- Turnover: Sun Pharmaceutical Industries reported a revenue of approximately ₹50,000 crore (about $6 billion) for FY 2024-25, driven by strong sales in both domestic and international markets.
5) Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw: Founder of Biocon
- Turnover: Biocon reported a revenue of around ₹8,000 crore ($970 million) for FY 2024-25, with growth attributed to its biosimilars and generics segments.
6) Bhavish Aggarwal: Co-founder of Ola Cabs
- Turnover: Ola's estimated revenue for FY 2024-25 is around ₹5,000 crore ($600 million), bolstered by its ride-hailing services and expansion into electric vehicles.
7) Sachin Bansal & Binny Bansal: Founders of Flipkart
- Turnover: Flipkart's revenue for FY 2024-25 is projected at approximately ₹50,000 crore ($6 billion), reflecting its dominance in the Indian e-commerce market.
8) Vijay Shekhar Sharma: Founder of Paytm
- Turnover: Paytm reported a revenue of about ₹7,000 crore ($850 million) for FY 2024-25, primarily driven by its digital payment services and financial offerings.
9) Falguni Nayar: Founder of Nykaa
- Turnover: Nykaa's revenue for FY 2024-25 is estimated at around ₹3,500 crore ($420 million), with growth stemming from both online and offline retail channels.
10) Ritesh Agarwal: Founder of Oyo Rooms
- Turnover: Oyo's revenue for FY 2024-25 is expected to be approximately ₹4,500 crore ($550 million), as it continues to recover from pandemic-related disruptions and expand its hotel network.
Mukesh Ambani
Mukesh Ambani, the chairman of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), has been a pivotal figure in transforming the Indian economy.
After taking over the company from his father, Dhirubhai Ambani, in 2002, Mukesh focused on expanding RIL's core petrochemical business while diversifying into telecommunications and retail.
The launch of Jio in 2016 revolutionised the telecom sector by offering affordable data and free voice calls, quickly capturing a significant market share. However, Ambani faced challenges, including intense competition and regulatory scrutiny.
The company's foray into retail has also met with hurdles, such as navigating complex regulations and fierce competition from established players.
Despite these challenges, Ambani's strategic vision has positioned RIL as one of the most valuable companies in India.
Ratan Tata
Ratan Tata served as the chairman of Tata Group from 1991 to 2012, overseeing its transformation into a global conglomerate.
He faced initial scepticism due to his relative inexperience and the resistance from senior executives when he took over.
However, he implemented a series of reforms, including setting a retirement age for executives and requiring subsidiaries to report directly to Tata Sons.
Under his leadership, Tata Group made landmark acquisitions such as Tetley Tea, Jaguar Land Rover, and Corus Steel, significantly increasing revenues and profits.
Despite these successes, Tata faced setbacks like the failure of the Tata Nano project, which aimed to create an affordable car but struggled with consumer interest.
After stepping down in 2012, he returned as interim chairman during a leadership crisis in 2016, demonstrating his enduring influence on the group.
N. R. Narayana Murthy
R. Narayana Murthy co-founded Infosys in 1981 with a vision to create a globally respected IT services company.
His leadership was marked by a strong emphasis on corporate governance and ethical business practices, which set Infosys apart in a burgeoning industry.
Under his stewardship, Infosys grew rapidly, becoming one of India's largest IT firms and pioneering the global outsourcing model.
However, Murthy faced challenges during economic downturns and increasing competition from both domestic and international players.
His decision to step down as CEO in 2002 was met with mixed reactions; however, he remained influential as chairman until 2011.
Despite facing criticism for certain strategic decisions post-retirement, Murthy's legacy continues to inspire future entrepreneurs.
Dilip Shanghvi
Dilip Shanghvi founded Sun Pharmaceutical Industries in 1983 with a focus on producing psychiatric drugs.
His innovative approach to business led to rapid growth; by acquiring several companies throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, he expanded Sun Pharma's portfolio significantly.
