The Bombay Shaving CEO isn’t Afraid to Stir the Pot While it’s Hot!

India has ample entrepreneurs, influencers and opinion-makers, but this one-of-a-kind is scattered everywhere on social media. He shares his opinion and voice on Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and X. He is Shantanu Deshpande, the founder and CEO of Bombay Shaving Company who built a personal care brand valued at over INR 1,500 crore, reaching 50 lakh households and 1 lakh stores in just five years. Let’s keep the numbers aside for today, he eats opinions for snacks, both intentionally and accidentally. This habit of snack-eating made him a polarising figure in India’s public discourse.

Unlike other entrepreneurs, Shantanu doesn’t just run a company, he runs conversations. His words make people talk, whether it’s his controversial takes on work culture, candid remarks on fine dining, or deep dives into India’s mental health crisis. What must he feel about him? Is he a provocateur, visionary, or someone who refuses to sugarcoat reality? Maybe all three.

Let’s unpack how Shantanu Deshpande is shaking things up on social media.

Startups and Ecosystem Delusion

Shantanu likened Bengaluru’s startup ecosystem to Kota’s IIT-JEE coaching culture. He argued that the environment and resources are abundant, but success is limited, and only a privileged few are tasting it. Of the 40,000 students in Kota, only 1,000 crack IIT. Similarly, Bengaluru sees countless startups, but only a few achieve meaningful success. He criticised the “ecosystem delusion” of Bengaluru’s founders, who prioritise networking over real business growth.

If you are commenting for better, have some advice too! What’s Shantanu’s advice? To focus on building your venture and seek mentorship outside the Bengaluru bubble. It’s a hard pill to swallow for many, but we must look around other regions, too, and he mentioned this is for those lost in the city’s startup hype.

Work Culture: Worship Work, But at What Cost?

Shantanu’s infamous LinkedIn post urging young professionals to work 18-hour days during the first 4-5 years of their careers. His advice to “worship work” and avoid “rona-dhona (cribbing)” was met with sharp criticism. Social media erupted, with many accusing him of promoting a toxic work culture and ignoring the risks of burnout.

Shantanu later clarified that his comment symbolised giving one’s best effort. He invited critics to speak directly with his employees about the company’s work culture. But by then, the damage had been done to the internet. His remarks were at the top of India’s debate over work-life balance, quiet quitting, and the ethics of hustle culture. Whether you agree with him or not, Shantanu certainly knows how to spark a conversation.

Mental Health: The Silent Killer

Don’t judge him too quickly, not all of Shantanu’s commentary has been controversial. On X, he shared a deeply personal post about the alarming rise in adult male mortality in India. He revealed that he’s lost several friends under 40 in the past three years, a reality that keeps him up at night.

The statistics he shared are ask-worthy: 25% of Indian men die before the age of 60, compared to 17% of women. Of the 2 lakh suicides in India each year, 75% are men. Cardiac arrests and diabetes disproportionately affect men, as do addiction and social isolation. Shantanu’s post is an appeal for action. He offered to personally connect with men with mental health issues. He urged them to reach out with the subject line “Need a Brother.”

An empathetic gesture that showed a hidden side of Shantanu. He is the one who’s aware of men’s vulnerabilities and that they are too afraid to discuss. His words reminded us that while he may be provocative, he’s also human.

A BarberShop that’s building brands!

Shantanu’s podcast, The Barbershop with Shantanu, is another feather in his cap. This started with a simple thesis: India needs to create one million jobs a month but currently generates only two lakh. The podcast simplifies entrepreneurship for the youth of India. After Season 1 was successful, he expanded the range of topics and process of explanation.

Season 2 takes things a few steps further. With support from Bombay Shaving Company and Bombae, he created an INR 50 crore corpus to support over 20 startups. This isn’t just talks, it’s action. Episodes feature exclusive conversations with industry stalwarts like Piyush Pandey, who shared his journey in advertising and insights into brand building. From Cadbury Dairy Milk to Vodafone’s ZooZoos, Pandey’s campaigns have defined an era, and his words resonate with aspiring marketers and entrepreneurs alike.

Shantanu’s take on today’s food delivery.

Shantanu is fearless when taking on entire industries. In a recent LinkedIn post, he shared India’s quick food delivery culture for perpetuating unhealthy eating habits. He called out the use of frozen purees, reheated vegetables and ultra-processed foods filled with palm oil and sugar.

His description of a two-wheeler rider delivering subpar food in 10 minutes because someone was “too lazy to chadhao a cooker of daal chawal” is now viral everywhere. He wasn’t just a critique of food delivery platforms but reflected on how convenience erodes our health and traditional cooking practices.

Is this a balance with a purpose?

Shantanu Deshpande is a successful entrepreneur, a thought-provoker and a social media activist. Usually, his opinions bring outrage and force us to know and confront uncomfortable truths. He may be talking about toxic work culture, highlighting mental health issues or questioning societal norms, he just doesn’t shy away from tough conversations.
But beyond the debates and controversies, there’s a method to his madness. He’s challenging us to think differently, question the status quo and strive for better, whether in business, health, or life.

Millions of people may love or hate him. What do you think? Do we need Shantanu Deshpande’s voice for today’s world?

I say, people are often too afraid to speak up and he doesn’t just play it safe. His ability and way of questioning is a rare and valuable trait. Honestly, we agree with him or not, Shantanu isn’t here to convince you and me but blend in, he’s here to stand out. And maybe, just maybe, that’s exactly what we need.

He’s active on every social media platform, you can follow him on
X / LinkedIn / Instagram / YouTube