{"id":548,"date":"2026-03-26T12:19:07","date_gmt":"2026-03-26T03:19:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/india-marketing.jp\/india-company\/imagine-meats\/"},"modified":"2026-09-24T13:59:24","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T04:59:24","slug":"imagine-meats","status":"publish","type":"india-company","link":"https:\/\/india-marketing.jp\/en\/india-company\/imagine-meats\/","title":{"rendered":"Imagine Meats \u2014 Plant-Based Meat Kept Running on Self-Funding by an Actor Couple"},"content":{"rendered":"
\nThis article is based on what we could verify As of September 19, 2026<\/strong> This page is based on the disclosures and news reports from each company that we were able to confirm as of that date. Amounts in the text follow the notation commonly used in India, with \u20b91 crore = 10 million rupees, and yen figures are approximations calculated at a little over 1.7 yen to the rupee. Store counts, funding raised, and results at Indian companies change over short periods, so when making a business decision, please check the latest information in primary sources such as each company's own announcements.\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Imagine Meats is a plant-based meat brand launched in 2021 by the actors Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia Deshmukh, a married couple. It is run on its own funds, without bringing in outside capital.<\/p>\n

Company profile<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Item<\/th>\nDetails<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Legal name<\/td>\nImagine Meats<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Year founded<\/td>\n2021<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Headquarters<\/td>\nMumbai (Maharashtra)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Founder<\/td>\nRiteish Deshmukh and Genelia Deshmukh (a couple)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Capital<\/td>\nBootstrapped (no outside funding)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Employees<\/td>\nFewer than 50<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Revenue<\/td>\nNot disclosed<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Listing<\/td>\nUnlisted<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

Entering by replacing existing dishes<\/h2>\n

Its distinguishing feature is a lineup shaped for use in Indian cooking, entering with items like keema, kebabs, and seekh that directly substitute for existing dishes. This is a different approach from Western plant-based meat, which started with burger patties.<\/p>\n

A significant portion of India's population is vegetarian, and its food culture already gets protein from pulses and dairy. If plant-based meat is going to sell, it will be as an option for meat eaters to reduce how much they eat, not for non-meat eaters. Replacing existing dishes fits that aim.<\/p>\n

The choice not to bring in outside funding<\/h2>\n

The founder couple has publicly stated they are vegetarian, and their reach is the main source of the brand's awareness. Being able to get the name out without ad spend meant the company could launch without outside funding.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, having taken no outside funding means there's no disclosure of business scale. Revenue isn't published, and it has fewer than 50 employees. Having no obligation to report to investors makes it possible to choose not to release numbers.<\/p>\n

Points for Japanese companies<\/h2>\n

Celebrity brands are strong on awareness at launch, but whether they take hold is decided by product and price. Plant-based meat in India is a small market at present, and in judging entry it is necessary to look at publicity and actual sales scale separately.<\/p>\n

In the same category, Shaka Harry had FY2025 revenue of \u20b96.9 crore, and GoodDot had \u20b997.05 crore on an operating-entity basis. This range shows the current state of plant-based meat in India. For a Japanese soy-processing company considering this market, starting from the actual figures of companies selling today, rather than market growth forecasts, is less likely to lead to a wrong call.<\/p>\n

Reference Information<\/h2>\n