Imagine having a tough day in office, juggling unrealistic deadlines or toxic work environments and nagging family or health issues. You are in a state of extreme exhaustion, both physically and mentally. Now picture yourself inside a room that lets you use a baseball bat, hammer, rod, or even hands maybe, to break things like TVs, computers and mobile phones, and in the process vent yourselves out. Sounds cathartic, isn’t it?
Welcome to the world of rage rooms that are finding their way into the Indian market with increasing curiosity and demand. In India, rage rooms are catching on especially among young professionals and students. While the concept was initially considered niche, it’s becoming more mainstream as people look for alternative ways to relieve stress.
Breaking news
For Ananya Shetty, the idea to start Rage Room came when she noticed how young people in Bengaluru were struggling with stress and mental health issues but had limited outlets to vent their emotions. “Rage rooms had been gaining popularity in the West. I thought, why not bring this concept to India,” says Shetty.
On an average weekday, Rage Room sees at least five bookings, which may go up to 20 on a busy day. With outlets across four cites—Bengaluru, Mumbai, Surat and Delhi—the platform offers ‘packages’ that start at Rs 500 for 10 minutes, where a person gets six breakables, and can go up to Rs 800 for 15 minutes with 18 breakables, Rs 1,500 for 30 minutes with 30 items to break. Rage Room also has an offering called ‘TV smash party’ which is for an individual or a group of up to six people for Rs 6,500, where 104 items are up for grabs to be broken, including a TV.
“It’s a safe space where people can break, smash, and vent without any judgement—something that aligns with our need for stress relief in a fast-paced lifestyle. Back in 2022, it felt like the right time to introduce this fun yet therapeutic concept to India,” says Shetty. “I believe the increasing focus on cathartic release in the context of mental wellness will only boost the popularity of rage rooms,” she adds.
Inside a rage room, customers are provided safety gear which include shoes, gloves, helmets and face shields. They are given directions on how to break items. “We have a black sheet on the wall, people are supposed to break things on that wall or on a table in front of them, and also on the floor. We provide them baseball bats, hammers and rods to break things. They can also use their hands if they feel like,” says Neha Krishan, marketing head of Rage Room in Bengaluru.
Similarly, Atul Malikram was used to breaking things to express his extreme emotions as a child. When the Indore native got to know about the existence of rage rooms in countries such as Australia and Germany, he decided to open one in India as well. Thus was born Cafe Bhadaas in Indore in 2017. He says his cafe also provides “solace to one’s appetite” by offering popular regional food from different parts of the country.
Mending the mind
People often say how the experience has helped them let go of stress or anger, and that’s the biggest win for rage room owners. “Of course, there were challenges like educating people about what a rage room is and ensuring safety protocols. But every positive review and returning customer reaffirm that we’re on the right track,” shares Shetty.
For instance, a young professional, who came to Rage Room after a stressful day at work, told Shetty that smashing things was the most cathartic thing she had ever done. “On another occasion, a couple came in for an unconventional date—they said breaking things together was the most fun they have had in ages,” adds Shetty.
Similarly, Cafe Bhadaas’ Malikram shares how he was able to discourage a person with mental health issues from ending her life. “I was also able to resolve issues between a married couple who had come to my cafe,” he adds.
According to Malikram, 60% of youth visiting rage rooms have issues related to emotions and anger, while the rest come for fun. Married couples and working professionals are more often than not dealing with serious issues, he adds.
Fun or therapy?
According to mental health experts, rage rooms cannot be a long-term solution. “Smashing objects may help with distraction, and provide temporary relief from pent-up emotions quickly. It often deters people from thought rumination and is like a safe, controlled release of anger and frustration without causing damage to others or oneself. However these are temporary,” says Dr Aparna Ramakrishnan, consultant, psychiatry, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai.
Mental health disorders often stem from deep-rooted, unresolved issues that require to be addressed and managed. Healthy coping mechanisms need to be developed for management of mental health issues in the long run, such as counselling, psychotherapy, physical activity, lifestyle alterations, and open, healthy emotional expression and management, says Dr Ramakrishnan.
“While they might offer a temporary emotional release, they do not address the underlying causes of mental health challenges. Using rage rooms as a substitute for professional help may delay effective treatment,” warns Dr Sneha Sharma, consultant, psychiatrist at Aakash Healthcare in Delhi.
Experts stress on the need to learn, develop and practise healthy coping mechanisms. Identify the triggers—the ‘why’—so that you can deal with them or similar emotions effectively by yourself in the future. Be kind to your mind and accept that you are human—prone to all kinds of emotions, positive and negative.