From Boogie Woogie winner at 11 to TV’s beloved bahu: How this actor turned a ₹10 product into a ₹180 cr brand
For actors, relying solely on acting projects is no longer the norm. 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. A television actor has made a fortune selling hygeine products. Can you guess who it is? Actor 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. How was Neha’s brand Phitku born? Neha Marda pitched her brand, which she started with her husband and brother, earlier this year on Shark Tank India in January 2026. While narrating the story behind the brand, she shared how the idea stemmed from a personal problem she faced. “Post my …
