Private equity firms are warming up to Indian restaurants. The Dodsal group, one of the two largest franchisees of Yum! Brands-owned Pizza Hut and KFC, is in advanced talks with private equity firm New Silk Route (NSR) to sell 30-40% stake in the company. The deal could be anywhere between Rs 300 crore and Rs 500 crore, an industry source said. This deal comes on the back of a similar PE fund infusion in the other large franchisee of Yum! Brands, Ravi Jaipuria-owned Devyani International, which has the franchisee rights for Pizza Hut and KFC for the North and East with 65 Pizza Hut and 7 KFC outlets in the country. Last month, Jacob Ballas picked a 21.5% stake in Devyani International for Rs 300 crore, valuing the firm at Rs 1,400-1,500 crore. Sources told ET that the diversified Dodsal group, owned by the Dubai-based Kilachand family, wants to exit the quick-service restaurant business and the PE deal is the first step in that direction. If the group sells all its stake, then the deal could be between Rs 1,000 crore and Rs 1,500 crore.   more »