Mid-day 44th anniversary special: ‘The energy here is contagious; it forces you to hustle’

Sharan Hegde at his home in BKC. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar

He could be the most important type of influencer, given that in this economy, we are all trying to either make money or save. And he feels that moving to Mumbai is an investment he will benefit from.

Sharan Hegde, fin-influencer, entrepreneur and creator, shifted to the city around 10 months ago, so that he could enable his business to grow multi-fold. "I started out as a content creator, while I lived with my parents in Mangaluru during the pandemic. Then I shifted to Bengaluru and started Finance with Sharan, an ed-tech business, to help people become better at handling their money," says the 28-year-old, "...and it just blew up."

At the time, he was ready to head to the Columbia School of Business to pursue an MBA.

But with 2.2 million followers, and an ever-growing business, it made sense to stay back. "I felt it was time to move to Mumbai, as all content creators are here," he says, "Delhi and Chennai are too hot."

This is not the first time Hegde had contemplated coming to Mumbai. The first time he planned to move here was in 2020, when he was working with KPMG, but his father, Mulki Balakrishna Hegde, scared him off. "He told me that I wouldn't be able to cope [in the city] and that I wasn't built for travelling in the local trains," he shares, "My dad had come here 40 years ago, and tried to make it, but couldn't manage the pace. He then went back to Mangalore and started a successful restaurant called Lalit Bar, which ran for 30 years."

Hegde's own experience with the city has been insightful. "I want to try my hand at OTT and so first, I thought I should live in Andheri. I eventually settled for Bandra, which seems so cool, but is also very expensive. My manager and I found a home in BKC, but then, we realised this is not Bandra West. The cool factor is not the same!" he laughs.

He might still be reeling from his real estate faux pas, but he is enjoying the energy of the city. "I think I have become more focused and productive here.
The energy of the city is contagious and it forces you to hustle. The atmosphere has rubbed off on me. But it's a hard life, and rent is the biggest shocker. And I don't like the rain," he says, adding, "In Bengaluru, when it rains, you feel like you are in a hill station. Here, it's so sad and gloomy."

The best part about his experience is the network he has built. "Here, you meet so many different kinds of people. It's truly very cosmopolitan." He isn't sure yet if the move was good for his business, but he does admit that his personal motivation has increased. "I am more positive here, and that itself will influence my work. We came here with six people, and now, have 40 people working with us, and an office in Worli. I couldn't have ever imagined it."

Mumbai meri jaan?

Love about Mumbai The energy and hustle

Hate about Mumbai The rains and traffic

Expectations from Mumbai I hope it keeps surprising me

Did Mumbai live up to it? Yes, I keep meeting interesting people

Will it remain forever home? I am not sure of that yet