Entrepreneur and film producer Ronnie Screwvala has secured a spot on Forbes’ World’s Billionaires list, making him the only personality from the Hindi film industry to achieve billionaire status. On Wednesday (April 2), Forbes released its latest list of 3,028 billionaires, featuring Screwvala with a net worth of $1.5 billion (Rs 112.5 billion).
Screwvala Outranks Bollywood’s Khan Trio
With his wealth surpassing the combined net worth of Shah Rukh Khan ($770 million), Salman Khan ($390 million), and Aamir Khan ($220 million), Screwvala has emerged as the wealthiest figure in Bollywood. The combined fortune of the three superstar actors amounts to $1.38 billion—still lower than Screwvala’s financial standing.
A Journey from Toothbrushes to Blockbusters
Born in Mumbai, Ronnie Screwvala began his entrepreneurial journey in the 1970s by manufacturing toothbrushes. He later ventured into the media and entertainment industry, founding UTV in 1990. Over the next two decades, UTV Motion Pictures produced some of Bollywood’s most iconic films, including Swades, Rang De Basanti, Khosla Ka Ghosla, Jodhaa Akbar, Fashion, Delhi Belly, and Barfi. The company also brought several popular television shows such as Shanti, Hip Hip Hurray, Shaka Laka Boom Boom, Khichdi, and Shararat.
In 2012, Screwvala sold his stake in UTV to The Walt Disney Company for over $450 million and later served as the managing director of Disney India.
Edtech Success and Philanthropy
Beyond Bollywood, Screwvala is the co-founder and chairperson of the Mumbai-based edtech firm upGrad, which has seen remarkable growth in recent years. He is also deeply involved in philanthropy. Along with his wife, Zarina, he founded the Swades Foundation, which focuses on rural development initiatives across India.
Screwvala on Theatre and India’s Youth
Reflecting on his formative years, Screwvala emphasized the importance of theatre in shaping his career. “Some people take up sports. I think I was blessed to be inclined towards theatre. It taught me everything—soft skills, collaboration, participation, and self-confidence,” he told The Times of India.
Speaking about India’s youth, he remarked, “They are wired very differently today. Their inquisitiveness and curiosity are at another level. The biggest challenge is their sense of expectation. If we disappoint them, we are disappointing ourselves as a society.”
With his diversified career spanning film production, edtech, and philanthropy, Ronnie Screwvala continues to make a significant impact across industries, proving that success extends far beyond Bollywood’s silver screen.
Sources By Agencies
