Celebyte, a new platform for online celebrity-fan engagement

When Aman Parekh wanted to wish his mother on her 62^nd birthday, he reached out to actor Rajesh Kumar (aka Rosesh Sarabhai from the TV  show Sarabhai vs Sarabhai) to convey the message. Kumar shot a video message in his character’s signature drawl, and packed a quirky poem before mailing it to her. That the sexagenarian has been a huge fan of the show, and particularly of Rajesh’s character, it is a memory she will cherish forever. Aman managed to make his mother’s special day extra special through Celebyte, an online platform that connects fans to their  favourite celebrities and provides fans to engage with their idols over text video message or video call for a price, ofcourse.

A part of media and entertainment tech startup Armsprime founded by Saurabh Kushwah, Sanjay Tripathy and Aditya Save, Celebyte.com is one of the fastest-growing online platforms that connect fans to celebrities. The platform already has over 500 celebrities that include Saina Nehwal, Salim Merchant, Robin Uthappa, Sandip Soparrkar, Sharman Joshi, Rohit Roy, Sushant Singh, Jay Bhanushali, Cyrus Broacha, Shakti Kapoor, Minissha Lamba among others. Fans can connect and access their favourite celebrities through video calls and chat or request video messages for their near and dear ones for special occasions or even as a regular day surprise. “We are trying to disrupt the digital gifting space by making gifting a personalised experience. Fans want access and celebrities want to monetise their interactions. We try to cater to both while ensuring the experience is seamless,” says Sanjay Tripathy, Co-founder and CEO of Armsprime Media. 

And in times like these when social distancing has become the norm, connecting with friends and family through celebrities is turning out to be an ideal gifting option. In the last few years, many celebrities have amassed a massive online following on social channels.

But in most cases, this following has been a passive one, as fans hardly get to engage or even interact with their favourite celebs on a personal level. “Our platform aims to change just that as our focus is to allow fans to establish a direct and personal connection with their favourite celebs,” says Tripathy. “Going forward, you will see more celebrities a part of their fans’ highs and lows.”