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Tag: Micromax

  • Indian Brands That Nearly Faded Away and Came Back Stronger

    The Indian business landscape moves fast, and it doesn’t wait for anyone. Brands that once seemed untouchable can disappear almost overnight. Brands that once seemed untouchable can disappear almost overnight. However, some manage to defy the odds. They stumble, rethink, and return, stronger, smarter, and more determined than before.

    Take Micromax, which became a national pride to make a striking comeback in the smartphone world. Or Nokia, a familiar name that reappeared with modern devices, winning back loyal fans. Maruti Suzuki reserved its position as the car brand Indians trust most. These stories prove one thing: in India’s tough market, true success is about making a comeback that matters.

    How These Indian Brands Rebuilt Their Legacy?

    How These Indian Brands Rebuilt Their Legacy?

    Indian Brands That Nearly Faded Away and Came Back Stronger
    Indian Brands That Nearly Faded Away and Came Back Stronger

    Micromax

    Fall: Once India’s smartphone star and a strong rival to Samsung, Micromax lost ground in the mid-2010s as Chinese brands like Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo flooded the market with advanced, affordable smartphones. Its inability to innovate, poor after-sales service, and failure to support 4G during the Reliance Jio rollout contributed to its dominance collapsing. By mid-2020, its market share had plummeted dramatically, and many wondered if the brand was on its last legs.

    Comeback: Micromax returned with the “IN Series”, made in India under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, backed by INR 500 crore in R&D and manufacturing. Launched in late 2020, devices like the IN Note 1 and IN 1B focused on affordable specs, stock Android, 4G capabilities, and patriotic appeal, targeting value-conscious Indian consumers.

    Maruti Suzuki

    Fall: In the early 2000s, Maruti Suzuki faced rising competition from Hyundai, Tata, and other automakers, which began eroding its dominance in hatchbacks and sedans. By 2021, its overall market share dropped from 49% to around 42%, largely due to missing out on India’s booming SUV market, where rivals like Hyundai and Tata captured the majority of sales. Delays in mid-SUV launches and the phase-out of diesel engines further limited its presence, while global semiconductor shortages also hit production, leaving over 250,000 pending orders.

    Comeback: Maruti has responded with strategic expansion in entry-level SUVs like the Brezza and S-Cross, while planning five new SUVs, including a mid-SUV challenger to the Hyundai Creta and a three-row premium SUV. Investments in CNG models, hybrid technology, and EVs (with a target to launch an electric vehicle by 2025) show the company is actively adapting to market shifts. With its unmatched dealer network and strong brand trust, Maruti aims to reclaim lost ground in SUVs while maintaining dominance in hatchbacks and sedans.

    Nokia

    Fall: Once the king of mobile phones, Nokia struggled after the launch of the iPhone in 2007. Its reliance on the Symbian OS, slow adaptation to touchscreen technology, and failed innovations like the N97 caused its market share to collapse. By 2013, Nokia’s smartphone division was sold to Microsoft, and the brand’s global market share had fallen to just 3%.

    Comeback: Nokia shifted focus from smartphones to network solutions and 5G technology under CEO Rajeev Suri. Strategic investments in 5G infrastructure, ReefShark chips, and global telecom partnerships helped the company regain its footing. By 2020, Nokia partnered with over 300 telecom companies and captured 29% of the global 5G market, with revenue rising to $26 billion by 2022.

    Nokia’s Comeback: How Nokia Plans to Dominate the 5G Era
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    Bajaj Auto

    Fall: Bajaj Auto struggled as gear scooters like the Chetak became outdated against competitors like Hero Honda’s Activa. Attempts to revive scooters with models like Kristal failed, leading to exiting the scooter segment in 2009.

    Comeback: The brand repositioned as a motorcycle company, launching the Pulsar series in 2001, which became a youth icon for performance and style. Nostalgic campaigns like “Hamara Bajaj” and international expansion in Africa, South Asia, and Latin America helped Bajaj regain market strength and become a global two-wheeler leader.

    Raymond

    Fall: Once India’s leading luxury textile and men’s fashion brand, Raymond faced a decline in the late 2000s due to global competition, shifting consumer preferences toward casual and fast fashion, operational inefficiencies, and high debt. The rise of online retail and failure to modernize supply chains further weakened the brand.

    Comeback: Raymond attempted to revive itself through restructuring, divesting non-core businesses, and modernizing its product portfolio. While some manufacturing units and retail stores were closed, the brand focused on premium fabrics, menswear innovations, and maintaining its legacy of quality, keeping it relevant in urban India.

    Godrej Group

    Fall: While Godrej has been a trusted household name for decades, growth in certain segments slowed due to stiff competition in FMCG and consumer durables, slower international expansion, and evolving market dynamics.

    Comeback: Under chairman Adi Godrej, the Group refocused on consumer products, FMCG, and international markets. With organic growth in FMCG and strategic acquisitions internationally, Godrej now serves 600 million Indians and hundreds of millions more globally. The Group is also expanding B2B ventures domestically, using e-commerce channels without directly entering online retail, showing agility in modernizing its strategy.

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    Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M)

    Fall: M&M faced challenges in the automotive market for years, trailing behind Hyundai and Tata Motors, especially in the compact and premium SUV segments. Overall industry competition and declining SUV demand in some segments limited its growth.

    Comeback: M&M surged ahead in FY25 by focusing on large SUVs like the Bolero Neo, Scorpio, Thar Roxx, and XUV700, achieving 36% year-on-year growth in this category while competitors’ sales fell by 24%. The company leveraged a rugged brand appeal and wide pricing strategy, attracting buyers from both mass-market and premium SUV segments, ultimately becoming India’s second-largest automaker.

