Actor Neha Marda, widely recognized for his role as Gehna in the hit TV show Balika Vadhu, has now entered the limelight for a completely different reason. The TV star recently revealed her entrepreneurial journey on Shark Tank India, where she shared how a deeply personal struggle inspired her to build the business she is said to be generating today ₹2 million in monthly revenue.
What started with alum is worth it ₹10 has now grown into an underarm crystal roll-on brand called Phitku with over 2 million customers. According to Neha, the company has moved ₹14 million in sales within 10 months of launch and quickly expanded due to online visibility and consumer interest.
A personal experience became a business idea
During her appearance on Shark Tank India, Neha spoke candidly about the experience that led her to explore the business idea. The actor revealed that after the pregnancy, she started experiencing problems with body odor, which affected her self-esteem.
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Sharing her experience on the show, she said, “After pregnancy, I started feeling a little uncomfortable about my body odor. Being an actor, my self-esteem was shaken that day. Nothing really worked to fix it.”
She went on to explain how this challenge eventually turned into a business opportunity.
“What started as a personal problem soon turned into a business idea,” she added.
According to Neha, she intensively searched for natural and organic products that could help solve the problem, but struggled to find anything effective in the market.
“I looked for all the organic products available, but I couldn’t find any that worked. I had no choice but to continue using deodorants. It became very frustrating as an actor and a public figure. It’s such a common problem, but nobody wants to talk about it,” she said.
Business built on Roll-On based on alum
Neha started the brand along with her husband Rahul and brother. The trio reportedly spent nearly three years researching and developing the product before introducing it to customers.
The idea was to transform ordinary alum – commonly available in local markets – into a crystal-based roll-on product designed to tackle body odor while naturally fighting bacteria.
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At first, the product was said to be worth the price ₹99. However, as the formulation, ingredients and manufacturing process evolved, the price eventually rose to ₹999. The steep jump in prices drew criticism and trolling online, with several users questioning whether consumers would pay a premium for the product.
Neha later clarified that the increase reflected extensive research and changes made to improve the quality and efficiency of the roll-on.
Despite the criticism, the product seems to have found a strong consumer base. During her performance, Neha claimed that the mark was crossed ₹Revenues of 14 million in just 10 months.
₹2 million monthly revenue and 2 million customers
The actor-turned-entrepreneur also revealed that the company now serves over 2 million customers and generates approx ₹2 million in monthly revenue.
She added that social media has played a significant role in the rapid growth of the company. According to Neha, the brand’s Instagram page alone generated nearly 24.5 million organic views, which helped spread awareness about the product.
Her presentation on Shark Tank India also highlighted the challenges she faced trying to gain credibility as a founder and not just a TV celebrity.
Tough questions from the sharks
Despite her popularity on Hindi television, Neha faced pointed questions from investors during the presentations. Sharks Amit Jain, Namita Thapar, Anupam Mittal and Aman Gupta questioned the product’s market position, growth potential and pricing.
The discussion also touched on whether Neha’s celebrity status contributed significantly to the brand’s visibility and sales.
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During the presentation, Anupam Mittal questioned the product’s fragrance claims and asked, “Yeh perfume ka matlab kya hai? Is it just a gimmick?”
Namita Thapar also raised concerns about the pricing strategy, saying: ₹There are two milks for 200, ₹I am also found in 100 and you ₹It is from the year 999. Can you contact India?’
Despite close scrutiny, Neh’s pitch impressed some sharks. Aman Gupta and Anupam Mittal jointly offered it ₹1.8 crore for 1% equity, a deal she accepted on the show.
From TV star to entrepreneur
Before entering the business world, Neha Marda built a strong television career with shows like Balika Vadhu, Doli Armaano Ki, Kyun Rishton Mein Katti Batti and Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa.
The actor later took a break from acting after embracing motherhood. Her appearance on Shark Tank India has now introduced viewers to the next phase of her professional journey – one that moves beyond television and into business.
