From Shark Tank fame to building cult brands, Gulati is rewriting the playbook for authenticity-led entrepreneurship.
From Hair Loss Struggles to Building Nish Hair
When Parul Gulati started her first company, she had no investors, no B-school training, and no elaborate brand strategies. What she did have was a personal problem—hair loss—and the conviction that she wasn’t alone in experiencing it.
That belief led to Nish Hair, a bootstrapped hair extensions brand that disrupted a once-taboo market. Gulati’s instinctive approach and raw authenticity turned the brand into a cultural conversation, making her a familiar face in the Indian D2C space.
Shark Tank: The Breakthrough Moment
“My breakthrough happened when I went on Shark Tank,” Gulati said at a recent TechHR panel hosted by People Matters. “Before that, not many people knew me or my business. But something about my pitch resonated—it wasn’t just a business story, it was a human story.”
The show brought Nish Hair into the spotlight, but it also forced Gulati to evolve as a founder. “I didn’t know if this would work. I didn’t have a backup plan. But I became my own spokesperson. Over time, I learned the business essentials—taxation, HR systems, software setups. Earlier, I was literally handling everything from social media to hiring and branding myself.”
Enter Malkin: Building Autonomy Through Co-Living
Now, Gulati is launching Malkin, a co-living space in Goa. While the concept fits neatly into the rising trend of boutique hostels, digital detox retreats, and creator-focused getaways, Gulati’s vision is more personal.
“Malkin isn’t just a business opportunity—it’s about designing a life around autonomy,” she says. It’s a philosophy that has underpinned her entire entrepreneurial journey.
Marzi Ki Malkin: A Cultural Anthem
To mark the launch of Malkin, Gulati teamed up with composer Yashraj Mukhate and singer Sunidhi Chauhan to release the anthem Marzi Ki Malkin. Beyond its viral potential, the track celebrates a cultural shift where female ambition is loud, unapologetic, and celebrated.
Redefining Visibility in Entrepreneurship
Gulati represents a new breed of founders who aren’t hiding behind the brand—they are the brand. There’s no separation between the CEO and the public face, and that’s precisely what makes her approach resonate.
Unlike traditional D2C businesses that lean heavily on ad spends or influencer tie-ups, Gulati has placed herself at the center of her brand’s story—flaws and all. For her, authenticity isn’t a strategy; it’s the product.
The Reluctant Founder Who Found Her Voice
Ironically, Gulati never set out to be a founder. She simply wanted to solve a personal problem. But in the process, she became the face of a new era of entrepreneurship—one that is personal, hyper-visible, and radically self-authored.
And as her anthem suggests, Parul Gulati is doing it entirely on her own terms.
