When you think of wealth in the Indian film industry, stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Rajinikanth, and Aamir Khan often come to mind, as they earn huge sums for each film. Directors like Karan Johar, Aditya Chopra, Rohit Shetty and many others have also built fortunes through their film empires. However, the richest person in the Hindi film industry isn’t an actor or a director. Surprisingly, this billionaire is a movie producer and entrepreneur who has surpassed them all in wealth. Let’s explore the story of this remarkable figure.
Ronnie Screwvala: Bollywood’s Wealthiest Celebrity
The title of Bollywood’s only billionaire belongs to Ronnie Screwvala. According to various reports, including DNA, Ronnie Screwvala’s net worth is estimated at a whopping $1.55 billion, which is around Rs 13,012 crore. To put it in perspective, his wealth is greater than the combined net worth of top Bollywood stars like Salman Khan (Rs 3,000 crore), Aamir Khan (Rs 1,900 crore), and Shah Rukh Khan (Rs 7,300 crore). With such immense wealth, Ronnie Screwvala is the richest person in Bollywood.
Ronnie Screwvala’s Humble Beginnings
Before making his mark in Bollywood, Ronnie Screwvala started his career in a different field. He founded Lazer Brushes, a company that manufactured toothbrushes. But he didn’t stop there—he also played a key role in the early days of Cable TV in India, helping to shape the industry.
Ronnie Screwvala’s Journey in the Entertainment Industry
Ronnie Screwvala has had an impressive career in the entertainment world. He has produced many successful films under his production companies, RSVP Movies and the now-closed UTV Films. Some of his most famous productions include Sam Bahadur, Uri: The Surgical Strike, Kedarnath, Chennai Express, and Jodhaa Akbar. He started his journey in the film industry with a modest investment of Rs 37,500 to launch UTV Films. Later, in 2012, he sold UTV to Walt Disney for a remarkable $454 million, which is about Rs 3,750 crore.
Ronnie Screwvala’s Business Ventures
In 2015, Ronnie Screwvala co-founded the Ed-tech company UpGrad with Mayank Kumar and Phalgun Kompalli. UpGrad has grown rapidly, and in 2022, it invested Rs 300 crore to acquire Harappa Education. Today, UpGrad is valued at around $2.25 billion, which is about Rs 18,650 crore. Beyond UpGrad, Ronnie Screwvala has also invested in other ventures, such as Usports and Unliazer, expanding his business interests even further.
Ronnie Screwvala at Shark Tank India 3
Ronnie Screwvala has joined the panel of investors for Season 3 of Shark Tank India. He brings a lot of experience and knowledge to the panel of Sharks.
With Screwvala on board, the panel for Shark Tank India Season 3 is now complete. The panel also includes Aman Gupta (Co-Founder and CMO of boAt), Amit Jain (CEO and Co-founder of CarDekho Group and InsuranceDekho.com), Anupam Mittal (Founder and CEO of Shaadi.com – People Group), Namita Thapar (Executive Director of Emcure Pharmaceuticals LTD), Vineeta Singh (Co-Founder and CEO of SUGAR Cosmetics), and Peyush Bansal (Co-founder and CEO of Lenskart.com).
Other notable members are Ritesh Agarwal (Founder and CEO of OYO Rooms), Deepinder Goyal (Founder and CEO of Zomato), Azhar Iqubal (Co-Founder and CEO of Inshorts), Radhika Gupta (MD & CEO of Edelweiss Mutual Fund), and Varun Dua (Founder and CEO of ACKO).
Ronnie Screwvala’s Philanthropic Work
Along with his business success, Ronnie Screwvala is also committed to giving back. He and his wife, Zarina Screwvala, founded The Swades Foundation, which focuses on improving the lives of underprivileged communities. The foundation works in areas like water, sanitation, education, and healthcare, particularly in the Raigad district of Maharashtra.
Ronnie Screwvala’s journey from starting a toothbrush manufacturing company to becoming Bollywood’s richest celebrity is truly inspiring. His net worth far exceeds that of even the most famous actors in the industry, showing that one doesn’t need to be in front of the camera to achieve incredible success. His contributions to the entertainment industry, along with his philanthropic efforts, make Ronnie Screwvala a true icon in Bollywood.
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Bhupinder Singh
Bhupinder Singh serves as a Principal Executive in Content Management, specializing in SEO content related to trending financial news, net worth of celebrities, historic events, and art and culture. His passion for cricket shines through in his work and personal interests. In his free time, Bhupinder enjoys discussing cricket legends like MS Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar, as well as following the IPL.
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