    Cafe Coffee Day (CCD)

    Fall: CCD faced a massive debt crisis, accumulating around INR 10,000 crore due to over-diversification into unrelated sectors like real estate, IT services, and resorts, which strained its core coffee business. The tragic death of founder V.G. Siddhartha in 2019 further shook the company, leading to declining sales.

    Comeback: Under the leadership of Malavika Hegde since December 2020, CCD focused on stabilizing operations, selling non-core assets, and reducing debt. By March 2024, the company had brought down its debt to INR 1,363 crore. While sales remain subdued, CCD strengthened its core coffee business, maintained efficient operations, and retained market presence, laying the groundwork for potential future growth.

    CCD CEO Malavika Hegde: Praise and Criticism for Rs 250 Crore Profit
    Currently, CCD owns 572 cafes along with 332 CCD Value Express kiosks spread out over the nation. It is a substantial business with more than 36,000 vending machines providing coffee to CCD customers.
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    Royal Enfield (India)

    Fall: By 1994, Royal Enfield India was on the verge of bankruptcy, struggling with declining demand, outdated products, and stiff competition from fuel-efficient bikes. The company was heavily loss-making under the parent company Eicher Motors, and a turnaround seemed unlikely.

    Comeback: At 26, Siddhartha Lal took over as CEO in 2000 and focused on reviving the brand by understanding customers firsthand, introducing cost-effective product improvements, and repositioning Royal Enfield as a lifestyle and community-focused brand. New models like the Thunderbird and Electra X were launched, combining heritage with innovation. By 2010, sales doubled from 25,000 units in 2005 to 50,000 units, and by FY14, Royal Enfield contributed 80% of Eicher Motors’ profits, driving revenues to INR 8,738 crore and net profit to INR 702 crore.

    Reliance Industries Ltd.

    Fall: Reliance was historically dependent on its energy and petrochemicals business, which faced cyclical challenges and limited growth. Retail and telecom were minor contributors.

    Comeback: The company rewrote its growth story by focusing on Reliance Retail and Jio Platforms. Aggressive retail expansion, acquisitions like Future Retail, omnichannel strategies, and private labels strengthened Reliance Retail. Jio disrupted telecom with affordable data, advanced 4G/5G networks, and a digital ecosystem, enabling seamless integration with retail. This synergy between retail and telecom has driven growth, digital adoption, and new revenue streams, making Reliance a consumer- and tech-focused powerhouse.

    Conclusion

    These top 10 Indian brands prove that failure is just a stepping stone to success. By embracing innovation, adapting to market changes, and staying true to their core values, they turned setbacks into remarkable comebacks. From revamping products to reimagining marketing and expanding globally, each brand showcased resilience, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of consumer needs.

    In India’s fast-moving market, reinvention is what separates temporary failures from lasting legends. These stories remind us that challenges are not roadblocks but opportunities, opportunities to learn, innovate, and return stronger than ever.

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    FAQs

    What are some Indian brands that came back stronger?

    Some Indian brands that came back stronger are:

    • Micromax
    • Maruti Suzuki
    • Nokia
    • Bajaj Auto
    • Raymond
    • Godrej Group
    • Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M)
    • Café Coffee Day (CCD)
    • Royal Enfield
    • Reliance Industries Ltd.

    What steps did Raymond take to rebuild its brand?

    Raymond restructured its operations, divested non-core businesses, modernized its menswear portfolio, and focused on premium fabrics to stay relevant in a competitive fashion market.

    Why did Nokia fail, and how did it make a comeback?

    Nokia lost ground due to slow adaptation to touchscreens and reliance on Symbian OS. It made a comeback by shifting focus to telecom solutions and 5G infrastructure, becoming a major player with global partnerships and significant 5G market share.

  • 12 Best Independence Day Campaign Ideas & Creative Social Media Campaigns by Brands in India

    The Indian Independence Day is not just a day but an occasion to look back at the oppression that our country has witnessed, reminisce about the glorious battles of the past, pay tribute to the freedom fighters who led us to be independent, and celebrate the present!

    All of our Independence Day celebrations are different, but among all these differences, the spirit still somehow remains the same!

    Schools, colleges, and universities across the country witness colorful celebrations, office employees usually enjoy their day off or take part in their office celebrations, while content creators and marketers sit back and enjoy their creations come to life!

    Yes, Independence Day campaigns are what we are talking about. They are among the most interesting parts of Independence Day.

    Much like many other festivities, 15th August is also a happening day, if not the most important day, for the marketers. Entrepreneurs, marketers, and content creators race into their brainstorming and ideation and take up their content development tasks quite early to complete and post them right on the day as scheduled.

    With ingenious and mind-boggling advertisement campaigns themed on Independence Day, colored with the colors of India, they have wrapped a significant part of the internet. Many companies shared inspiring Independence Day posts by brands, showcasing patriotism, unity, and creative campaigns to connect with their audience.

    If you are also a marketing enthusiast or simply want to know how brands have launched successful Independence Day campaigns throughout the years, then here you will find some unmissable advertisements that will motivate you on Independence Day 2025.

