By Mewati Sitaram
You may know Danny Denzongpa as a successful Bollywood film star, but the veteran actor is also making significant strides as an entrepreneur. With a sharp business acumen, Denzongpa has made a notable contribution of ₹100 crore to the Northeastern economy, adding a new dimension to his already illustrious career. This shift into the business world highlights his versatility beyond the silver screen.
While Vijay Mallya is often credited with revolutionizing the beer market in India, it wasn’t always smooth sailing for the so-called “King of Good Times.” Before Mallya’s United Breweries brought about a beer boom, beer was not among India’s top beverage choices.
Today, however, 45 crore beer cases are sold annually across the country. Mallya’s dominance in the market has been a testament to his ability to outmanoeuvre competitors. Yet, there was one competitor he never anticipated—a Bollywood star who would outshine him in the very industry he once ruled.
Danny Denzongpa’s Beer Empire
Danny Denzongpa, born in 1948 in Sikkim, made his Bollywood debut in 1971 with Zaroorat and went on to star in iconic films like Agneepath and Khuda Gawah. However, his entrepreneurial journey began in 1987 when he founded Yuksom Breweries in his hometown. Expanding his business, Denzongpa established Denzong Breweries in Odisha in 2005 and acquired Rhino Agencies in Assam in 2006.
Today, Yuksom is the third-largest beer producer in India, with a production capacity of 6.8 lakh hectolitres annually, behind only Kingfisher and Kimaya. All other brands with higher production are international names like Hoegaarden, Budweiser, and Carlsberg.
Through his strategic business moves, Danny Denzongpa has not only carved a niche for himself in the beer market but also contributed significantly to the economy of India’s Northeastern region, proving that there’s more to his story than just his Bollywood fame.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
