Why Deepinder Goyal suddenly received 8,000 emails in just one week: ‘Find my number, WhatsApp me’

The job market can be unpredictable. One day you’re part of a company’s story, the next you’ve moved on. But sometimes, the road circles back.

That’s exactly what happened when Deepinder Goyal, the founder of Zomato and now Eternal Limited, made an unexpected move, inviting former employees to return. No filters. No grudges. Just an open door.

And the response? Thousands showed up.

Deepinder Goyal invites former Zomato employees to return

Earlier this month, Goyal took to X with a heartfelt message aimed at ex-Zomato staff.

“If you used to work at Zomato, whether you chose to move on, or I was the one who asked you to leave, this is for you,” he wrote.

It wasn’t just a recruitment post. It felt personal.

He admitted the company had its rough edges in the past but said things are different now. Eternal, he noted, is “more organised, a little less chaotic”, adding simply: “I want you back.”

That one line struck a chord.

8,000 emails in a week: ‘Full of emotions and honesty’

The response was massive.

Within a week, more than 8,000 emails landed in the inbox: back@eternal.com.

Nearly half came from former employees who once worked at Zomato or other Eternal companies. The rest were fresh hopefuls wanting to be part of the journey.

Goyal later shared that the emails weren’t just job applications.

They were stories.

Messages filled with memories, regrets, growth, and unfinished chapters.

He described them as “full of emotions and honesty”, with many people reflecting on years spent building the company.

Eternal grows into a family of companies

Today, Eternal isn’t just Zomato.

It has expanded into a full ecosystem that includes:

• Blinkit
• District
• Hyperpure
• Feeding India

With so many verticals, hiring decisions are more complex, and reading thousands of deeply personal emails isn’t easy.

Goyal admitted he’s the only one who can truly understand many of these messages.

“The only person who can truly read these emails and know who to respond to is me,” he wrote, adding that going through 8,000 mails quickly isn’t humanly possible.

Still, he assured everyone their emails are being reviewed.

‘Find my number and WhatsApp me’

Then came the most Deepinder Goyal move ever.

For former colleagues who worked closely with him and need quicker replies, he offered something rare for a corporate leader.

“Find my number and WhatsApp me,” he said.

Titles may change, but the connection stays

The invitation also comes shortly after Goyal stepped down from his role as Group CEO and became Vice Chairman, handing operational control to Blinkit head Albinder Dhindsa.

But he made one thing clear: the bond hasn’t changed.

“Did titles ever matter at Eternal? I am still very much here,” he said.

And that might explain why so many people rushed to write back.

Because sometimes, it’s not just about a job.

It’s about going home.