    Let’s look at 12 Unforgettable Independence Day Campaigns

    S.No. Brand & Campaign Campaign Theme Message / Highlight
    1 Parle-G Armed Forces Campaign Tribute to Soldiers Honoring the role of armed forces in protecting the nation
    2 Tata Tea Premium Kulhad Campaign Cultural Pride Celebrates regional pride and unity using the humble kulhad
    3 Bajaj Avenger Independence Ride Campaign Freedom & Brotherhood Promotes riding as a symbol of freedom across the country
    4 Micromax Tiranga Campaign Patriotism Encourages citizens to take pride in the Indian flag
    5 Hero MotoCorp Saluting Heroes Campaign Honoring Frontline Workers Pays tribute to unsung heroes who serve the country daily
    6 ITC Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign National Celebration Supports the national campaign to bring the flag to every home
    7 JSW Paints Think Beautiful Campaign Unity in Diversity Highlights India’s beauty through different cultures and colors
    8 Godrej Sounds of Making India Campaign Celebrating Workers Showcases the sounds of workers building a better India
    9 Edelweiss Mutual Fund The Wall of Independence Campaign Financial Freedom A symbolic wall representing stories of financial independence
    10 CashKaro Bachat ki Azaadi Campaign Savings & Empowerment Highlights freedom from overspending through smart saving
    11 Kalyan Jewellers Stories of Courage Campaign Honoring Soldiers Celebrates bravery, equality, and breaking stereotypes
    12 Ajio Fashion Freedom Encourages people to express their true style without judgment

    Parle-G Armed Forces Campaign

    Parle G | Armed Forces Film | Independence Day Campaign Ideas

    Brands across India launched creative Independence Day social media campaigns to celebrate patriotism and engage audiences with meaningful content. Parle G is one of the oldest brands of biscuits in India, founded back in 1929, and therefore, remains closely knit with the Indian freedom struggle and independence.

    Along with the quality biscuits that Parle G offers, the brand also came up with an outstanding campaign in 2018 for the occasion of Independence Day. This campaign was marketed under #YouAreMyParleG, which was a 2.5-minute-long video launched as a tribute to the soldiers of India.

    The film focused on the real life of Ankit Singh behind enemy lines.

    Tata Tea Premium Kulhad Campaign

    Desh ka Kulhad – Celebrating India’s Rich Diversity | Independence Day Brand Campaigns

    Most of the campaigns that we see around us are done with a motive of gaining sales or promoting a brand, but Tata Tea Premium’s Kulhad of 2020 was not one of them. Tata Tea Premium launched the #DeshKaKulhad campaign, where it partnered with Rare Planet to exhibit the rich diversity that India takes pride in in the form of a video.

    The brand displayed an incredible collection of hand-painted kulhads by Indian artisans and also promised that the proceeds of the sale from this campaign would directly reach the pandemic-struck craftspeople of India, who are finding it difficult to survive the dreadful pandemic.

    Bajaj Avenger Independence Ride Campaign

    Bajaj Avenger Independence Day Film #RideYourIndependence | Independence Day Campaigns by Brands

    Bajaj Auto was founded in 1945 in November and is historically connected with Indian independence. It is one of the oldest Indian auto companies and never fails to amaze the Indians with its inventive Independence Day campaigns.

    The #RideYourIndependence campaign by Bajaj in 2017 remains one of the top marketing campaigns launched by any brand for Independence Day. This campaign was a video advertisement that showed a woman driving a Bajaj Avenger through the risky streets and alleyways in shorts and simply enjoying the ride of her life.

    The video empowered womankind and ended with a powerful message by Mahatma Gandhi, where he stated, “The day women can walk freely on the roads at night, that day we can say India has achieved Independence.”

    Micromax Tiranga Campaign

    #SaveTheTiranga | Independence Day Campaign Ideas

    Micromax is a mobile brand rooted in India and is, therefore, an epitome of Indianness among all its Chinese and American counterparts.

    Micromax has manufactured a series of mobiles, and many of them have been rated well, but the #SaveTheTiranga campaign launched by this brand to commemorate August 15, 2017, remains etched on our minds.

    This campaign was in the form of a video that showed the Indian children who crafted handmade Indian flags. However, the sad part is that they are impoverished, belong to the rural section of the country, and are treated with unspeakable cruelty. The video also focused on the irony that the Indian flags are bought only to show off on 15th August and are finally discovered lying here and there the next day.

    17 Creative Independence Day Celebration Ideas & Games for Office Employee Engagement
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    Hero MotoCorp Saluting Heroes Campaign

    Hero Salutes | Creative Independence Day Ads

    Hero MotoCorp is an Indian motorcycle company founded in 1984, headquartered in New Delhi, and is famous for being the country’s as well as the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer.

    Apart from its two-wheelers, which are a permanent driving solution for the Indians, Hero MotoCorp’s #HeroSalutes campaign is something that is permanently embedded in the marketing canvas of India.

    Through this marketing campaign, Hero gave a tribute to the real heroes of India, who fought for the country but had to stay away from their own families and relatives to ensure the safety of India. It showed that they are always supported by their families and should also be saluted by their countrymen!

    15 Independence Day Celebration Ideas for Office
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    ITC Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign

    ITC | Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign

    ITC Limited is an Indian company headquartered in Kolkata. With diverse business segments such as FMCG, IT, hotels, agriculture, and packaging, the company makes its majority revenue from its tobacco products. ITC’s #HarGharTiranga campaign took a trip down memory lane, evoking nostalgic memories from Independence Day celebrations in school. The ad is a heartfelt tribute to the heroes of the freedom struggle, ultimately leading to India’s independence. Urging us to wave Tiranga, ITC evoked a sea of emotions on celebrating the 75th Independence Day.

