The once-promising entrepreneurial journey of Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra has taken a devastating turn following the catastrophic fire at their Goa nightclub that claimed 25 lives on December 7th. The brothers, who were recently deported from Thailand to face justice in India, now stand at the center of one of India’s most scrutinized hospitality industry tragedies.
Growing up in a modest northern Delhi neighborhood, the Luthra brothers displayed early entrepreneurial instincts that eventually transformed them into nightlife impresarios. Their father, paralyzed and bedridden, watched as his sons built a hospitality empire that began with a simple cafe in Hudson Lane in 2016. The success of their initial venture, which quickly became a student favorite, propelled them to establish Dramebaaz shortly afterward.
Their breakthrough arrived with Romeo Lane, an upscale nightclub concept that masterfully blended Bollywood glamour with accessible luxury. The brand expanded rapidly across India, reaching cities like Noida, Meerut, Lucknow, and Dehradun, and even extending to Dubai in 2023. The Goa property, Birch by Romeo Lane, represented their most ambitious project yet—a sprawling tropical escape featuring open spaces, ponds, and premium amenities.
Saurabh, the public face of the operation, cultivated an image of success through carefully curated social media presence. His Instagram account showcased ribbon-cutting ceremonies, celebrity encounters, and the trappings of entrepreneurial success that earned him recognition in Economic Times’ “40 under 40” list and a feature in Forbes India. Gaurav maintained a lower profile, focusing on financial management and day-to-day operations.
However, their rapid expansion faced mounting regulatory challenges, particularly in Goa. The Birch property had been subject to multiple complaints regarding noise violations, environmental concerns about sewage discharge into the ecologically sensitive Baga River, and allegations of illegal construction. Just months before the fire, Goa’s Tourism Department had ordered demolition of parts of their Vagator property for encroaching on public beach land.
The brothers’ immediate flight to Phuket hours after the tragedy sparked international manhunt efforts, with Interpol issuing notices against them. They maintain their innocence, claiming they never intended to evade justice and have been “erroneously portrayed” as villains in a broader tragedy. Legal documents reveal their defense strategy: they argue being “licensees, not operators” without direct control over safety regulations.
As investigations continue, the Luthra brothers’ story serves as a cautionary tale about ambition, regulatory oversight, and the devastating consequences when safety protocols are potentially compromised in pursuit of expansion.