Bikaji’s founder leaves behind an incredible story:How Shivratan Agarwal turned a bowl of bhujia into ₹17,300 crore empire

Shivratan Agarwal, the founder of Bikaji Foods and creator of famed ‘Bikaji’ bhujia and ‘namkeen’ delicacies, leaves behind an incredible rags-to-riches story that will continue to inspire generations of Indian entrepreneurs. Agarwal, 74, who passed away in Chennai on Thursday, 23 April 2026, built a ₹17,300 crore empire after travelling around the world to find a new technology to make “bhujia” — different from the methods used by his peers. As India’s corporate world mourns the death of the legendary figure, it may be a time to look at his namkeen empire and the legacy he left behind. A simple bowl of bhujia transformed Agarwal’s life His story shows how far your hard work, grit and determination can take you in life. Agarwal was born into a family already famous for snacks. According to the Forbes magazine, his grandfather Gangabishan Agarwal had founded the famous Haldiram brand. However, in late 1980s, he left the comfort of his family business. He wanted to create his own brand. With limited resources and a big dream, he left home in 1987. At that time, making snacks like “bhujia” on a massive scale was considered impossible because it was mostly done by hand. Bikaji inspired from Bikaner city founder Bika Rao Agarwal founded his first venture with the name Shivdeep Food Products (combining his name and son Deepak’s). In 1993, he launched the brand ‘Bikaji,’ inspired by Bika Rao, the founder of Bikaner city. He combined ‘Bika’ and ‘Ji,’ (as a mark of respect to the man) and coined the name ‘Bikaji.’ How Agarwal built the ₹17,300 crore empire? When he started, Agarwal didn’t have big investors behind him. He relied on small personal savings and family support. He travelled across the world to find the right technology that could make crispy “bhujia” in huge quantities. Raising funds As the company grew, he eventually opened the doors to professional investors. Over the years, Bikaji raised fundings from big investors like Lighthouse and IIFL. What started with a small capital, it has now grown into a big business. As of April 2026, Bikaji Foods is valued at approximately ₹17,315 crore on the stock market. He has been pivotal in steering the company towards success and growth, who transformed the traditional Bikaneri snacks business into the internationally recognised Bikaji brand by combining authentic taste with modern business practices. Guided by his legacy, the company will strive to sustain its growth trajectory and continue to lead a profitable and responsible business. Shri Shiv Ratan Agarwal s unexpected demise will be an irreparable loss to the organisation. -Bikaji Foods International Fun facts about Bikaji brand: If you aren’t curious and excited, you can’t innovate; if you can’t innovate, you can’t survive. – Shivratan Agarwal Agarwal’s secret to success was simple — took a local Rajasthani snack to the global stage. While he is no longer with us, the ‘Aslee Bikaneri’ bhujia and his legacy will live on. According to his family sources, the 74-year-old complained of uneasiness and was rushed to a private hospital in Chennai, where he breathed his last.