BookMyShow’s Anil Makhija On The ‘Unprecedented Response’ For Lolla India

There’s no doubt that India is on the radar of any band, promoter and agent with global touring ambitions. Ed Sheeran and BookMyShow Live, along with global tour promoter AEG Presents, demonstrated in spectacular fashion what can be achieved if an artist sets his mind on playing to his fans – wherever they might be in the world.

Along with Ed Sheeran’s “+ – = ÷ x India Tour” across six cities, another indication of India’s coming-of-age has been the rise of Lollapalooza, which launched its Mumbai edition in 2023.

Pollstar reached out to Anil Makhija, COO, live entertainment & venues at BookMyShow, to delve into the 2025 edition of the festival, which is produced in partnership with C3 Presents and Perry Farrell, and featured Green Day, Nothing But Thieves, Louis Tomlinson, Shawn Mendes, Glass Animals, Big Boi, and more. The full interview is available to Pollstar subscribers, here are some highlights.

Pollstar: How did the 2025 edition of Lolla India go?
Anil Makhija: With thousands of fans soaking in over 20 hours of phenomenal performances, Lollapalooza India 2025 proved to be an unmissable celebration of music, culture and community, setting the stage for an even bigger return in 2026.

Beyond the music, Lollapalooza India 2025 continued its commitment to sustainability, inclusivity and accessibility through #LollaForChange, ensuring that every fan experienced the festival in a meaningful and responsible way. The festival took significant steps toward becoming a zero-garbage event with a zero waste-to-land goal. A plastic-free food court, extensive recycling efforts and reusable cups made from crop waste helped reduce environmental impact, while surplus food was redistributed to underprivileged communities.

Lollapalooza means extraordinarily impressive and that’s something we bring into every experience at Lollapalooza India – including the Lolla Food Park, with over 70 brands and cuisines from across the world.

How many tickets did you sell? What’s the price range?
The third edition of Lollapalooza India witnessed an unprecedented response, reaffirming the festival’s place at the heart of India’s live entertainment scene. Since the festival’s announcement in July 2024, the enthusiasm was palpable, with early bird tickets starting at Rs. 5,999/- ($70.21) selling out in under 36 hours, a clear testament to the growing hunger for high-quality, large-scale cultural experiences.

As we revealed the artist lineup the excitement only soared higher, driving record-breaking ticket sales across multiple phases and being completely sold out. The festival drew an incredibly diverse crowd, with fans from Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Delhi-NCR, Hyderabad and Chennai leading the charge. However, what stood out was the significant presence of attendees from across India and internationally, further cementing Lollapalooza India as a global music destination.

Organising a festival of Lollapalooza India’s scale is a monumental task, requiring meticulous planning and seamless execution across multiple fronts. With four massive stages, 35+ artists and tens of thousands of fans, every element must come together flawlessly to create an unforgettable experience. One of the biggest challenges is logistics and infrastructure – transforming an urban space into a world-class festival venue while ensuring smooth entry, exit and internal movement for attendees. From staging, sound and lighting to water stations, security and medical facilities, every detail must be optimised for both comfort and safety.

This is an excerpt from a Q&A with Anil Makhija, COO, live entertainment & venues at BookMyShow, which ran in Pollstar’s July 2025 issue. The full interview is available to Pollstar subscribers here.

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