Shilpa Shetty’s restaurant AmmaKai draws massive queues over free breakfast, sparks ‘freebie culture’ debate online

Shilpa Shetty’s newly launched restaurant AmmaKai grabbed eyeballs on January 26 after announcing a free breakfast to mark Republic Day. The first-come, first-served offer saw people lining up outside the Bandra outlet as early as 7 am, much before the restaurant opened. Videos of long queues quickly went viral, with several content creators capturing the crowd waiting patiently for a free meal.As clips flooded social media, netizens were divided. While some praised the restaurant for the generous gesture, others questioned the growing obsession with freebies. A section of users criticised what they described as a “freebie mindset,” especially after claims that many people in the queue appeared financially comfortable and lived in upscale neighbourhoods. The discussion soon went beyond AmmaKai’s one-day offer. Many users debated whether the issue lay with the restaurant’s promotion or with people’s attitudes towards anything free. Some argued that no one should be judged for accepting a free meal, while others felt such scenes only fuel a culture of handouts and entitlement.AmmaKai by Bastian is a South Indian restaurant in Mumbai, co-owned by Shilpa Shetty, with a focus on Mangalorean flavours. Positioned as a premium dining destination, the brand also runs a luxury rooftop space at Kohinoor Square in Dadar, offering a mix of Asian, Californian and European cuisines. Though the free breakfast was limited to Republic Day, the episode continues to spark conversations online around privilege, social behaviour and India’s evolving relationship with freebies.