    JSW Paints Think Beautiful Campaign

    JSW Paints – Independence Day | Think Beautiful Film

    JSW is a million-dollar conglomerate primarily dealing in cement, infrastructure, energy, and steel. JSW Paints struck a chord when it talked about something so commonplace in our country. The ad depicts how often public property is abused and neglected. A thought-provoking message delivered ever so subtly, it is etched in your mind for a while. You cannot help but agree that “Jab soch sundar hogi, tabhi toh desh sundar hoga”.

    Godrej Sounds of Making India Campaign

    Godrej | Sounds of Making India

    Godrej Group is an Indian multinational conglomerate headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, operating in sectors including consumer products, furniture, industrial engineering, and real estate. The ad film narrates Godrej Group’s journey along with India’s progress. The # SoundsOfMakingIndiastruck encapsulates the industrial sounds from different businesses that are crucial to India’s economic progress. The ad integrates these sounds with its products, depicting them as the heartbeat of the nation.

    Edelweiss Mutual Fund The Wall of Independence Campaign

    Edelweiss Mutual Fund is an asset management platform founded in 2007. A subset of the Edelweiss Group, the company has gained a reputation since it acquired JP Morgan India Asset Management and introduced MSCI in the Indian market. #TheWallofIndependence, a campaign launched on the occasion of celebrating 75 years of Independence, talks about India’s journey of what freedom looks like today. It talks about the freedom of choosing to dream and, better yet pursuing the dream. It reminds us of the empowerment achieved and the ability of a nation to dream.

    CashKaro Bachat ki Azaadi Campaign

    Bachat Ki Azaadi | Independence Day Brand Film 

    CashKaro, founded by Rohan and Swati Bhargava, is a cashback system in India, particularly known for its cashback rewards and coupons. CashKaro caught a nerve with this Independence Day ad “#Bachatkiazadi”. The ad tugs at the pain of daily wage earners, often taken for granted by Indian consumers. If there’s anything inherent to Indian businesses, it is the art of bargaining. We pride ourselves on saving Rs 10 and getting free “dhaniya” from the vegetable vendor. However, we dare not do so at a shopping mall. Why? The ad urges us to let go of unnecessary bargaining, especially with people who earn a living from selling small items.

    Kalyan Jewellers Stories of Courage Campaign

    Independence Day Campaigns – Kalyan Jewelers

    Kalyan Jewellers has launched a refreshing Independence Day campaign to honor the bravery and dedication of Indian soldiers.

    The heartwarming video shows how our soldiers always put the country first. It also highlights how they are challenging old beliefs and breaking gender stereotypes.

    The film sends a strong message of pride, equality, and respect. It reminds us to celebrate the real heroes who protect our freedom every day.

    Ajio

    Independence Day Campaigns – Ajio

    Ajio’s #FashionBeyondLabels campaign sends a powerful message about being yourself through fashion.

    The ad shows how people are often judged for the way they dress, and how society tries to put labels on their style. But Ajio believes fashion is all about freedom—wearing what you love and expressing who you truly are.

    It encourages everyone to break the rules, be confident, and celebrate their unique style without fear.

    Conclusion

    These Independence Day campaigns are not just advertisement campaigns but are tributes to the free India we live in and the Indianism we can sport! This article covered several impactful Independence Day creative ads by brands that honored the spirit of freedom and celebrated real-life heroes. Happy Independence Day 2025!

    FAQs

    What are some of the best Independence Day Campaigns?

    Parle-G Armed Forces Campaign, Tata Tea Premium Kulhad Campaign, Bajaj Avenger Independence Ride Campaign, ITC Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign, JSW Paints Think Beautiful Campaign, Godrej Sounds of Making India Campaign, and Edelweiss Mutual Fund The Wall of Independence Campaign are some of the best Independence Day Campaigns.

    How many years of independence will India celebrate on the Indian Independence Day 2025?

    On Indian Independence Day 2025, India will celebrate its 79th Independence Day. However, the country will complete 78 years of its independence.

    What are Independence Day campaign ideas?

    Celebrate Independence Day with creative campaigns like #MyFreedomStory, where people share what freedom means to them.
    Host a Tiranga Theme Day, run a fun Freedom Quiz, or highlight local heroes making a difference. Boost engagement with a flag-themed filter, promote Made in India products, or create a digital parade using reels.

  • List of Brands Endorsed by Hugh Jackman

    Hollywood has given the world some of the greatest celebrity who has turned out to be inspirational and influential. Many popular brands hire these celebrities because they are aware of the power those celebrities hold. To market their products, they grab this opportunity with both hands.

    One of the most popular superstars of Hollywood, Hugh Jackman has been in the industry for almost three decades and it wouldn’t be wrong to say that he is an actor who has been able to capture the world with his amazing acting skills.

    The Oscar-nominated, Australian actor started his career in Hollywood with the film Erskineville Kings in 1999 but gained momentum after playing the role of the superhero Wolverine in X-Men. His role of wolverine got him the Guinness World Record of “longest career as a live-action Marvel character”. Apart from that his films like, Van Helsing, The Front Runner, Les Misérables, The Greatest Showman has helped in gaining him worldwide recognition and fame.

    He has won some of the greatest awards in the world like Golden Globe, Grammy, Emmy and Tony awards for contributing to the entertainment industry. Apart from being a part of some of the biggest blockbusters, the 53-year has also been associated with some of the world-famous brands. In this article, we will talk about the brands that are endorsed by Hugh Jackman. So, let’s get right into the business.

    “People relate to people, and if your brand feels like people, they’ll relate to you, too.” – Laura Busche

    List of Brands Endorsed by Hugh Jackman

    Keurig
    Qantas
    R.M. William Boots
    Montblanc
    Micromax

    Keurig

    Keurig is an American brand that sells single cup coffee brewing systems. It was founded by John Sylvan, Peter Dragone. Hugh Jackman himself is the co-founder of Laughing Man Coffee brand, in 2015 Keurig collaborated with Laughing Man Coffee and also took Jackman as their brand ambassador and made him the face of their future campaign.

