Bollywood’s leading ladies are no longer just ruling the silver screen. They’re building beauty empires that are redefining entrepreneurship in India and beyond. Katrina Kaif, Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra, and Kriti Sanon have transformed from celebrity endorsers to serious boardroom leaders, creating brands that combine authenticity, innovation, and global appeal. And these aren’t just vanity projects with a famous face slapped on their packaging. They’re purpose-driven ventures backed by genuine involvement by their owner, strategic vision and substantial investment. From breaking into prestigious international retailers, to achieving record-breaking revenues, these women are proving that celebrity entrepreneurship, when done right, can challenge established giants and set new industry standards.
Katrina Kaif’s Kay Beauty: India’s First & Only Beauty Brand that Debuted at Space NK
Katrina Kaif co-founded Kay Beauty in 2019 as a joint venture with India’s largest beauty retailer Nykaa. And in just six years, it has become India’s fastest-growing celebrity-founded beauty label. It also made history by becoming the first Indian-founded beauty label to launch at the prestigious Space NK in the UK on September 3, 2025, with almost 197 products across lips, eyes, and face available at 13 Space NK stores across the UK along with online retailing at spacenk.com. Earlier in 2024, Kay Beauty entered the UAE market through a partnership with Nykaa’s UAE-based subsidiary, which is named Nysaa. What sets Kay Beauty apart is that the beauty brand has become the number one blush brand in India, with hero products like Hydra Crème Lipstick, their latest cushion foundation, etc driving its success. The brand’s affordable pricing, with an average product priced at Rs. 299, makes it accessible to middle-class consumers. Katrina’s hands-on involvement, stemming from her 20-year career sitting in makeup chairs on film sets, gives the brand authentic credibility that resonates globally.
Deepika Padukone’s 82°E: Merging Indian Heritage with Global Science
Deepika Padukone launched 82°E in November 2022 as a direct-to-consumer brand, with the name inspired by the standard meridian that passes through India, representing the philosophy “Indian in its ethos and global in its outlook.” The brand is known for its approach of combining traditional Indian ingredients like turmeric, lotus, and ashwagandha with ceramides and other science-based elements, with products like Ashwagandha Bounce moisturizer and Bakuchiol Slip Face Oil. 82°E has also built its own research and development center in Bengaluru, rather than using third-party manufacturers, ensuring products truly add value to customers.
Priyanka Chopra’s Anomaly: One of the Top Sustainable Beauty Brands
Priyanka Chopra launched Anomaly haircare in the US in 2021 and India in 2022, offering premium ingredients and eco-friendly packaging at accessible prices. Anomaly becamse popular with customers and its hair and scalp oil is their most popular item. The brand was awarded the Sustainable Beauty Award 2022 for using recycled plastic in all of their packaging, and Priyanka Chopra was recognized as one of the top beauty entrepreneurs of 2022. The brand’s gender-neutral, natural ingredient-based products, combine affordability with a luxury feel, appealing to diverse consumers, and its launch with Nykaa in India highlighted the importance of strategic local partnerships.
Kriti Sanon’s HYPHEN: One of India’s Fastest Growing D2C Brands
HYPHEN, co-founded by Kriti Sanon has joined the list of one of India’s fastest growing skincare brands. It also achieved Zero Plastic Footprint by using alternative packaging materials and was honored with a PETA India Vegan Fashion Award in 2024. Unlike traditional celebrity brands, Kriti Sanon plays a core executive role as Chief Customer Officer, speaking to 40-50 customers every month to understand their needs, preferences, and pain points, influencing product and brand decisions directly. The brand’s philosophy of simplifying skincare by “hyphening” multiple benefits into single products, like combining moisturizer with sunscreen, addresses real consumer pain points, which has inevitably led to the success of the brand.
These talented women have invested their time, capital, and credibility into building sustainable businesses that prioritize product efficacy, affordability, and values like sustainability and inclusivity. They’re not just changing the beauty industry, they’re redefining what it means to be a celebrity entrepreneur in modern India, proving that when passion meets strategy and genuine involvement, the results can rival and
even surpass established global giants. The new power league isn’t just about makeup and skincare but about women building legacies that will outlast any film career.