaugurate the tech giant’s first-ever store in India. Amidst the excitement of the moment, Cook had the opportunity to savour a local delicacy, the beloved Vada Pav, as he was introduced to this iconic street food by none other than the renowned Bollywood icon, Madhuri Dixit. The meeting of technology and Bollywood glamour added a touch of Mumbai’s vibrant culture to Cook’s visit, making it a memorable experience so far.

“Can’t think of a better welcome to Mumbai than Vada Pav!” tweeted Dixit with a picture of her with Tim Cook enjoying Vada Pav.

While thanking Madhuri, the Apple CEO then retweeted, saying: “Thanks @madhuridixit for introducing me to my very first Vada Pav — it was delicious!”

Famous personalities including Mouni Roy, AR Rahman, Neha Dhupia, Sonam Kapoor and husband Anand Ahuja, Boney Kapoor, Shilpa Shetty, among others, celebrated the arrival of Apple Stores in India, with fans forming queues outside the beautifully designed store at BKC.

Cook, who is in India for a business trip, has been meeting several renowned dignitaries from across the nation. If reports are to be believed, the CEO also met billionaire businessman Mukesh Ambani at his residence, Antilla. Also present at the meeting were Akash Ambani, chairman of Reliance Jio, and Isha Ambani, chairperson of Reliance Retail.

Additionally, the tech giant met with captains of India Inc, including Tata Sons Chief, N Chandra, highlighting the company’s expanding ambitions in the country.

Cook is also scheduled to meet with India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, and the Deputy IT Minister Rajeev Chandrashekar later in the week. The meeting with Chandrashekar is expected to take place on April 19, during which Cook is likely to discuss Apple’s focus on India as both a manufacturer and a market.

Cook inaugurated the iPhone maker’s first store in India yesterday, at the BKC business district in Mumbai. The two-storey store occupies prime real estate at the corner of a sprawling mall which also houses brands like Diesel, Michael Kors, Kate Spade and Swarovski. The company’s second outlet in India will be inaugurated on Thursday at a premier Saket mall in Delhi.

Currently, Apple holds a modest three percent share in the fiercely competitive Indian smartphone market, which is dominated by Chinese and South Korean brands. However, the tech giant has been strategically increasing its reliance on manufacturing in India as a viable alternative to China, especially in the wake of the disruptions in the global supply chain caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

This move not only aims to mitigate risks associated with over-dependence on a single market but also reflects Apple’s commitment to tapping into the growing potential of the Indian market. With a burgeoning consumer base and a thriving local manufacturing ecosystem, India presents itself as a promising destination for Apple’s production and assembly operations, paving the way for potential growth in the region.