Meet woman, who grew up in Mumbai slum, married at 12, faced domestic abuse, earned Rs 2 per month, now has Rs 900 crore net worth, she owns..

the woman, a daughter of a police constable from Maharashtra, spent her teenage years living in the slums of Mumbai with her husband’s family. During this time, she suffered severe physical and mental abuse from her in-laws.

Setting a goal in life often comes with many challenges. However, these difficulties can make a person stronger and more determined. In recent years, women have made great progress, taking on leadership roles in various fields. In the corporate world, more women are stepping up to take important responsibilities. Here, we are talking about a woman who overcame many hardships to achieve great success. Her name is Kalpana Saroj, and she is one of the most successful businesswomen in India. Kalpana’s journey was full of struggles. Born into a Dalit family, she was married at the young age of 12. She suffered domestic violence and extreme poverty, living on just 50 paise a day. Despite all this, she chose her own path and achieved remarkable success.

She learned sewing and began her journey toward self-reliance. Kalpana’s story of struggle and achievements serves as an inspiration to anyone. She is often referred to as the first “Slumdog Millionaire”.

Who is Kalpana Saroj?

Kalpana Saroj is an entrepreneur and TEDx speaker who serves as the Chairperson of Kamani Tubes, a company with a revenue of over Rs. 100 crore, as reported by The Times of India. Despite running a billion-rupee business today, her journey to the top was far from easy. Born into a humble family, Kalpana was married at the age of 12, which forced her to drop out of school.

Kalpana, the daughter of a police constable from Maharashtra, spent her teenage years living in the slums of Mumbai with her husband’s family. During this time, she suffered severe physical and mental abuse from her in-laws. Her father eventually rescued her from this life. However, the challenges she faced pushed her into a state of depression, leading her to attempt suicide at a young age. Overcoming this dark period, she started working at the age of 16 to support her family. She worked in a government cloth mill for Rs 2. She started by stitching and then made Rs. 50 a month.

Business ventures and success

After spending numerous months in a hosiery store, she established her own business in the mid-1990s. She founded KS Film Productiona company for releasing Telugu, Hindi, and English films, and later expanded her real estate firm through her strong network. She eventually got the opportunity to work with Kamani Tubes. Initially joining as a board member, she reorganized the struggling company and steered it out of heavy losses, turning it into a profitable enterprise.

Currently, Kalpana Saroj manages a business empire worth over Rs. 100 crore.

Other Achievements

Kalpana Saroj is also a member of the Board of Governors at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Bangalore. Her net worth is approximately USD 112 million (around Rs. 950 crore). Often referred to as the “Original Slumdog Millionaire,” her life story continues to inspire countless people worldwide.

She received the Padma Shri for Trade and Industry in 2013.