    Qantas

    One of the world’s oldest airlines is Qantas of Australia. It was founded in 1920 by Fergus McMaster, Hudson Fysh, and Paul McGinness. It is Australia’s largest domestic and international airline and is famous for serving customers with premium and class service. Their service is quite popular in the aviation industry.

    Qantas partnered up with Hugh Jackman in the year 2015, to promote the country on the global front with the help of the Australian actor. Qantas believed that Hugh Jackman is the perfect person to be the face of the airlines.

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    R.M. William Boots

    R.M. Williams is a popular Australian brand known for its footwear and apparel. It was founded in the year 1920 by Reginald Murray Williams. The brand is mainly famous for its riding boots as they are handcrafted and are made of a single piece of leather.

    The brand roped in Hugh Jackman and made him the global brand ambassador of their brand in the year 2019 before that in 2015 Hugh Jackman also invested in the company.

    Hugh Jackman and the Australian fashion brand worked together for different ad campaigns, the most popular one was the ‘Undeniable Character’ campaign that was launched in the April of 2019.

    Montblanc

    Founded in the year 1906, Montblanc is one of the most popular brands that deal with fashion accessories like watches, eyewear, jewellery, perfume and writing instruments. It is a German brand, whose headquarters is situated in Hamburg, Germany.

    In 2016, the German luxury brand roped in Hugh Jackman and made him the global ambassador of the brand. The products created by Montblanc is what made him attracted to the brand and he agreed to become the face of the global brand.

    Micromax

    Micromax is an Indian multinational brand that deals with consumer electronics and home appliances. The brand is mainly famous for developing high-end smartphones, founded in the year 2000 by Rahul Sharma, it was the biggest company in 2010 that made low-cost mobile phones in India. The headquarters is situated in Gurgaon, India.

    Micromax made Hugh Jackman the face of the brand in 2013, for the Canvas range phones. Hugh Jackman was a part of several Micromax phone campaigns.

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    Conclusion

    Hugh Jackman’s popularity knows no bounds, from some of the greatest roles in the Hollywood industry to being a well-respected actor, his journey is commendable. Brands want to associate with the X-Men actor as they are aware of his fan-following. His collab with some big brands has made the actor more a pretty popular face in the industry.

    FAQs

    What is the net worth of Hugh Jackman?

    The net worth is Hugh Jackman is $180 million.

    How old is Hugh Jackman?

    Hugh Jackman was born in 1968 and is currently 53 years old.

    Hugh Jackman is famous for his role of superhero Logan/Wolverine in X-Men.

  • Rahul Sharma: CEO & Co-founder, Micromax

    From ruling India’s smartphone market to staging a comeback, Rahul Sharma’s journey with Micromax is one of resilience and reinvention. As the Co-founder and CEO of Gurugram-based Micromax Informatics, he played a key role in making smartphones affordable for millions. Once one of India’s leading tech entrepreneurs, Rahul was featured in Fortune’s 40 Under 40 and named Forbes Person of the Year in 2010. As of 2025, his net worth is estimated to be approximately INR 1,300 crore. Here’s a closer look at his journey, education, achievements, and what he is building next.

    Rahul Sharma- Biography

    Name Rahul Sharma
    Date of Birth 1975
    Birthplace Mehrauli, Delhi, India
    Nationality Indian
    Education Mechanical Engineering, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University
    Bachelor’s in Commerce, University of Saskatchewan, Canada
    Profession Entrepreneur
    Known For Co-founder & CEO, Micromax
    Co-founder, Bhagwati Products Limited
    Co-founder, MiPhi Semiconductors Private Limited
    Net Worth Estimated INR 1,300 crore
    Father School Principal
    Mother Homemaker
    Marital Status Married
    Spouse Asin Thottumkal (married on 19 January 2016)
    Children Daughter: Arin Sharma

    Rahul Sharma – Personal Life
    Rahul Sharma – Education
    Rahul Sharma – Professional Life
    How Rahul Sharma launched Micromax
    Challenges faced by Rahul Sharma
    Rahul Sharma as the CEO of Micromax
    Rahul Sharma and YU Teleentures
    Rahul Sharma – Honors & Awards
    Rahul Sharma – FAQs

    Rahul Sharma- Personal Life

    Rahul was born in Delhi, India. He had a simple childhood, his father being a teacher and his mother a homemaker.

    He assiduously touched heights and started his professional career. Today, he is successful and has a luxurious house in the Mehrauli suburb and rides in a Rolls-Royce Ghost. He got married to a famous Bollywood celebrity, Asin Thottumkal on 19 January 2016, and the couple bears a daughter as well.

    Rahul Sharma - Owner, Micromax
    Rahul Sharma with his wife Asin Thottumkal

    Rahul Sharma- Education

    Rahul has two undergraduate degrees. He pursued Mechanical Engineering from Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University.

    He later did a Bachelors in Commerce from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada.

    He also participated in the program for Owner\President Management (OPM) from the renowned Harvard Business School in Boston, Massachusetts.

    Rahul Sharma- Professional Life

    Rahul had a strong background in product goods and technology marketing. He holds extensive knowledge of building brands and launching new products. He eventually led a range of successful campaigns for global brands including, Microsoft Xbox, Procter & Gamble, Shaw Communication’s television services, etc.

