Imagine walking away from a business that generates ₹2 crore in monthly sales. Sounds crazy, right? But that’s exactly what one IIT Kanpur graduate did, leaving behind his successful shoe brand to join a startup as an engineer. This jaw-dropping story, shared by Pranshi Chaturvedi, founder and CEO of Bellish Group, has sparked intense curiosity and debate online. And this is the part most people miss: it’s not just about the money—it’s about the frustrations that come with entrepreneurship, especially in labor-intensive sectors like manufacturing.
Chaturvedi recounted her encounter with this IITian during a recent trip. She learned that he had built a thriving direct-to-consumer (D2C) shoe brand, raking in ₹2 crore every month. Yet, despite this impressive success, he was deeply unhappy. The root cause? Controversially, it wasn’t about profits or passion—it was the constant battles with manufacturers in Surat. Frustrated by supply chain issues and operational challenges, he decided to step down and take on a role as a Lead Engineer at a Gurgaon-based startup that had recently secured Series A funding.
But here’s where it gets controversial: Was it really just about supply issues, or was there more to the story? Some online users speculated that caste or community dynamics might have played a role, but Chaturvedi quickly shut down these theories. She emphasized that the decision was purely about risk tolerance and personal priorities. Still, the question lingers: What exactly made the Surat manufacturers so unbearable? One X user, Advik Jain, aptly pointed out, ‘Curious what specifically about the manufacturers made him walk. That’s a big decision and there’s probably a story there worth hearing.’
The internet has been buzzing with reactions, many expressing shock that someone would trade entrepreneurial freedom for the stability of a 9-to-5 job. One commenter noted, ‘Sometimes walking away from your own success takes more courage than building it in the first place.’ Another highlighted the harsh realities of the manufacturing sector: ‘Labour intensive sectors are very unorganised.’ Gaurav Sharma added a dose of reality, stating, ‘Manufacturing is not a Raja Babu job. You deal with labour issues, supplier pressures, client negotiations, and sometimes you have to follow up for payments as if you owe them money.’
This story raises thought-provoking questions about the true costs of entrepreneurship. Is financial success worth the stress and frustration? Or is there a point where stepping back and refocusing your skills—like this IITian did—becomes the smarter choice? What do you think? Would you leave a ₹2 crore-a-month business for a less stressful job? Share your thoughts in the comments!
(Disclaimer: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. The claims have not been independently verified and do not reflect the views of this platform.)
