Neha Marda, widely recognized for her role as Gehna in the iconic television show Balika Vadhu, has embarked on a new entrepreneurial journey with an alum-based underarm roll-on business. What began with alum worth just Rs 10 has now reportedly grown into a company generating nearly Rs 2 crore every month. According to Neha Marda, the company earned over Rs 14 crore within just 10 months of its launch. She also shared that the business expanded rapidly due to strong online reach and increasing customer interest.
Inspiration Behind the Business
Neha appeared on Shark Tank India season 5 earlier this year, where she spoke about the personal experience that led to the idea. She opened up about how her post-pregnancy body odor shattered her confidence. Speaking about her experience on the show, she shared, "Post my pregnancy, I started feeling a little discomfort with my body odor. Being an actor, my confidence was shaken that day. Nothing actually worked to solve it." She added, "What began as a personal problem soon turned into a business idea."
Neha further stated that she searched for many natural and organic products to solve the problem but could not find anything truly effective in the market. She said, "I searched for every organic product available, but couldn't find one that worked. I had no option but to continue using deodorants. As an actor and public figure, it became very frustrating. It's such a common issue, yet no one wants to talk about it."
Product Development and Pricing
Neha Marda started the brand with her brother. The two reportedly spent almost three years researching and creating the product before launching it in the market. As per reports, the product was initially sold for Rs 99. However, as the formula, ingredients, and production process improved over time, the price later increased to Rs 999. This major price hike led to criticism and trolling online, with many questioning whether customers would spend so much on the product. Later, Neha Marda explained that the higher price was due to years of research and several improvements made to enhance the product's quality and results.
Business Growth and Customer Base
Even after facing criticism, the product seems to have built a strong customer base. During her pitch on Shark Tank India 5, Neha revealed that the brand earned over Rs 14 crore within just 10 months of launch. She also shared that the brand now has over 2 lakh customers and reportedly makes nearly Rs 2 crore per month. She revealed that their social media pages played an important role in the brand's fast growth. According to Neha Marda, the brand's Instagram page received nearly 24.5 million organic views, which helped more people learn about the product.
Shark Tank Experience
During her appearance on Shark Tank India, she spoke about the struggles she faced in proving herself as a business founder and not just a television actress. Things were not very simple for Neha on the show as she faced some sharp questions from the Sharks. Despite Neha being a well-known face on Hindi TV, the Sharks openly questioned the brand's early reach and growth. The Sharks even discussed Neha's celebrity status, questioning whether her popularity as a TV actress helped boost the brand's marketing and sales. Neha Marda faced tough questions from Sharks Amit Jain, Namita Thapar, Anupam Mittal, and Aman Gupta about the product's branding, future growth possibilities, and pricing.
Neha Marda's Acting Career
Neha shot to popularity with Balika Vadhu. The actress took a break from acting to embrace motherhood. She has also been a part of other shows like Doli Armaanon Ki, Kyun Rishton Mein Katti Batti, and Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, among others.
