Watch out Xiaomi, Oppo! Salman Khan is venturing into smartphone business with 'BeingSmart'

Bollywood actor Salman Khan is venturing into smartphone business and this could be a dampener for Chinese smartphone makers.

After launching his clothing brand ‘Being Human’, Khan is going to make smartphones under the brand ‘BeingSmart’. As per reports, he is already in talks with several investors and building an operational management team to be headed by a professional with leadership stints at Samsung and Micromax.

He will target the sub-Rs 20,000 category and allegedly has selected a Chinese plant and initial phone models that will run on Android.

"BeingSmart will be positioned against the Chinese smartphone brigade -Oppo, Vivo and Xiaomi -at a time domestic handset makers such as Micromax and Intex are facing tremendous competition," one of the person in the know how told ET.

“And, like the Being Human apparel line, proceeds from the profit will be ploughed back into charity and social work that Salman Khan does with his Being Human Foundation,” the person added.

Khan’s popularity among the Indian audiences will definitely give his brand edge over other smartphone makers. The BeingSmart smartphones will initially be sold online and later through strategic partnerships with a few large cellphone and electronic retail chains.

"But this time, Salman is himself driving the show and searching for an investor. He expects to launch the devices in the next two quarters and definitely before the festive season," another executive told ET.