    Moreover, he started working with Shaw Communications Inc as their Vice President for their On-Demand Television Services from February 2004. He led the Corporate Sales and Marketing, also examined the marketing and development of Shaw’s On Demand products such as Pay Per View, Video On Demand, and Digital Pay Television.

    Before joining Shaw, he worked on a range of Management-levels roles in Communications, Consumer Marketing, and Brand Management. He founded an Indian mobile manufacturing company, Micromax Informatics along with some of his friends in 2000. He worked in a manufacturing company for one and a half years before deciding to establish his own venture.

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    Rahul Sharma- Startup

    It all started when Rahul was gifted a computer by his father during the late 90s. He was highly impressed by the technology and finally decided to launch Micromax software with three of his friends.

    Rahul along with one of his neighbors, Rajesh Aggarwal, and two of his friends, Vikas Jain and Sumeet Arora cordially founded Micromax Informatics in 2000. The company initially worked on low-end technology products. The venture was boosted when Nokia shook hands with the company and became its partner in 2001. Here are the Reasons Why Nokia failed After Enjoying Unrivaled dominance in the mobile segment for years!

    Micromax eventually created a frequency-conversion tool for Bharti Airtel Limited, that allowed to set up a huge network of “payphones”, a sector where BSNL and MTNL were enjoying a monopoly.

    Micromax Informatics Company Details:

    Micromax Informatics Owners Rahul Sharma, Rajesh Agarwal
    Valuation ~ Rs 1,358 crore
    Founded March 29, 2000
    Headquarters Gurugram, Haryana, India
    Revenue INR 2,368.79 crores (2018–2019)
    Subsidiaries YU Televentures, Bhagwati Products Limited, Mobi Serve, YU Televentures Pvt. Ltd, Micromax Informatics FZE

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    Rahul Sharma- Challenges

    When Micromax started expanding its business, the company discovered a cellphone that would run for a whole month on just a single charge. Thereafter, the company was forced to come up with some other ideas, since no distributor was willing to buy the phones.

    The company swayed its interest towards dual-sim phones. Consequently, Micromax became the first company to launch dual-sim phones with a “single baseband” in India. As of January 2014, Micromax sold around 2 million handsets and 80,000 tablets every month. Hugh Jackman is one of Rahul’s favorite actors, was once the brand ambassador of Micromax.

    Rahul Sharma- CEO of Micromax

    Rahul is currently designated as the CEO of Micromax. Under his leadership, the company grew from $10,000 to $36 million. He examines the Product Strategy and serves as the Channel Sales Executive Director of Micromax as well.

    Micromax Logo

    Micromax revenue hit US$330 million in 2018-2019 and the company got Hugh Jackman as their brand ambassador. The company skyrocketed due to the exclusive sale of their exceptionally low-cost mobile handsets.

    Eventually, the company has also started manufacturing electronic devices and appliances such as LED TVs and tablets at their factory in Rudrapur, Uttarakhand. While Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna were among the first celebrities who endorsed Micromax phones.

    Micromax’s Valuation is around Rs 1,358 crore.

    Companies that invested in Micromax
    Madison India Capital
    Sandstone Capital
    Sequoia Capital
    TA Associates

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    Rahul Sharma- YU Teleentures

    The biggest gain that Rahul got from Micromax is YU Teleentures, which is a joint venture of Micromax Informatics and Cyanogen Inc. The OS was discontinued by the CyanogenMod developers as soon as YU officially took the Cyanogen Operating System in the country.

    Rahul holds a 99% stake in the company, with the two co-founders of Micromax, Sumeet Arora, and Vikas Jain holding the remaining 1%. Mobile phones like YU Yureka and YU Yuphoria took over the market during their release since there was a rush to buy these mobile phones owing to their amazing features and low price.

    Rahul Sharma- Honors & Awards

    • He was bestowed with the IT Person of the Year in 2016 by DataQuest.
    • He was named the Entrepreneur of the Year in 2016 at the Hello Hall of Fame program.
    • He was conferred with the Hindustan Times Game Changer Award for excellence in his field and his contribution to society.

    Rahul Sharma – FAQs

    How much is Rahul Sharma Net worth?

    Rahul Sharma has a net worth of more than Rs.4070 crores as of 2021.

    Who is Rahul Sharma?

    Rahul Sharma is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Micromax Informatics. He co-founded Micromax along with Rohit Patel on 29 March 2000. He is widely known as a genius marketing architect.

    What is Rahul Sharma’s Education?

    Rahul Sharma pursued Mechanical Engineering from Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University and Bachelor’s in Commerce from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada. He also participated in the program for Owner/ President Management (OPM) from the renowned Harvard Business School in Boston, Massachusett.

    Who is Micromax Owner?

    Rahul Sharma is the Owner and CEO of Micromax.

    What is Rahul Sharma’s age?

    Rahul Sharma was born on 14 September, 1975 in Delhi. He is 45 years old.

  • The Top 8 Mobile Companies Of India

    The Indian Smartphone market is known to be the second largest smartphone market around the world according to the Counterpoint’s market monitor. In 2019 alone the mobile phone shipment to India increased to 158 million with a 7% annual growth. This is because popularity of the good quality and mid-range smartphones provided by the Chinese phone companies. Many Indians are now supporting the boycott of Chinese products amidst the ongoing border tensions between the two countries. But despite the Anti-China sentiments, the Chinese brands dominated the Indian smartphone market with a market share of 75% in 2020.

