Inside Forbes India

Manu Balachandran, an expert in the automotive industry, dives deep into the global shortage of rare earth magnets and its significant impact on India's auto sector. He discusses the heavy reliance on China for these critical materials and the resulting geopolitical tensions. Balachandran outlines potential solutions, including India's push for a domestic rare earth ecosystem. He highlights challenges within the EV market, from consumer hesitance due to limited charging infrastructure to the need for robust government initiatives. It's a crucial conversation on self-reliance and innovation.

Naini Thaker, a Forbes India journalist, dives into India's evolving startup scene, showcasing a shift from consumer tech to deep tech. She highlights how startups are tackling unique challenges, with innovative examples like InMobi's AI pivot and Moonrider's EV tractors. The discussion emphasizes the role of optimism and patient capital in nurturing ambitious entrepreneurs. Additionally, Thaker explores the potential of integrating new technologies with traditional practices, positioning India as a future global tech leader.

Homegrown innovators, policymakers, and startups are laying the groundwork for an AI future where Indian languages, datasets and social context will shape the future of AI. Forbes India's Naini Thaker unpacks our AI special which has identified 30 Indians who are leading the revolution in their own fields

In this special edition of the Inside Forbes India Podcast, Kunal Purandare discusses the magazine's 16th anniversary issue, themed around disruption. The episode explores essays on India's resilience to global shocks, the rise of longevity science, AI's evolving role in work, why sport matters beyond medals and much more. The edition takes stock of India's present and future potential with insights from leaders like Abhinav Bindra, Sanjeev Bikhchandani, and Rohan Murty.

In the latest episode of the Inside Forbes India podcast, Salil Panchal discusses Axis Bank's transformation under CEO Amitabh Chaudhry. From bold leadership shifts to the pivotal acquisition of Citibank's India consumer business, Axis Bank is now scaling up in credit cards and wealth management. Chaudhry's hands-on yet non-micromanaging style, focus on tech, and clear sector priorities are driving growth. With his term running till 2027, the bank has time to sharpen its edge.

In the latest episode of Inside Forbes India Podcast, Naini Thaker discusses her deep-dive profile on Dilip Shanghvi, the low-key founder of Sun Pharma, India's largest pharmaceutical company. Starting with just $200, Shanghvi's strategic focus on chronic therapies and high-value acquisitions—most notably Ranbaxy—helped shape Sun Pharma into a global force. The conversation explores how the company weathered challenges, such as price erosion, by doubling down on R&D and pivoting toward complex speciality drugs. It also highlights that Shanghvi's leadership is marked by humility, passion for his work, and a focus on patient care rather than wealth accumulation.

Anubhuti Matta, a Forbes India contributor, dives into the inspiring W-Power 2025 special issue showcasing 20 extraordinary women from various fields. She highlights Savita Balachandran's groundbreaking journey leading Tata Technologies' IPO and Dr. Pratima Murthy's impactful work in mental health advocacy. The conversation underscores the power of female representation and perseverance, with a spotlight on Olympic shooter Manu Bhaker's triumphs, serving as motivation for the next generation of leaders.

Samar Srivastav, a journalist at Forbes India, analyzes Anish Shah, the first non-family CEO of the Mahindra Group. They discuss Shah's bold leadership style, focusing on efficiency and results. Shah is turning the company around by exiting non-core businesses, which have cut significant losses. The podcast highlights Mahindra's success in the SUV market, thanks to strategic positioning and a post-pandemic boom. Srivastav also examines Shah's philosophy of prioritizing fewer projects for better execution, showcasing his taskmaster approach to leadership.

Zomato's latest rebranding to "Eternal" made headlines and generated curiosity about founder Deepinder Goyal's future plans. In this podcast, Rajiv Singh highlights Zomato's journey from 90-minute to 10-minute delivery post-pandemic, Goyal's long-term vision for profitability in quick commerce, and challenges like falling average order values and high order frequency. The conversation about Zomato and Eternal underscores the evolving consumer behaviour, the competitive landscape in the quick commerce space, and Zomato's survival.

Forbes India's flagship Leadership Awards celebrate leadership, entrepreneurship, value creation, and philanthropy. For our 14th edition, FILA jury members chose Rajesh Jejurikar, executive director and CEO (Auto & Farm Sector) of Mahindra & Mahindra, as the CEO of the Year. Our cover star was chosen for encouraging strong innovation, his risk-taking abilities, and launching new electric-origin SUVs as the company strategically shifts towards premiumisation. In this podcast, Salil Panchal discusses Jejurikar's approach and other winners.