MAM
Weekend Unwind with: Sumit Garg, MD & co-founder of Luxury Ride
Mumbai: Indiantelevision.com rolls over to the next in its weekend series of informal snippets that peek into the minds of corporate executives. “Weekend Unwind” is an attempt to get to know the person behind the title a little better by having them share their life nuggets and mantras for dealing with life’s curveballs.
This week, we have on the hot seat Sumit Garg, the MD & co-founder of Luxury Ride—”India’s biggest pre-owned luxury car company.” Born into a business family, the path to entrepreneurship was always a given, says Garg. Accordingly, in keeping with the ‘family tradition’, he founded KoiBhiCar.com, an online marketplace for pre-owned luxury cars, in 2012, while straight out of engineering college. Garg shifted his business to an offline model in 2015 after a quick realisation about the industry and founded Luxury Ride with two friends. Here, his prime focus is the exponential expansion of the company across India. Today, the company has a presence in seven cities across north India – Delhi, Gurugram, Karnal, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Dehradun, and Ludhiana.
So here goes without further ado…
Your mantra for Life
Follow your passion in such a way that you don’t need an alarm clock to wake you up.
A Book you are currently reading / plan to read
Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter.
Your Fitness mantra, especially during the pandemic
We had set up a home gym during the pandemic, and I was doing rigorous workouts. I kept my eating and sleeping habits in check too. By the end of the pandemic, I had lost around 15 kg. Indulging in some sort of exercise keeps me in a healthy mental space as well.
Your comfort food
I am a die-hard foodie, so it’s very difficult for me to answer this question as I am spoilt for choice. But if I had to choose one, then I would have to say Italian cuisine is my comfort food.
When the chips are down a quote/ philosophy that keeps you going
My teacher once told me that if you want to be successful in life, you have to take risks no matter what. Setbacks are a part of the deal, but if the risk pays off, your life will change. As Swami Vivekananda said, “Take risks: if you win, you will be happy; if you lose, you will be wise.”
Your guilty pleasure
Sweet dishes
When was the last time you tried something new?
I love to discover new things on a regular basis. And, it doesn’t have to be extraordinary. It can be in the form of meeting new groups of people and learning new things; implementing new things in my work life; or trying out different cuisines.
A Life lesson you learnt the hard way
That you should do away with incompetent people as soon as possible. Having the right circle of people around you matters the most, as it helps you grow in life.
What gets you excited about life?
Exploring new places and living a luxurious lifestyle.
What’s on top of your bucket list?
Right now the only thing that is on top of my bucket list is to make Luxury Ride a unicorn brand.
If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Always follow your passion and don’t listen to naysayers. Your comfort zone is your enemy, you will have sleepless nights, there will be days where you’ll have to work when you are unwell, you’ll be skipping meals and working throughout the day. But that is part of the process if you want to be successful in life.
An activity that keeps you motivated / charged during tough times
Whenever I am faced with tough times I either go out for long drives.. Physical activities like playing Squash and Table tennis or having a great workout session keeps me motivated as well.
What lifts your spirits when life gets you down?
That has to be Music, I am an audiophile and listening to music can lift my spirits up no matter how tough the situation is.
Your go-to stress buster
My kids and my family are my go-to stress busters. Spending time with them relieves me from all the stress that I am facing.
One thing you would most like to change about the world
That has to be poverty, I believe that there should not be such a big gap between the rich and the poor.
Brands
Nykaa eyes majority stake in Deepika Padukone’s 82°E brand
Deal could help scale premium label as Nykaa sharpens its beauty play
MUMBAI: Nykaa is in advanced discussions to acquire a majority stake in 82°E, the premium skincare label founded by Deepika Padukone, according to media reports.
The proposed deal signals Nykaa’s intent to deepen its House of Nykaa portfolio while giving 82°E the scale it has struggled to achieve independently. Padukone is expected to retain a minority stake if the transaction goes through.
For Nykaa, the play is both strategic and timely. With a customer base of over 42 million, the company is betting on its strong distribution, logistics, and repeat purchase ecosystem to revive the brand’s momentum. The two sides already share a working relationship, with Padukone serving as Nykaa’s global brand ambassador since September 2025.
Launched in late 2022, 82°E entered the market with a premium positioning but has faced headwinds. The brand reported revenue of Rs 14.7 crore in FY25, down 30 per cent year on year, alongside losses of Rs 12.26 crore. Industry observers have pointed to steep pricing, a somewhat diffused brand identity, and intense competition from digital-first labels as key challenges.
The potential acquisition also reflects a broader shift in India’s beauty and lifestyle space, where celebrity-led brands are increasingly partnering with larger corporates to unlock scale. Alia Bhatt’s Ed-a-Mamma, for instance, sold a majority stake to Reliance Retail, while Katrina Kaif’s Kay Beauty has emerged as a standout success within Nykaa’s portfolio, clocking Rs 132.4 crore in FY25 revenue.
Nykaa itself has been on a strong growth trajectory. Its parent, FSN E-Commerce Ventures, reported a 156 per cent jump in net profit to Rs 68 crore in the December 2025 quarter, with revenue reaching Rs 2,873 crore.
Nykaa has been steadily building its portfolio through acquisitions such as Dot & Key, Earth Rhythm and Nudge Wellness, signalling a clear push to own and scale homegrown brands.
If the 82°E deal materialises, it could mark a fresh chapter for the label, blending celebrity appeal with corporate muscle. For Nykaa, it is another calculated step in staying ahead in an increasingly crowded beauty aisle.
