When you hear the name Shroff in Bollywood, it immediately brings to mind veteran actor Jackie Shroff, his wife Ayesha Shroff, son Tiger, and a legacy deeply rooted in cinema. But Krishna Shroff, the daughter of the family, is carving out her own space, far from the film sets and red carpets. In fact, her first paycheck was so modest, her mother told her it matched their driver’s salary. In a recent interview, she and her mother, Ayesha, opened up about Krishna’s journey, her choices, and her drive to build a life beyond Bollywood. And it all started with one decision, to walk away from the film industry, despite having studied it.
Humble beginnings to building an MMA empire
Krishna holds a degree in film production, but during her course, she revealed in chat with Zero1 Hustle by Zerodha that being behind or in front of the camera simply wasn’t her calling. She acknowledged that being part of a famous family gave her access and opportunity, but she never felt drawn to the world of cinema. She knew people expected her to follow the path most star kids do, but her heart was elsewhere. For Krishna, life is too short not to pursue what you truly love.
Instead of the spotlight, Krishna chose strength training, fitness, and eventually, entrepreneurship. She has a deep passion for health and wellness, which led her to co-found MMA Matrix, a high-end fitness centre in Mumbai that combines strength training and mixed martial arts. The venture was a family collaboration between Krishna, Tiger, and Ayesha. While Tiger’s tight filming schedule limits his day-to-day involvement, he remains the face of the brand, while Krishna and Ayesha are fully hands-on.
Krishna revealed that MMA Matrix was born out of a gap in the market. Tiger, being a martial artist himself, wanted a space that offered both MMA and functional training, a mix that wasn’t available in Mumbai at the time. Instead of complaining about the lack of such a facility, the trio decided to build it themselves.
Her passion for fitness is not a side project, it’s now her main source of income. MMA Matrix has grown steadily, and Krishna remains actively involved in its operations, branding, and community outreach. Besides this, they also have MMA fighting league called Matrix Fight Night (MFN), which streams on JioHotstar.
MFN has gradually evolved into a structured platform for emerging fighters, offering pay scales that rival international promotions. While India’s MMA scene still lacks the megastars required to drive massive ticket sales, MFN has been steadily building its brand.
Ayesha and Krishna revealed, "When we came into the space, the starting salary for an Indian fighter was $200 (Rs 17k), and now a debut fighter gets paid $2000 (Rs 1.74 lakh). If you are fighting for a title, you get paid $10k (Rs 8.7 lakh). So if you compare our pay scale with a lot of other promotions globally, we are still pretty good. The idea is to make this into a proper salaried profession for all these fighters."
Krishna Shroff also talked about how MFN has helped boost the profiles of homegrown athletes, many of whom had no public recognition before joining the platform. Since its launch in 2019, MFN has successfully hosted 17 events, giving dozens of Indian fighters not just financial opportunities but also loyal fan followings in their local communities. The team is now working on refining the company’s revenue model to further support and expand the reach of Indian MMA talent.
But Krishna's journey didn’t start in a boardroom. Her first job was as a basketball coach, and it came with a humbling paycheck. Her mother still remembers the moment and revealed that when she saw the amount and said, "That's amazing, Kishu. This is the salary your driver gets".
Krishna Shroff in reality TV shows
More recently, Krishna stepped into the world of television. In 2024, she made her debut on Khatron Ke Khiladi 14, where she impressed audiences with her fearless attitude and finished as the runner-up. She is currently doing the reality-show Chhoriyan Chali Gaon, where celebrities live in a rural village without modern luxuries, learning to adapt to a traditional lifestyle.
Outside of her business and television appearances, Krishna is also a documentary filmmaker. One of her projects focuses on the lives of transgender individuals in India. She also remains a social media personality, with a growing presence in fitness and lifestyle spaces, often featured in fashion and wellness magazines.
Krishna Shroff may not have followed in her family’s footsteps, but she’s successfully building a name on her own terms.
Humble beginnings to building an MMA empire
Krishna holds a degree in film production, but during her course, she revealed in chat with Zero1 Hustle by Zerodha that being behind or in front of the camera simply wasn’t her calling. She acknowledged that being part of a famous family gave her access and opportunity, but she never felt drawn to the world of cinema. She knew people expected her to follow the path most star kids do, but her heart was elsewhere. For Krishna, life is too short not to pursue what you truly love.
Instead of the spotlight, Krishna chose strength training, fitness, and eventually, entrepreneurship. She has a deep passion for health and wellness, which led her to co-found MMA Matrix, a high-end fitness centre in Mumbai that combines strength training and mixed martial arts. The venture was a family collaboration between Krishna, Tiger, and Ayesha. While Tiger’s tight filming schedule limits his day-to-day involvement, he remains the face of the brand, while Krishna and Ayesha are fully hands-on.
Krishna revealed that MMA Matrix was born out of a gap in the market. Tiger, being a martial artist himself, wanted a space that offered both MMA and functional training, a mix that wasn’t available in Mumbai at the time. Instead of complaining about the lack of such a facility, the trio decided to build it themselves.
Her passion for fitness is not a side project, it’s now her main source of income. MMA Matrix has grown steadily, and Krishna remains actively involved in its operations, branding, and community outreach. Besides this, they also have MMA fighting league called Matrix Fight Night (MFN), which streams on JioHotstar.
MFN has gradually evolved into a structured platform for emerging fighters, offering pay scales that rival international promotions. While India’s MMA scene still lacks the megastars required to drive massive ticket sales, MFN has been steadily building its brand.
Ayesha and Krishna revealed, "When we came into the space, the starting salary for an Indian fighter was $200 (Rs 17k), and now a debut fighter gets paid $2000 (Rs 1.74 lakh). If you are fighting for a title, you get paid $10k (Rs 8.7 lakh). So if you compare our pay scale with a lot of other promotions globally, we are still pretty good. The idea is to make this into a proper salaried profession for all these fighters."
Krishna Shroff also talked about how MFN has helped boost the profiles of homegrown athletes, many of whom had no public recognition before joining the platform. Since its launch in 2019, MFN has successfully hosted 17 events, giving dozens of Indian fighters not just financial opportunities but also loyal fan followings in their local communities. The team is now working on refining the company’s revenue model to further support and expand the reach of Indian MMA talent.
But Krishna's journey didn’t start in a boardroom. Her first job was as a basketball coach, and it came with a humbling paycheck. Her mother still remembers the moment and revealed that when she saw the amount and said, "That's amazing, Kishu. This is the salary your driver gets".
Krishna Shroff in reality TV shows
More recently, Krishna stepped into the world of television. In 2024, she made her debut on Khatron Ke Khiladi 14, where she impressed audiences with her fearless attitude and finished as the runner-up. She is currently doing the reality-show Chhoriyan Chali Gaon, where celebrities live in a rural village without modern luxuries, learning to adapt to a traditional lifestyle.
Outside of her business and television appearances, Krishna is also a documentary filmmaker. One of her projects focuses on the lives of transgender individuals in India. She also remains a social media personality, with a growing presence in fitness and lifestyle spaces, often featured in fashion and wellness magazines.
Krishna Shroff may not have followed in her family’s footsteps, but she’s successfully building a name on her own terms.
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