Shanghvi’s strategy emphasised research and development (R&D), which positioned Sun Pharma as a leader in generic pharmaceuticals globally.
However, the company faced challenges such as regulatory scrutiny and integration issues following acquisitions.
The 2015 acquisition of Ranbaxy Laboratories was particularly contentious due to quality control problems that emerged later.
Despite these hurdles, Shanghvi has maintained Sun Pharma's status as one of India's largest pharmaceutical companies.
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw founded Biocon Limited in 1978 with a vision to pioneer biotechnology in India.
Starting from a small brewery in Bangalore, she transformed Biocon into a global biopharmaceutical powerhouse focusing on insulin production and other biologics.
Her emphasis on innovation and affordable healthcare solutions has earned Biocon international recognition.
However, Mazumdar-Shaw faced numerous challenges, including regulatory hurdles and market competition from larger pharmaceutical firms.
The company's foray into biosimilars has been particularly notable but also fraught with risks associated with approval processes in various countries.
Bhavish Aggarwal
Bhavish Aggarwal co-founded Ola Cabs in 2010 to address transportation issues in India through an app-based taxi service model.
The company quickly gained traction by offering competitive pricing and expanding its services across various cities in India.
Aggarwal's vision extended beyond ride-sharing; he aimed to create an ecosystem for electric vehicles (EVs) and mobility solutions.
However, Ola faced significant challenges such as regulatory issues and fierce competition from rivals like Uber.
The company's expansion into international markets has also met with mixed results due to varying local regulations and market dynamics.
Sachin Bansal & Binny Bansal
Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal co-founded Flipkart in 2007, intending to revolutionise e-commerce in India.
Their initial focus on books quickly expanded into various product categories, establishing Flipkart as a household name in online retailing.
The duo's strategic decisions led to significant investments that fuelled rapid growth; however, they also faced numerous challenges, including logistical issues and competition from Amazon entering the Indian market.
In 2018, Walmart acquired Flipkart for $16 billion, marking one of the largest e-commerce deals globally but also leading to scrutiny over operational changes post-acquisition.
Despite stepping back from day-to-day operations after the sale, their legacy continues to influence India's e-commerce landscape.
Vijay Shekhar Sharma
Vijay Shekhar Sharma founded Paytm in 2010 as a mobile wallet service amid India's growing digital payment landscape.
His vision was to create an inclusive financial ecosystem that would empower millions of Indians through digital transactions.
Sharma's aggressive marketing strategies helped Paytm gain widespread adoption; however, the company faced significant hurdles, including regulatory challenges and intense competition from other fintech players like PhonePe and Google Pay.
The demonetisation policy introduced by the Indian government provided an unexpected boost to digital payments but also intensified competition within the sector.
Falguni Nayar
Falguni Nayar founded Nykaa in 2012, intending to create an online platform for beauty products tailored specifically for Indian consumers.
She leveraged her experience from investment banking to build a brand that resonated with women seeking quality beauty products at accessible prices.
Nykaa’s unique omnichannel strategy allowed it to thrive both online and through physical stores across India.
However, Nayar faced challenges such as navigating supply chain issues and fierce competition from both domestic brands and international players entering the market.
In 2021, Nykaa went public successfully; in spite of market fluctuations post-IPO, Nayar’s vision continues to redefine beauty retailing in India.
Ritesh Agarwal
Ritesh Agarwal founded Oyo Rooms at just 19 years old with a mission to standardise budget accommodations across India.
His innovative approach involved partnering with small hotels to improve their service quality while leveraging technology for booking management through an app-based platform.
Oyo grew rapidly but encountered significant challenges, including operational inefficiencies and backlash from hotel partners regarding revenue-sharing models, during its aggressive expansion phase both domestically and internationally.
Despite facing criticism over its business practices and restructuring efforts amid financial losses during the pandemic, Agarwal remains committed to redefining hospitality standards globally through Oyo’s evolving business model.
