Vishal Mega Mart has become a familiar name across India known as a one-stop destination for daily essentials and lifestyle needs. While the brands journey has seen its fair share of ups and downs not many know the story of the man who built it from the ground up Ram Chandra Agarwal. Ram started Vishal Mega Mart back in 2001–2002. Today it stands as one of the fastest-growing retail chains in the country. But the early days were far from smooth. Like many great success stories his path was filled with challenges. Let’s take a look at how Ram Chandra Agarwal turned a vision into a nationwide shopping destination. Battling polio and poverty to build a retail empire Ram Chandra Agarwal’s success didn’t come easy. Born into a poor family he contracted polio as a teenager leaving him physically disabled and reliant on crutches. But Ram refused to let his condition limit him. With strong support from his family especially his parents he pushed through the tough times completed school and went on to earn a college degree. He then entered the competitive world of textiles and clothing a space where many fail to leave a mark. Ram experimented learned from his setbacks and kept moving forward. His hard work eventually paid off when Vishal Mega Mart became a go-to name in retail across major Indian cities. When the company got listed on the Bombay and National Stock Exchanges in December 2024 it made headlines by jumping 41 per cent on its debut. Started by opening a photocopy shop Ram Chandra Agarwal’s journey into entrepreneurship began by opening a photocopy shop soon after graduating. Coming from a financially struggling background he knew early on that he had to take charge of his future. With a loan in hand and a strong desire to support his family Ram started his first business. Though the photocopy shop lasted less than a year it became the stepping stone that shaped his business instincts. From a small shop to big dream Realizing he was meant for something bigger Ram moved on from the photocopy venture and opened a clothing store in Kolkata’s Lal Bazaar  a very well-known commercial area. For the next 15 years he ran this garment shop gaining hands-on experience in retail and getting to know Indian customers up close. His daily interactions with shoppers helped him understand their preferences needs and changing fashion trends. The birth of Vishal retail By 2001 Ram felt ready to take a bold step. He shut down his Kolkata shop and moved to Delhi with a bigger vision. In 2002 he launched Vishal Retail which introduced a hypermarket format that was relatively new in India at the time. As the model picked up steam Ram rebranded the venture under the name Vishal Mega Mart making it a household name across India. Fueled by early success Ram expanded quickly. He took significant bank loans to open new outlets and bring Vishal Mega Mart to more cities. His calculated risk paid off as the brand became a popular shopping destination for millions of Indians looking for affordable and reliable products. Vishal Mega Mart suffered a massive loss of Rs. 750 crores Ram Chandra Agarwal’s business journey hit a major setback in 2008. Just when things seemed to be going well the global stock market crash changed everything. Vishal Retail suffered heavy losses to the tune of Rs. 750 crore and was on the brink of bankruptcy. But Ram didn’t give up. Instead he made a tough but smart decision and sold the Vishal brand to Shriram Group and TPG Capital for Rs. 70 crore. The rise of V2 retail Soon after selling Vishal Ram bounced back with a new venture V2 Retail. Starting all over again he took the lessons from his past and built something even stronger. His new brand quickly found success and became one of the fastest-growing retail companies in the country. V2 Retail opened its first store in Jamshedpur. By 2013 it had already crossed Rs. 100 crore in turnover. As of May 2025 V2 Retail Limited has a market cap of Rs. 6572 crore according to a report by Screener. It boasts a Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) of 10.8 per cent and a Return on Equity (ROE) of 10.4 per cent. The company now runs nearly 200 stores across India offering affordable fashion and lifestyle products to millions. Although Ram Chandra Agarwals personal net worth hasn’t been publicly disclosed the scale and success of V2 Retail speak volumes about his business acumen.