The Change-Makers: Palak & Akshay on tradition, fitness & future

India’s new wave of entrepreneurs is redefining tradition and fitness, one sari and one workout at a time.

Take Palak Shah, the force behind Ekaya Banaras. When she took charge of the family business in 2012, her vision was clear: to make the Banarasi sari a global luxury statement. “If Hermès or LV could elevate their crafts, why not us?” she recalls. While her father, a seasoned wholesaler, dreamt of retail, Shah dreamt of brand-building.

Palak Shah: Making Banarasi Global

She modernised the Banarasi by investing in design, styling, and supply-chain transparency. From belted drapes to pre-stitched saris, she gave India’s timeless weave a contemporary edge while ensuring artisans got their due. Today, Ekaya boasts five stores across Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad, with ₹85 crore in revenue. Her next milestone? Opening on New York’s Fifth Avenue. As she puts it, “My goal is to see young women in New York and Paris wearing a sari as a style statement.”

Meanwhile, in the fitness world, Akshay Verma, co-founder of FITPASS, is building a different kind of movement. Launched in 2015 with his sister Arushi, the startup breaks the barriers of traditional gyms through an asset-light aggregator model. With access to over 8,100 fitness centres across 130 cities, users can choose where, when, and how they work out—without upfront commitments.

Verma admits the early days were tough. “The first one through the door gets shot,” he says, describing the challenges of educating gym owners, corporates, and customers when digital payments were still nascent. A decade later, perseverance has paid off: FITPASS clocked ₹173.9 crore in annual recurring revenue as of March 2025.

Breaking Barriers in Fitness

The company now bundles fitness with AI-driven workouts, nutrition counselling, health checks, and even e-pharmacy benefits. Verma insists their edge lies in flipping the industry equation: “We put the consumer first. You pay when you want to go. Anywhere, anytime.” With two new D2C brands in equipment and nutrition launching this year, FITPASS is eyeing its next phase of growth.

From Banaras to Broadway, and from gyms to living rooms, Shah and Verma are proof that India’s next-gen leaders are blending heritage and innovation—while persevering through the hustle.