Who are Jainam and Jivika? Dubai's young siblings now own the JioHotstar domain

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In an unexpected turn of events, a Delhi-based app developer, who initially bought the JioHotstar domain with hopes of selling it to Reliance Industries, has now sold it to two children in Dubai. The developer, remaining anonymous but describing himself as “a dreamer,” originally sought over one crore rupees from Reliance for the domain, intending to use the funds for an executive MBA at Cambridge University.

However, after Reliance declined to engage in negotiations, the domain has found a surprising new home with 13-year-old Jainam Jain and 10-year-old Jivika Jain , who have pledged to support the young developer's mission and keep the domain open for future endeavours. Here are the events leading up to the sale, the motivations of all parties involved, and the current status of the JioHotstar domain.


JioHotstar domain initial acquisition and Reliance’s response

In 2023, rumours surfaced about a potential merger between Jio Cinema and Hotstar. Seeing a business opportunity, the Delhi-based developer purchased the JioHotstar domain, anticipating that this merger would make the domain highly valuable. Once the merger went through, he reached out to Reliance Industries with an offer to sell the domain for a little over one crore rupees.

The developer’s goal was to fund his executive MBA program in the United Kingdom, specifically at the University of Cambridge. Despite his ambitions, Reliance Industries dismissed the offer without entering negotiations. Instead, the company reportedly issued warnings, as seen in previous legal actions they’ve taken against those acquiring domains related to Jio or Reliance.


Jainam and Jivika : JioHotstar domain owners

After negotiations with Reliance failed, the developer turned to a new set of potential buyers. In a surprising move, the JioHotstar domain was ultimately sold to Jainam and Jivika Jain, two young siblings from Dubai, aged 13 and 10. The children, who recently visited India, were inspired by a “Seva journey” they took as part of a holiday experience. During their visit, they engaged in various charitable activities, including teaching local children and collecting donations.

The funds collected from their efforts were put toward the acquisition of the JioHotstar domain, which they have expressed a desire to maintain for future charitable and inspirational purposes. In a statement uploaded to the JioHotstar site, the children shared their intention to use the platform to “support a young software developer from Delhi” and to encourage others to contribute positively.


Public reaction and letter from the new owners

In a heartfelt letter published on the domain’s website, Jainam and Jivika recounted their experiences in India and explained their motivation for purchasing the site. They described their journey, which included volunteer work and collecting donations, as part of an ongoing mission to make a difference in the lives of others. By acquiring the domain, they hope to keep the site open as a platform for “inspiring others” and mentioned that they are open to future sales to any individual or organisation that wishes to continue this mission.

This message has been met with widespread attention online, with many expressing support for the children’s altruistic intentions. Although Reliance Industries has yet to release an official statement regarding the domain’s new ownership, the children’s gesture has already sparked discussions on various social media platforms.


Background of the developer and his motivations

The anonymous app developer initially purchased the JioHotstar domain to leverage a business opportunity in light of the Jio and Hotstar merger. Driven by personal educational goals, he viewed the domain sale as a potential means to finance his MBA program at a prestigious institution. However, following Reliance’s refusal to negotiate, he opted to sell the domain to the young siblings from Dubai, whose motivations aligned with his goal of making a positive impact.

Despite the lack of a substantial profit from the sale, the developer expressed contentment with the domain’s new ownership and the direction it has taken. In recent communications, he alluded to the fact that he would rather see the domain used for a meaningful cause than remain stagnant due to ongoing legal complications with Reliance.


JioHotstar.com current status

Currently, the JioHotstar domain is under the control of Jainam and Jivika Jain, who continue to utilise it as a platform for their charitable goals. In their statement, they emphasised that their acquisition of the domain is not for commercial profit but for supporting the original developer’s dreams and creating a space that can inspire others. They have also indicated an openness to consider future sales if the domain can serve a positive purpose under new ownership.