09-05-2025
Asin's Husband Says He's Earning More Post-Micromax Downfall: ‘People Wouldn't Know'
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Once the face of Micromax and India's mobile revolution, Rahul Sharma — husband of former actor Asin — has bounced back from the brand's downfall.
Once hailed as the face of India's mobile revolution, Rahul Sharma — co-founder of Micromax and husband of former actor Asin — has resurfaced with a candid reflection on his rollercoaster journey through the tech business. While Micromax once ruled the Indian mobile phone market, its swift decline amid aggressive competition from Chinese brands marked a turning point in Rahul's career. Now, he says, the tables have turned again — quietly and profitably.
In a recent appearance on Nikhil Kamath's podcast, Rahul opened up about the meteoric rise and fall of Micromax, and how he's now making more money than ever through his new ventures — even if few people know about it.
Reflecting on the brand's early success, he recalled the rapid growth of Micromax, once a household name in India's mobile space. But the influx of Chinese players and a missed funding opportunity in 2014 — when the company turned down an Rs 6,700 crore (USD $800 million) investment — left Micromax vulnerable. 'The business was throwing so much cash, we said, 'We don't need the money'," Rahul said, expressing regret over the decision in hindsight.
The COVID-19 pandemic delivered the final blow, he admitted. 'Before the pandemic, we had 50% market share. Indian brands were completely decimated," he noted. In 2020, Rahul made the tough call: 'We said, 'No more' as a brand."
But that wasn't the end of his journey. Instead of pivoting to real estate or unrelated industries, Rahul chose to stay true to his roots — tech and manufacturing. 'The factories we'd created for Micromax were already there. Why don't we build on that and start manufacturing for others?" he explained. What started as a survival strategy has now blossomed into a flourishing business under Bhagwati Products Ltd (BPL), which he leads.
Today, Rahul owns and operates five manufacturing units, up from just two during the Micromax days. He proudly shared, 'Our revenue is way bigger than what we used to do with Micromax. Most people wouldn't know this, but we're doing way better now."
In a Business World report earlier this year, BPL was revealed to have secured major foreign funding, resulting in a tenfold increase in revenue. The company's turnover has reportedly reached Rs 6,200 crore, positioning it as a major player in India's electronics manufacturing sector.
Asked if he feels stronger the second time around, Rahul admitted that his appetite for risk has changed. 'I recently had to remind myself to stick to the basics," he said. The hard-earned wisdom from Micromax's fall has clearly shaped his second act — quieter, perhaps, but far more sustainable.
Rahul Sharma and Asin married in 2016, after being introduced by Akshay Kumar. While Asin stepped away from the limelight, Rahul quietly rebuilt behind the scenes — a comeback story not everyone saw coming.
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