    Indian buyers have been partial to the foreign brands, especially to the Chinese and American brands like Samsung, Apple, Oneplus, Oppo, Vivo, Xiomi, Realme, etc in the smartphone market. Although with the current situation with the border issues between the two countries, the market is slowly seeing a shift with the home grown brands getting a chance to gain a better market share in the business. It also might be surprising to some people that they are already many Indian mobile phone companies like Micromax, Intex, Karbonn, Lava, etc, that disappeared because of the growing competition with the Chinese companies.

    These Indian companies have a long history of coming out with good mobile phones, with good quality, build, stunning features, advanced technology and lower/affordable prices targeted especially at the local audience. Some of these brands have also achieved a lot of success when they first came out, but now are nowhere to be seen. The recent bans on Chinese apps by the government have made many Indians keen on using Made in India products, and this gives our Indian mobile companies the opportunity to make a comeback with new smartphones.

    Recently, Micromax has announced that it will be coming up with new phones and reentering the smartphone market. Other companies like Lava, Intex and Karbonn have the potential to make a strong comeback, but have not come with anything yet. Below are the top 8 Indian smartphone companies that have the potential and could come back in the Indian smartphone market:

    Micromax Informatics
    Lava International
    Intex Technology
    Karbonn Mobiles
    iBall Mobile
    Xolo Smartphone
    Lyf
    YU Televentures

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    Micromax Informatics

    Micromax Informatics is a home grown multinational electronics company. Micromax specializes in making laptops, smartphones, tablets, LED televisions and other home appliances. The company is known for manufacturing products at a low cost less and making it affordable to the common man. The company was founded in 2000, by four college friends Mohit Sharma, Dewas and Rohit Patel and has its headquarters in Gurgaon, Haryana. Micromax was first established as an IT software company that focused on democratizing technology in order to compete with International players.

    why Indian mobile companies failed 

    The company entered the market in 2008 and quickly became one of the most leading consumers electronics company including the 10thlargest mobile phone brands in the world. Micromax still faces a huge competition with the Chinese brand in the Indian market. Micromax is also popular because it has introduced low budget phones with innovative features, which is why the company made X1i phone which became the first telephone with a battery that lasts for a month. In 2014, it became the first Indian company to sell in Russia. The company has two main sectors which are Mobile handset that include feature phones and smartphones.

    The second is Consumer electronics that include Air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machine and LED television. Micromax also owns YU Televentures, which sells mobile phones under the name of YU. By 2014, the company grew so popular that it got Hugh Jackman to be its ambassador. Micromax made it comeback in 2020 which a smart phone sub brand called IN. The company is now aims at expending its portfolio in the consumer’s electronics sector and targeting a wider target audience which are premium economy consumers.

    Company Name Micromax
    Headquaters Gurugoan, Haryana
    Founded On 2000
    CEO Rahul Sharma
    Employees 20,000
    Annual Revenue US $330 million
    Products & Services Smartphones, Tablets, Web browser, Air conditioner, LED TVs, laptops, power banks

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    Lava International

    Lava International is an Indian Smartphone company which also manufactures products like Television and Laptops. The company was founded by Hari Om Rai, Sunil Bhalla, Shailendra Nath Rai and Vishal Sehgal in 2009. The company is also headquartered in Noida of Uttar Pradesh. The multinational company has its operations in many countries such as India, China, Russia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan even launching some of its products in countries like Egypt and Africa. Similar to Micromax, Lava also focuses on making low budget or affordable devices.

    The company that started out as a telecommunications venture was given the title of the Most trustworthy Brand in the CMR retail sentiment index in the year of 2018. The company also faced a big competition from the Chinese companies in the Indian smartphone market, making it get into financial problem in 2018 making it delay payments to vendors and employees. The company is also known to be having a facility in China which is specifically for the design and development of its products.

    Logos of Indian mobile companies
    Logos of Indian mobile companies

    The company now has a distribution model which is only single layer, which includes more than 900 distributors across the country. The company is now aiming to establish a mobile phone design centre and more manufacturing facilities in India. Lava was the first company to launch 4G enabled phone in India through its 4G Connect M14, in 2017. Lava has also launched Z1, Z2, Z4, Z6 and myZ in January 2021 which are the world’s first customizable smartphone. It has also recently launched BeFIT Fitness brand.

    Company Name Lava International
    Headquaters Noida, Uttar Pradesh
    Founded On 2009
    CEO Hari Om Rai
    Employees 10,000
    Annual Revenue US $760 million
    Products & Services Smartphones, Tablets, Laptops

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    Intex Technology

    Intex Technology is an Indian multinational company that manufactures budget friendly smartphones and gadgets. The company makes a wide variety of products such as Smartphones, PC, mobile accessories, LED Television, speakers, IT appliances and Home appliances. Intex was founded in 1996 and has its headquarters in New Delhi. The company was founded by Narendra Bansal who wanted the bridge the gap between the rich and the poor by reducing the digital divide between urban and rural.

    The company also makes PCs and various products for computers like TFT – LCD Monitors, CRT monitors, Fax modems, keyboards, mouse, SMPS and UPS systems, headphones, DVD Players, MP3 players and many more. Intex was the first Indian company to launch the 3G sim enabled watch called the iRist. The company at a certain point was India’s second largest mobile phone company by sales.

    Intex is still producing devices and gadgets in other sectors but has not made new phones in a while especially since the rise of Chinese phones in the Indian market. The company began LED Television business in which it has seen a growth of over 150 %.  The company now focuses on IT hardware and distributing electronic in India. It has also big names such as Madhuri Dixit and Kiccha Sudeep as its brand ambassadors and owns an IPL franchise from 2016 to 2017 known as Gujarat Lions.

