Zerodha’s Nithin Kamath lost a bet of ₹2.5 lakh to an employee. The reason is internet fandom | Today’s news
A fitness challenge at stock broking giant Zerodha has caught the attention of social media after co-founder and CEO Nithin Kamath revealed that he lost ₹2.5 lakh bet on an employee who successfully transformed his health by losing 30 kg.
On Thursday, Mr Kamath shared the story on X and said he had no regrets about the outcome.
“I lost my fitness bet and I’m happy I lost this one,” Kamath wrote, reposting an Instagram update from Zerodha employee Rohit Agarwal.
The post quickly gained popularity online, with users praising both the employee’s achievements and the company’s efforts to promote a healthier lifestyle.
“My Biggest Bend”
Mr. Agarwala, who works as a content and media strategist at Zerodha, shared a photo with Mr. Kamath on Instagram celebrating the achievement.
“My biggest flex? That I won.” ₹2.5L from @nithinkamath for a health challenge,” he wrote.
However, he emphasized that the monetary reward was not the most meaningful part of the experience.
“Money is secondary. The most rewarding thing is taking care of your health and losing 30kg in the last year. I don’t think any other place gives you this opportunity @zerodhaonline,” Agarwala wrote.
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His post resonated with many users, who saw the challenge as an example of how workplace culture can affect personal well-being.
Year-round fitness journey
In a separate Instagram video, Mr. Agarwala opened up about the transformation efforts.
He revealed that he had struggled with weight issues for years and repeatedly tried to return to a healthier lifestyle after gaining weight again.
“Being fit was like a dream,” he said.
According to Mr. Agarwal, the challenge started with a bet involving about 15 colleagues. About half a year ago in January, he adopted the goal of reducing his weight from 95 kg to 75 kg.
The group together gave approx ₹1 lakh on the line, using the challenge as motivation to encourage unhealthy employees to take fitness more seriously.
From 104 kg to 74.5 kg
Mr. Agarwala said his journey actually began even earlier.
He revealed that he weighed 104kg in April and managed to get down to 95kg by June when the official challenge began.
The goal was to reach 75 kg by January. By January 8, he had brought his weight down to 74.5 kg, surpassing the goal he had set for himself.
With that experience in mind, he credits Zerodha’s work environment for helping him stay committed throughout the process.
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“My company is very health-oriented and comes from the top. This was the change I needed in my life, which made me take it seriously,” he said.
Social media is applauding the transformation
Mr Kamath’s post has drawn widespread praise online, with many users describing it as “the best bet to lose”.
One user wrote: “Lose the bet but win in life! Congrats Rohit on the crazy 30kg transformation – that’s a real win. Nithin bhai best way to lose money. That’s what health challenges should be about. Huge respect to you both.”
Another user jokingly asked: “You can bet me too, it’s the only way I can gain muscle.”
Several others emphasized that the health benefits far outweigh the financial reward.
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“Amazing transformation! This is the best bet you can lose,” commented one user.
“This is amazing! Movements like this help people stay motivated for a long time,” wrote another.
A third user added: “The health benefits here are more than the amount wagered. You actually got a lot more in return.”
