Coldplay Chaos: BookMyShow CEO Speaks Out on Ticket Scam and Industry Fallout

Ashish Hemrajani, CEO of BookMyShow, has finally addressed the ticketing chaos that clouded the Coldplay concert at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad—India’s largest music event yet.

The decision to host the concert in Ahmedabad was strategic, matching Coldplay’s vision to perform at the world’s largest stadium. But behind the scenes, the event triggered a storm. Over 75% of attendees came from outside Gujarat, pumping an estimated ₹700 crore into the city. Still, what made headlines wasn’t the success—but the scam.

As tickets went live, BookMyShow’s platform crashed. Hemrajani revealed the cause: a massive bot attack from international secondary ticketing platforms, which swarmed the system to hoard tickets for illegal resale. Contrary to public outrage, the glitch wasn’t mismanagement—it was digital warfare.

BookMyShow responded fast—resetting servers and deploying a randomized ticketing ID system. Future shows ran smoothly, but the damage was done. The company faced heat from multiple government departments, police inquiries, and court summons. Hemrajani emphasized full transparency, opening internal systems for audit.

He also highlighted a major concern: the rise of illegal ticketing websites, often based overseas, which continue to evade Indian law enforcement. The CEO slammed sensational media coverage, calling it uninformed and damaging. While the backlash was loud, Hemrajani remained firm in defending the platform’s integrity.

This wasn’t just a concert—it was a case study in digital security, regulation gaps, and the pressures of organizing mega-events in India.

At Sound of the Streets India, we believe it’s time to back the people building our live music future—flaws, fixes, and all.