Shark Tank India, the popular business reality show, has introduced a new judge to its panel—Srikanth Bolla. The visually impaired entrepreneur and CEO of Bollant Industries recently shared his excitement about joining the show, emphasizing how entrepreneurship in India has been positively impacted by the platform.

In a social media post, Bolla expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “To survive a pool of sharks, you need to become one yourself.” .” In his recent post, Shark Tank new judge also highlighted how the experience reinforced the importance of taking action on ideas rather than just thinking about them.

Who is Srikanth Bolla?

Srikanth Bolla is an accomplished Indian industrialist, co-founder, and chairman of Bollant Industries Private Limited. Despite being visually impaired since birth, he became the first blind student to study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), specializing in Management Science at the Sloan School of Management.

With Bollant Industries achieving an annual turnover exceeding $150 million, the company provides employment to over 500 individuals, including people with disabilities.

Early life and challenges

Born on July 7, 1991, in Seetharamapuram, Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh, Srikanth Bolla hails from a humble Telugu family. His parents, who were farmers with no formal education, faced difficulties in ensuring proper educational opportunities for him.

Despite scoring 98% in his Class XII board exams, he struggled to gain admission to engineering institutes. Undeterred, he took legal action and won a six-month-long court battle to pursue higher education. However, coaching institutes refused to admit him for IIT entrance preparations due to his visual impairment.

Achievements and career milestones

Srikanth Bolla has been a youth leader since 2005 and was an active member of Lead India 2020, a national youth movement initiated by former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

In 2011, he co-founded Samanvai Center for Children with Multiple Disabilities and launched a Braille printing press to assist visually impaired students.

Recognizing his impact, Forbes included him in its prestigious ’30 under 30′ list for Asia in 2017.

Bollant Industries and entrepreneurial success

Bolla established Bollant Industries in 2012 alongside co-founder Ravi Mantha. The company, backed by industrialist Ratan Tata, specializes in manufacturing areca-based eco-friendly products. Additionally, it provides sustainable solutions by recycling municipal waste, plastic waste, and paper, ensuring employment for disabled individuals.

Srikanth Bolla’s story on the silver screen

Srikanth Bolla’s remarkable journey has been adapted into a Bollywood biopic titled Srikanth, starring Rajkummar Rao in the lead role. His inspiring life story continues to motivate aspiring entrepreneurs and individuals overcoming adversities.

Saira Rahman, the estranged wife of renowned composer AR Rahman, has sent her wishes for a swift recovery after he was hospitalized due to dehydration. She emphasized that while they are separated, they are not officially divorced, and she asked the media to refrain from labeling her as his ex-wife.

In a show of unwavering support during this challenging time, Saira also mentioned her own recovery from surgery. Recently, she faced a medical emergency herself but remains committed to standing by her former partner. Through a statement from her lawyers, Vandana Shah and Associates, she expressed, “AR is in my prayers, and I wish him the best of health. As I recover from my surgery, I hope for his speedy recovery, and I deeply appreciate the love and prayers from his fans and well-wishers.” The message was signed by Saira Rahman.

Accompanying her written statement was an audio message in which she shared, “Hi everyone, this is Saira Rahman here. I wish him a speedy recovery, and I received news that he experienced chest pain and underwent an angiogram.”

By the grace of God, she continued in her message, “he is recovering well now.” Saira stressed, “I want to clarify that we are not officially divorced; we are still husband and wife, just separated because I haven’t been well for the past two years and didn’t wish to burden him with stress.”

She made a heartfelt request to the media, saying, “Please do not refer to me as his ex-wife… We are currently separated, but my prayers for him remain constant.” Furthermore, she urged his family not to add to his stress and to take good care of him.

On November 19, 2024, after nearly three decades of marriage, Saira Banu and AR Rahman announced their separation, citing “significant emotional strain” as the reason behind their decision. The couple, who wed in 1995, are the parents of three children: Khatija, Raheema, and Ameen.

According to a statement from the Apollo Hospital in Chennai, where Rahman was treated for dehydration symptoms, he has since been discharged following a routine check-up. Dr. RK Venkatasalam, the Director of Medical Services, confirmed this update in a bulletin.

Hollywood actors Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas have once again sparked romance rumors after being seen together in London. The duo was spotted arriving at the London Heliport on the evening of March 14, marking their second public outing in recent weeks.

According to reports, the two actors appeared relaxed and comfortable in casual attire, engaging in lively conversations and laughter with the heliport staff. Their recent joint appearances have intensified speculation about a possible romantic relationship.

Tom and Ana’s growing closeness

The romance rumors initially began circulating over Valentine’s Day weekend last month when Tom and Ana were first photographed together. The duo was seen walking through London’s Soho neighborhood, with Ana carrying takeout food. They also stopped to interact with fans and pose for photographs, further fueling dating speculations.

Neither Tom, who has been filming a movie in England directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, nor Ana have addressed these rumors. In a recent encounter with Spanish media in Madrid, Ana declined to comment when asked whether her outing with Tom was personal or work-related.

Past relationships and media interest

Ana de Armas has been linked to Tinder executive Paul Boukadakis in 2023 and previously dated actor Ben Affleck from 2020 to 2021. Tom Cruise, on the other hand, has maintained a relatively private personal life in recent years.

As of now, representatives for both actors have not responded to requests for comments on their relationship status. However, their recent outings together continue to keep fans and media buzzing with speculation.