Naagin star left acting at her peak, launched a beauty brand with Rs 50 lakh investment, today worth Rs 1800 cr

A Beginning on screen, a calling beyond it

Aashka was one of television’s most recognisable faces through the 2000s, particularly known for her powerful negative roles. She was seen in popular shows like Kkusum (2003), Sinndoor Tere Naam Ka (2006), and later in hit reality shows such as Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 4, Nach Baliye 8, and Bigg Boss 6. One of her last major appearances before her transition was the blockbuster supernatural series Naagin.

For most actors, this would be the peak of a stable career. But Aashka was already looking inward, searching for a space where she could create something of her own—something that would outlast a script.

The Leap: From spotlight to startup

In 2018, Aashka took a step that not many with an established entertainment career dare to take: she transitioned into entrepreneurship. She launched Renee Cosmetics, partnering with Priyank Shah and Ashutosh Valani. At the time, it was an internet-first brand, with initial investment being Rs 50 lakh. As it started selling over platforms such as Nykaa, Amazon and Myntra, it started giving competition to established makeup brands. Renee hit Rs 100 crore in revenue within its first two years of launch, as per reports.

Aashka’s vision was to build a cosmetic brand that was innovative, clean, vegan, cruelty-free, and deeply rooted in the beauty needs of Indian women.

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When the brand relaunched as Renee 2.0 in 2020, it entered a fiercely competitive market filled with legacy giants and emerging D2C players. But instead of being intimidated, Aashka backed her instincts and her understanding of what makes women feel seen.

The result? A meteoric rise.

By 2022, Renee’s valuation had soared to Rs 820 crore, and after a successful Series B funding round of Rs 100 crore, the company’s value climbed to Rs 1,200–1,400 crore.

Scaling with purpose

Today, Renee Cosmetics has grown into a portfolio of over 200 products, available across India on Amazon, Nykaa, Flipkart, Myntra, and in more than 650 physical stores. And just when it seemed like Renee had already achieved what few startups manage, the company made headlines again.

The breakthrough: A Rs 1,800 crore milestone

Renee recently completed its Series C funding, taking its valuation to USD 200 million (approx. Rs 1,800 crore).

With this boost, the Ahmedabad-based startup announced that it had tripled its revenue in the past 18 months, reached an annualised revenue run rate (ARR) of Rs 500 crore, and is now eyeing a Rs 1,000 crore ARR within the next two years.