Singaporean Entrepreneur and Philanthropist Ricky Sapuran Singh Wins Best Bollywood Club at the IIEA 2019

Ricky Sapuran Singh, the owner of Moshi Moshi Bollywood club in Singapore, has won the award for the Best Bollywood Club at the India International Excellence Awards 2019. Held in Dubai on 14th September at the Armani Hotel Ballroom located in Burj Khalifa, the award was presented by veteran actor Anil Kapoor. The star-studded event was attended by Bollywood celebrities as well as industry professionals. 

Ricky was the only Singapore-born entrepreneur to have been nominated and is grateful for his big win last weekend, thanking the people who have supported him and his club over the years. "Moshi Moshi Bollywood is a buzzing destination club which frequently sees the patronage of millionaires and high net worth individuals visiting Singapore. We welcome guests of all ages and see Moshi Moshi Bollywood as more than a night club; it is a place of entertainment where people can bring their friends, clients and partners as well as meet like-minded individuals. We bring in professional dancers from all over the world to perform at the club, keeping our space vibrant and colourful", says Ricky.

Ricky is also an entrepreneur and philanthropist who owns events management company MMB Productions and dabbles in the real estate business. His passion for Bollywood has recently got him into acting and film production. His businesses cover various markets including Singapore, and international markets such as Indonesia, India and Dubai.

The India International Excellence Awards (IIEA) organised by the Society for Acknowledgement in Work Excellence (S.A.W.E) is an initiative to recognize and promote the outstanding achievements of various individuals across all aspects of social and professional work. S.A.W.E believes it will inspire and motivate others to work hard as well.

The IIAE ceremony was attended by industry professionals and Bollywood celebrities including Anil Kapoor, Sunny Leone, Chitrangada Singh, Jimmy Shergil, Mandira Bedi, Vishal Bhardwaj, Madhur Bhandarkar, Gauhar Khan, Mandana Karimi and many more.

Vanilla Luxury has a chat with Ricky about his nomination as well as various businesses and philanthropic initiatives.

Vanilla Luxury: How does it feel to be nominated for the India International Excellence Awards alongside some renown celebrities and industry professionals?

Ricky Sapuran Singh: It is truly a great honour to be the only Singaporean to be nominated for two awards - Best Bollywood Club and Social/Philanthropist Entrepreneur. Moshi Moshi Bollywood club’s patrons are mostly NRIs from all over the world. One of them has probably nominated my club for this prestigious award.

Vanilla Luxury: What made you decide to launch a fusion Bollywood Club in Singapore in 2006?

Ricky Sapuran Singh: My wife and I enjoy the vibrancy of the nightlife in Singapore which is truly a melting pot of cultures. We found that the ever so popular Bollywood movies, especially the songs and dances which were taking the world by storm, were missing from the local nightlife scene. There were many non-Indians enjoying Bollywood song-and-dance routines too. Thus, we decided to satisfy this niche market that appeals to all races.

We have professional dancers from all over the world that have joined us to bring a new style of entertainment in Singapore. A number of billionaires and high net worth individuals frequently visit Moshi Moshi Bollywood Club to entertain their friends, clients and partners.

Vanilla Luxury: What got you into philanthropy?

Ricky Sapuran Singh: It all started with one of the world’s worst disasters, Tsunami, which caused so many deaths in Asia. My wife and I took the initiative to support some of the lesser-known charities in Singapore, India, Philippines, Pakistan and Cambodia both in cash and kind. It was a very enriching experience especially supporting the I-India NGO in Jaipur for Street Children, who are abandoned or in orphanages, to give them lodging, education and a better future to live for.

Amongst others, we have worked with Tabitha Foundation Cambodia to raise funds for building houses;  Philippine Red Cross to help the victims of Typhoon Haiyan in 2013; CRIB Society Singapore to help women and children in need; and Sikh Welfare Council Singapore to raise funds for the underprivileged alongside para cyclist Jagwinder Singh.

Vanilla Luxury: Share with us your experience of working in your first Bollywood film.

Ricky Sapuran Singh: As you know, I am primarily a businessman who is also active in Bollywood clubs and events in Singapore and internationally. I have never been involved in the Bollywood acting arena. For this Bollywood film, the director and producer flew into Singapore to meet me and convince me to act in their Bollywood film. Even though I told them that I’ve got no acting experience and am not particularly interested, they highlighted that I have the looks and aura of the mafia don character they were casting for. They convinced me that my role would be action-packed and not so dialogue-heavy so I wouldn’t have to speak much Hindi onscreen.

I enjoyed the experience and learnt so much about film making; from filming to editing and producing a Bollywood film. Currently, I am building my portfolio as a Bollywood Producer.

The India International Excellence Awards (IIEA) organised by the Society for Acknowledgement in Work Excellence (S.A.W.E) was held in Dubai at the Armani Hotel in Burj Khalifa on 14th September 2019.