This Former TV Star Left Acting To Build Rs. 1300 Cr Beauty Empire, Rivals Nykaa & Sugar

Acting has long been a lucrative career, offering fame, glamour, and significant earnings, especially in India, where the entertainment industry is vast. Many of the country’s top actors have amassed substantial wealth. While TV was once considered a lesser platform, it has recently caught up in terms of fame and financial success. However, one popular TV star chose to leave this lucrative world behind at the height of her career—a decision that might seem like madness to some, but was, in fact, a prudent choice for her. After stepping away from showbiz, she built a business empire that now rivals global giants.

Aashka Goradia’s TV Career and Sudden Exit

Aashka Goradia’s acting journey began in 2002 with Achanak 37 Saal Baad, but it was her iconic role as Kumud in Ekta Kapoor’s Kkusum that catapulted her to fame. She went on to star in several successful TV shows such as Sinndoor Tere Naam Ka, Viruddh, and Naagin, becoming one of the highest-paid TV actresses of her time. She also appeared on popular reality shows like Bigg Boss and Khatron Ke Khiladi, making her a household name.

Despite her flourishing acting career, Aashka made the bold decision to retire in 2019. After a final appearance on the show Daayan, she left the TV industry and Mumbai behind. By that time, she had already launched her own cosmetic brand, Renee Cosmetics, which became her main focus.

Renee Cosmetics: Competing Nykaa and Sugar Cosmetics

Aashka co-founded Renee Cosmetics in 2018, along with Priyank Shah and Ashutosh Valani, the co-founders of Beardo. The internet-first cosmetics brand offers products like eye makeup, lip colors, skin serums, and highlighters. During the pandemic, the brand saw significant growth, crossing the $100-million mark by 2022. As of 2024, Renee Cosmetics is valued at around $155 million (Rs. 1300 crore), positioning itself as fierce competition to established Indian beauty giants such as Nykaa and Sugar Cosmetics.

The brand has raised a total of $48.5 million (over R. 400 crore) in funding across five rounds. In 2021, Renee Cosmetics was awarded India’s Most Trusted Brand at the CNBC Most Trusted Brands of India awards.

Aashka’s success is not just in business. She married American businessman Brent Goble in 2017, and the couple welcomed their first child, a boy, in October 2023.

“Business was always in my blood,” Aashka once said about her decision to leave acting behind and pursue her entrepreneurial dream.