⚡ Get All Content for 20% Off ⚡

In Quest of Svelte Success "I love startups as they are challenging, and if handled properly, pay off really well," says Shilpa Shetty.

By Punita Sabharwal

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Entrepreneur India
Shilpa Shetty

Shilpa Shetty Kundra's entrepreneurial journey began with being the co-promoter of IPL team Rajasthan Royals with her husband Raj Kundra. Becoming a mother seems to have taught Shilpa Shetty Kundra, the art of managing a lot of things together.

This actor-entrepreneur is having some real great ventures she believes in. She has been great at launching Yoga DVDs. She also believes in having a great mind-body connection which she resonates with her IOSIS spa and wellness chain.

With husband Raj Kundra and Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar, she launched Best Deal TV, a first celebrity-driven 24/7 home shopping TV channel. Last year, she also entered the consumer durables space with the launch of mobile phones named after her son, Viaan. In an interaction with Entrepreneur, she shares her vision as an entrepreneur.

On a scale of 1-10, how do you rate yourself as an entrepreneur?

Had you asked me five years ago, it would have been one, but now after five years of creating various brands I can safely say seven.

How good are you at coming up with solutions when it comes to solving business problems?

I am a very practical person I think as a customer I put myself in their shoes. I always put forward my points in board meetings where I believe I have a valid solution. However, we have trained professionals who can validate the same.

You have some real interesting companies in your portfolio. What factors do you consider while planning an investment?

I love start-ups as they are challenging, and if handled properly, pay off really well. Not saying that you will hit the bull's eye every time, but a calculated risk can give you a high reward. I always invest in people – if you don't have a confident and intelligent team, your product or service would fail not matter how good it is. My investment criterion is simple as we have a billion consumers in India, what we can offer to them that will make a difference. I am investing in the consumer market and service industry.

Who is your idol when it comes to business management?

I'm amazed at what Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has done, Victoria Beckham has also built her brand well. Separately, I love motivational quotes of Warren Buffet the best being: "Never depend on a single income. Make Investments to create a second source."

What are your plans for this year?

We are ready with expanding my existing ventures Best Deal TV, IOSIS and Viaan Industries.

(This article first appeared in the Indian edition of Entrepreneur magazine (February 2016 Issue).

Punita Sabharwal

Entrepreneur Staff

Deputy Editor, Entrepreneur India Magazine

Leadership

If You Want to be Successful, Become a Better Speaker — Follow This 7-Step Process for Effective Speaking

Discover the transformative power of mastering presentation skills with this 7-step process.

Marketing

Ever Wonder Why Certain Websites Rank Higher Than Yours? This SEO Expert Reveals The Secret to Dominating Search Results

It's often the smart use of SEO, now supercharged with AI, particularly in keyword optimization.

News and Trends

Rural Commerce Startup Rozana Raises USD 22.5 Mn from Bertelsmann, Fireside Ventures and others

The Delhi-based startup will utilise the fresh funds to fuel its expansion into new districts, upgrade its technology platform, and increase hiring in technology, product, and operations teams.

Career

The Best Paying Jobs in Finance and How Much You Can Make

Want to pursue a new, high-paying job in the financial sector? Check out our breakdown of the best-paying jobs in finance here.

Business News

AI Is Impacting Jobs. Here Are the Gigs Affected the Most, According to an Analysis of 5 Million Upwork Postings

The researcher said in the report that freelance jobs were analyzed first because that market will likely see AI's immediate impact.