Bhuma Mounika Manchu, wife of actor Manchu Manoj, has signed an MoU with the Andhra Pradesh government at the 31st CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam. The agreement, signed on November 12 through her startup Namasthe World, involves a proposed investment of ₹36.24 crore to establish manufacturing centres in Kurnool and Visakhapatnam. Manoj accompanied her at the ceremony. The venture aims to promote Indian culture through traditional toys, handicrafts, handloom products and sustainable apparel for domestic and international markets.
1,000 + Employment Opportunities
The units will manufacture traditional Etikoppaka and Kondapalli toys, garments using handloom fabrics, and dolls and soft toys from surplus fabric. The company is also exploring AI and robotics to modernise production. The project is expected to generate 950 direct and 100 indirect jobs, benefiting local artisans and weavers. Namasthe World, founded by Mounika and Manoj, has already developed over 55 original plush toy designs, sold more than 43,000 BIS-certified toys and secured a retail partnership with Reliance Brands.
Bhuma Family’s Connection to Kurnool
At the summit, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal was presented with the company’s toy collection and launched its calendar. Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu and AP Industries Minister T. G. Bharat also welcomed the initiative. Earlier, on October 26, Namasthe World signed a three-year agreement with the AP Economic Development Board to promote tourism and cultural heritage through Etikoppaka and Kondapalli toys, including characters, short films and QR-linked experiences. Mounika is the daughter of late political leaders Bhuma Nagi Reddy and Bhuma Shobha Nagi Reddy, while her sister Bhuma Akhila Priya is the TDP MLA from Allagadda. The Kurnool project also connects the venture to her family’s home region.
