Mohanlal to dabble in shares

Malayalam superstar Mohanlal has launched a stock broking company called Hedge Equities on Monday in Kochi, in association with Fedex Securities, Kozhikode-based Baby Marine Exports, Smart Financial, Thakker Group and SM Hegde of Videocon. The focus of the firm is likely to be South India, where the actor could help in communicating with the target audience.

Hedge Equities has a net worth of Rs. 8 crore which should shortly reach Rs. 10 crore. The company presently has 16 branches and is planning to establish 45 new branches all over South India by the end of this fiscal. Mohanlal is the brand ambassador of the company, the managing director of the company Alex K. Babu told reporters.

Fedex Securities, a leading merchant banker, is one of the main promoters of Hedge Equities. They claimed that only 5% of the population in Kerala invests in stocks as compared to 40% in Mumbai and Gujarat.

"We are basically targeting the small investors and we are confident that we will be able to guide them in the best possible manner," said Mohanlal, a recipient of several prestigious awards. "We want to be a revelation to them since this business here is still in its infancy," he added.

The newest venture of Mohanlal follows his forays into seafood, curry powder, hospitality, movies, studios and multiplex construction businesses. He also runs a chain of restaurants in the Middle East called 'Mohanlal's Taste Buds'. Mohanlal is also planning to launch a few schools shortly to enter the cash-rich education segment.