Rishi Verma’s entrepreneurial journey began with a deep connection to his family’s 120-year-old jewellery business, Fateh Chand Bansi Lal Jewellers. After completing his education in Australia and Mumbai, he returned to India with a vision to modernize and elevate the family brand. Under his leadership, the business won awards like Coolest Jewellery Store of North India and Most Unique Jewellery Collection of 2021.
But Rishi’s passion extended beyond jewellery. Inspired by his family’s love for fragrances and the realization that India produces most of the world’s perfumery raw materials, he launched Neesh Perfumes, a luxury D2C brand now distributed across the UAE, USA, UK, Singapore, Malaysia, and Europe.
In the episode, Rishi shares how Neesh was born out of a desire to create a truly Indian luxury brand. He explains the science and cost behind premium perfumes— for example, 1000 kg of rose petals yield just 1 kg of oil worth ₹8 lakh, and oud oil can cost ₹25 lakh per kg.
These natural ingredients are what set Neesh apart from synthetic, mass-market fragrances. Despite the quality, Indian consumers often prefer foreign brands and prioritize price over authenticity. Rishi challenges this mindset and advocates for premium Indian craftsmanship that competes on a global scale.
What makes this episode truly special is Rishi’s emphasis on spiritual entrepreneurship.
He shares his transformative experience at a Vipassana meditation center, where he discovered the healing power of sattvic food. This led to the creation of Ekyam Sattvic Kitchen, a fine-dining concept that serves clean, healthy food at affordable prices, and donates a meal for every plate sold.
Rishi’s spiritual journey also includes reading the Bhagavad Gita, practicing meditation, and embracing the teachings of Ramana Maharshi. He believes that spiritual growth enhances empathy,
creativity, and clarity, making entrepreneurs more conscious and impactful.
Rishi discusses his collaboration with Bollywood actor Jim Sarbh as Neesh’s brand ambassador, chosen for his uniqueness and authenticity. But he also emphasizes that every entrepreneur must be the first ambassador of their own brand. Overcoming his own fear of public appearances, Rishi stepped out of his comfort zone to represent his brand with passion and purpose.
This insight is especially valuable for creators and founders who struggle with visibility. As Rishi puts it, “If you don’t believe in your brand enough to represent it, why should anyone else?
Beyond perfumes and food, Rishi runs Mandala, a conscious living brand focused on wellness, and GemRishi, a gemstone business that funds children’s education. His ventures reflect a holistic approach to life, combining health, spirituality, and social impact.
He advocates reducing consumption of processed foods, refined flour, and artificial additives, and encourages people to choose organic, transparent, and nutrient-rich diets.
This aligns with the ethos of The Supreet Singh Show, a leading self-health podcast that promotes mindful living.
He highlights the challenges Indian brands face in scaling globally — from a lack of employee standards to short-term survival mindsets. His solution? Build sustainable business models that balance profit with purpose.
