Homeless and broke at 15, owing to some irreconcilable issues with her stepmother, she left her home with just Rs 300 in her pocket.
Homeless and broke at 15, owing to some irreconcilable issues with her stepmother, she left her home with just Rs 300 in her pocket.
She lived in a dormitory which charged Rs 20 per mattress. A few days later, she found a job as a door-to-door saleswoman.
She lived in a dormitory which charged Rs 20 per mattress. A few days later, she found a job as a door-to-door saleswoman.
She would sell knife sets, coasters and other small home improvement products, earning only Rs 20 to Rs 60 on most days.
She would sell knife sets, coasters and other small home improvement products, earning only Rs 20 to Rs 60 on most days.
She was promoted a year later, and at 16, she was training three other girls. Eventually, she took up a waitressing job that paid her a bit more.
She was promoted a year later, and at 16, she was training three other girls. Eventually, she took up a waitressing job that paid her a bit more.
In 2004, she married her biggest cheerleader — Amit Kala. Two years later, she entered the Gladrags Mrs India Pageant at the insistence of her friends.
In 2004, she married her biggest cheerleader — Amit Kala. Two years later, she entered the Gladrags Mrs India Pageant at the insistence of her friends.
Chinu was among the finalists in the pageant and with that, more opportunities came her way. She took up modelling projects in the fashion industry.
Chinu was among the finalists in the pageant and with that, more opportunities came her way. She took up modelling projects in the fashion industry.
“In all the years I worked various jobs, I kept saving money. I used all of it when I decided to start Rubans, an ethnic and western jewellery brand,” she says.
“In all the years I worked various jobs, I kept saving money. I used all of it when I decided to start Rubans, an ethnic and western jewellery brand,” she says.
Things got better after that and eventually what started as her zeal to survive led her to build a Rs 100 crore fashion jewellery business.
Things got better after that and eventually what started as her zeal to survive led her to build a Rs 100 crore fashion jewellery business.
Recently, her Bengaluru-based startup won a Shark Tank deal of Rs 1.5 crore from Namita Thapar (executive director, Emcure Pharmaceuticals) and Vineeta Singh (co-founder, Sugar Cosmetics).
Recently, her Bengaluru-based startup won a Shark Tank deal of Rs 1.5 crore from Namita Thapar (
executive director, Emcure
Pharmaceuticals) and Vineeta Singh (co-founder, Sugar Cosmetics).
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