1) A survivor
Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director of SpiceJet Picture: Madhu Kapparath
Ajay Singh purchased the defunct ModiLuft, a non-public airline based mostly in Delhi, in 2005. He renamed it SpiceJet a 12 months later and made it one of the recognisable finances airways in India. He left it in 2010 when Kalanithi Maran, chairman and managing director of the Solar Group, purchased the airline. In January 2015, SpiceJet was on the ventilator, having posted Rs1003.24 crore in losses and stacking up mountainous debt. Singh took the reins and rewarded the bankers who trusted him with 17 consecutive quarters of worthwhile development. A decade later, the chairman and MD of SpiceJet finds himself in an analogous quagmire. Can he do the unthinkable once again?
2) The Tesla problem
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Picture: Suzzanne Cordeiro / AFP
Will he? Will not he arrange store in India? This has been the query since Elon Musk’s Tesla Motors gained recognition. The Indian authorities’s push for manufacturing electrical automobiles was one of many red-carpet options for the Texas-based firm to arrange a base within the nation. There have been a number of false alarms earlier than, however the vehicle large is about to launch operations in India this time. It’s already scouting for workers and has reportedly zeroed in on Mumbai and New Delhi to arrange its first showrooms. So, how will the homegrown auto firms take care of this impending disruption? Are they prepared to take on this formidable challenge?
3) Trump, tariffs, and India
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gestures throughout a joint press convention with U.S. President Donald Trump on the White Home in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 13, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
US President Donald Trump has both levied or threatened many international locations with commerce tariffs. The most recent menace is the proposal to implement a 150 p.c tariff particularly designed for BRIC nations. These choices have disrupted commerce and provide chains globally whereas equities and currencies have rattled. India is not any exception. “No matter India expenses, we cost them,” US President Donald Trump mentioned whereas standing subsequent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi throughout a joint press convention on February 13. “So, frankly, it now not issues to us that a lot what they cost. We’re being reciprocal with India.” So how can India take care of this looming menace? Here are some expert views.
Uncover
1) Race to the highest
(From left)Kiran Mani, CEO – Digital; Kevin Vaz, CEO – Leisure; Sanjog Gupta, CEO – Sports activities, JioStar. Photographed at JioStar workplace, Prabhadevi, Mumbai. Picture: Bajirao Pawar for Forbes India
JioStar, the three way partnership that merged Viacom18 and Star India, lately introduced the launch of JioHotstar, a brand new streaming platform that options the mixed content material from JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar. The brand new entity now has nearly 3 lakh hours of leisure and sports activities protection catering to greater than 50 crore customers. Now, JioHotstar is about on constructing a legacy and bringing content material to a billion screens. Nevertheless, competing with massive gamers akin to Netflix and Amazon Prime Video will likely be no straightforward feat. Here’s how the content behemoth plans to proceed.
2) Menace of sell-offs
As lock-in intervals of newly listed firms, which raised funds by preliminary public choices (IPOs) are about to run out, $42 billion price of shares are staring on the danger of sell-offs. Picture: Shutterstock
Headwinds round inflation, excessive rates of interest, geopolitical dangers, and slowing financial development have already spooked fairness traders. The brand new tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, efficient February 4, have pushed Indian traders on the again foot. Indian shares are already dealing with a large drain-out of international liquidity, and sell-offs by present shareholders in listed firms could spell additional unhealthy information. Between February 18 and Could 31, the lock-in interval after IPOs expire for 90 Indian companies–$42 billion price of shares are staring on the danger of sell-offs. How will the markets navigate these testing waters? Here’s what experts have to say.
3) New age enterprise mannequin
Okay Ganesh, Founder, GrowthStory.in
Disruption is commonly outdoors in, says serial entrepreneur Okay Ganesh. It takes an outsider to alter the established order, as Elon Musk and Tesla challenged ICE automobiles. Ganesh is the founding father of the venture-building platform GrowStory, which has incubated and scaled profitable startups like BigBasket, Portea Medical, and Bluestone. Within the new episode of From the Bookshelves of Forbes India podcast, he talks about how new-age enterprise fashions in India have localised, innovated and made cash. He discusses worth creation amid the trail to profitability considerations, how traders navigate these firms’ high-risk, high-reward potential, and the way AI is altering the enterprise panorama in India. Listen here.
4) Toddy store delicacies in New York
Chef Regi Mathew, Founder Accomplice, Chatti, New York Picture: AlexStaniloff / Chatti
Chef Regi Mathew, after a two-decade profession with luxurious resort chains like Taj and Shangri-La, co-founded Kappa Chakka Kandhari (KCK) in Chennai in 2018 to showcase genuine Kerala delicacies past the everyday appams and stews. The restaurant, named after key Malayali substances—tapioca, jackfruit, and chook’s eye chilli—earned a spot within the World’s 50 Greatest Discovery checklist in 2024. Constructing on this success, Mathew launched Chatti in New York Metropolis, aiming to introduce town’s diners to Kerala’s toddy store delicacies, identified for its strong flavours and conventional dishes. How does he plan on navigating New York’s competitive culinary scene?