    Company Name Intex Technology
    Headquaters New Delhi
    Founded On 1996
    CEO Keshav Bansal
    Employees 10,000
    Annual Revenue US $870 million
    Products & Services Smartphones, Tablets, mobile phones, washing machine, LED TVs, UPS, webcams, security cameras, refrigerators, ACs

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    Karbonn Mobiles

    Karbonn is an Indian company that manufactures smartphones, tablets and even mobile accessories. This smartphone company is a joint venture of the Jaina Group from Delhi and UTL Group from Bengaluru. The company came to existence in 2009 after being founded by Sudhir Hasija and Pardeep Jain and is headquartered in New Delhi, India. The companies sells its products in Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, European Countries and Middle East.

    Karbonn mobile have also collaborated with telecom companies like Airtel, Vodafone, Idea and Jio. Karbonn is also given the rank of being one of the most trusted brands in India. The company was created after the maker’s infamous deal with the Eros International Media Ltd for whom they had to manufacture about 500,000 merchandise Kochadaiyaan which is a upcoming movie of that time.

    The company then collaborated with Hungama.com and have their app preinstalled in their phones. The company worked with Google and manufactured Karbonn Sparkle V which was one first android one phones in India. The company like other also faces competition from the Chinese brands and has also not launched any new models for a few years.

    Company Name Karbonn
    Headquaters New Delhi
    Founded On 2009
    CEO Pardeep Jain
    Employees 10,000
    Annual Revenue US $91 million
    Products & Services Smartphones, Tablets

    India manufacturing phones

    iBall Mobile

    iBall is as India electronics company that manufactures a wide range of products such as smartphones, tablets, web camera, PC cabinets, earphones, desk sets, keyboards, headsets, speakers, pen drives, USB products, LED monitors, chargers, etc. The company was founded in 2001 by Anil Pararampuria and has its headquarters in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The company also makes low budget smartphones, PC and tablets and its accessories.

    iBall first started out by making computer mouse, but is known for its 2014 projects named Andi Udaan through which it made smartphones for blind women. The phone was designed in way that it had a SOS button behind the phone which made to create sounds and send automatic messages and calls to five contacts when it is pressed. In 2015 and 2016 iBall collaborated with Intel and Microsoft to launch the country most affordable Windows 10 laptop which is iBall CompBook at Rs 9,999.

    Company Name iBall Mobile
    Headquaters Mumbai, Maharashtra
    Founded On 2001
    CEO Sandeep Parasrampuria
    Employees 2,000
    Annual Revenue US $170 million
    Products & Services Smartphones, Tablets, mobile phones, speakers, laptops, routers, webcams, security cameras

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    Xolo Smartphone

    Xolo is an Indian mobile phone company which is a subsidiary to Lava International. The company was in 2012 and is headquartered in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The company is known for its smartphones, tablets, laptops and accessories like power banks. Xolo is credited for being the first company that launched a smartphone (X900) with the Intel processor in India.

    The company also aims in manufactures high quality smartphone with lower cost smartphones. It was the first Indian company to be the regional partner of the Liverpool FC. Xolo also launched a tablet named Xolo Win tablet and the first 4G enabled smartphone (LT900) in India in 2013.

    It also credited for introducing the first dual camera phone in India. The Xolo Black made with the partnership with Flipkart, while the Xolo era series was made in partnership with Snapdeal. Xolo introduced a lot of new features like dual 4G sims and up to 512 GB of ram in its Xolo A500 phone which came out in 2013. The company has also recently developed its own unique UI for android phone known as Hive UI. Xolo ZX smartphone is the last phone the company in 2019.

    Company Name Xolo
    Headquaters Noida, Uttar Pradesh
    Founded On 2012
    CEO Vishal Sehgal
    Employees 1,371
    Products & Services Smartphones, Tablets, Hive UI, Laptops

    Lyf

    Lyf or Reliance Lyf is a smartphone company that belongs to Reliance Jio which is a subsidiary of the Reliance Industries Limited. The company was founded in 2015 by Mukesh Ambani and is headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The company started out by making affordable smartphones which was named after elements of nature such as LYF Water, LYF Earth, LYF Fire with free Jio sim cards.

    This led it to becoming the fifth largest smartphone manufacturer and the second largest 4G LTE smartphone maker in 2016. The company also had partnered with Amazon and Grofers to deliver its phones. But after the short success the company stopped producing new phones.

    Company Name Lyf
    Headquaters New Delhi
    Founded On 2015
    Founder Mukesh Ambani
    Products & Services Smartphones, Wifi hotspot devices

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    YU Televentures

    YU Televentures is an Indian electronics company that is a subsidiary of Micromax Informatics and Cyanogen Inc. Yu was founded as a joint venture from the companies in 2014 and is headquartered in Gurgoan, Haryana. Micromax’s Co-Founder Rahul Sharma is known to own 99% of stakes in YU. Some of the best models created by the company are YU Yunique 2, YU Yureka 2 and YU Ace. However YU was discontinued by Micromax as it was merged with the company.

    Company Name YU Televentures
    Headquaters Gurgoan, Haryana
    Founded On 2014
    Founder Rahul Sharma
    Products & Services Smartphones, pocket printer, Power bank

    Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

    What are the Top Indian mobile companies?

    • YU Televentures
    • Lyf
    • Xolo smartphone
    • iBall Mobile
    • Karbonn Mobiles
    • Micromax
    • Lava International
    • Intex

    What are the Chinese companies dominating the Indian smartphones market?

    • Oppo
    • Vivo
    • Xiomi
    • Realme
    • Huawei
    • Lenovo
    • OnePlus