Rage Rooms find takers among urban Indians

Coping with a toxic workplace, or messy breakup? You could smash a thing or two, let out a scream if you wish to, and vent out your fury. All this but in a safe, controlled environment. Rage Rooms are turning breaking and smashing into an activity, where adults are heading to, to find catharsis.
What’s a rage room?
It’s a space where individuals can smash objects to vent their anger, and frustration without harming oneself. These rooms provide a quick, physical and cathartic release of anger in a safe space. However it’s important to note, and as Dr Upasna G, a clinical psychiatrist points out, rage rooms are unlikely to provide persistent relief from deep-rooted anger issues, and can only be a momentary solution.

Types of activities one can do in a rage room
*Trial: To know how your experience will be
*Chill: As the name suggests, here you get to smash bottles and ceramic cups for 10 minutes. Nothing hectic
*TV Smash Party: For a bigger group, where you get to break a TV, glasses, bowls, vases among other objects
*Breakup Therapy: To temporarily mend your heartache!
*Toxic Workplace Edition: For those who are falling prey to workplace toxicity

Reasons for people opting for rage rooms*To release pent-up emotions
*To try something new
*For the thrill
*To vent with fear of no judgements and negative consequences, like damaged relationships, loss of respect, and professional repercussions


Approx cost:
Rs 500-2,500 cost (approx) per person for 15-30 minutes
18+ is the minimum age requirement


‘Not everyone wants to vent’
Whilea Mumbai-based rage room witnesses a footfall of 10,000 monthly, a Hyderabad-based centre caters to roughly 3,000 people every month. “Our multiple rage rooms across India have served over 15000 customers since 2023. Stress is a factor, and with the increasing demands in life, people are looking for novel ways to cope,” shares Ananya Shetty, founder of a multi-city rage room brand. However, to prevent over-reliance, most rage rooms limit customers to 2-3 sessions per month. “If we find any people repeating more than three times in a month, we provide a complimentary therapy session with a therapist. This has happened only with three people since October 2022,” says Suraj Pusarla, owner of a Hyderabad-based rage room. Is anger the only reason people visit these places for? Not necessarily. “We have all kinds of people visiting us - some for anger, some for fun, and some for the thrill of it,” says Neha Krishna, one of the founding members at Mumbai-based rage room.

Safety check
*Safety gear and costumes provided
*Safety instructions and rules explained

Identifying anger for your benefit
*Physical health: Suppressed anger can contribute to health problems like hypertension, heart disease, and weakened immune function. It can also lead to headaches, digestive issues, and sleep disturbances
*Mental health: Internalising anger can lead to mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, and increased stress levels. Unaddressed anger may also result in feelings of frustration, resentment, and a sense of helplessness
*Relationships: The inability to express anger constructively can strain personal and professional relationships and may manifest as passive-aggressive behaviour
*Productivity: Non-managed anger can impair concentration, decision-making abilities, and overall productivity