For actors, building a business alongside an entertainment career has become increasingly common in the industry. Bollywood A-listers like Katrina Kaif, Deepika Padukone, and Kriti Sanon have built successful brands, and television actors are not far behind.
Neha Marda, who rose to fame by playing Gehna in the hit television show Balika Vadhu, also jumped on the bandwagon. The actor, who took a break from acting after conceiving her first child, came up with the idea of converting a ₹10 product – fitkari (alum) – into an alum-based roll-on brand, Phitku, which was eventually valued at ₹180 crore.
Neha pitched her brand on Shark Tank India in January 2026, sharing how the idea stemmed from a personal problem she faced post-pregnancy. She started looking for organic products to address the issue but couldn't find any reliable brands manufacturing such products. That is when she decided to start her own brand and turn the idea into a full-fledged business.
The brand initially started selling the product at ₹99, but it took them three years to refine the formula and the product, which eventually led them to increase its price tenfold to ₹999. The move drew criticism, but it worked in their favour. Neha claimed that they generate ₹2 lakh in monthly revenue and serve 2 lakh customers. She also stated that the brand crossed ₹14 crore in revenue within just 10 months.
Neha's success story has been written about, and how she didn't merely reimagine or repackage an existing product, but reinvented a traditional product that had been hidden in plain sight. She accepted a deal of ₹1.8 crore for 1% equity, valuing her company at ₹180 crore.
From Boogie Woogie contestant to TV's bahu, Neha's career journey has been fascinating. She first gained recognition when she participated in Boogie Woogie as a contestant at just 11 years old. She won the show in 2004 and went on to participate in subsequent editions from the age of 13 to 19.
