His enviable fleet of luxury cars-on-rent, and
his incredible story of success and determination has earned Ramesh the title of
Billionaire Barber.
Born and raised in Bengaluru, Ramesh lost his
father at an early age, in the year 1979, and found his family mired in conflict and
poverty. “My father left a saloon in Brigade Road. My uncle took care of it and paid us
₹5 each day,” the entrepreneur recalls. Those early years weren’t easy, as Ramesh, his
mother, grandmother and siblings struggled for even basic essentials like food and
clothing.
“My mother took a job as a maid and earned
perhaps ₹40-50 per month that was used for everything, including our fees, books,
clothes, and everything,” he says. “We got new clothes once a year and we managed the
rest with school uniforms and old clothes. Once I was sent back by my PT teacher because
my trousers were torn, but I couldn’t afford a new one. We had only one meal every day
in the afternoon from what my mother got from work. Getting a good meal during a
festival was one of our happiest moments.”
Ramesh’s family had steady breakfasts, in
addition to their single meal, for the first time when he took up a job delivering
newspapers at the age of 13. He continued his studies while supporting his family, till
his pre-university years when he took over the saloon, named Inner Space, from his
uncle.
Running the business wasn’t easy, as Ramesh
dealt with multiple commitments and workers who rarely turned up at the saloon on time.
It took three months of perseverance when a chance visit turned Ramesh towards
hairstyling himself.
“One morning, while I was waiting for my workers, a gentleman came and asked me for a
haircut. I said I didn’t know how to cut hair but he insisted that I try it,” He says.
“So I cut his hair, and maybe he liked it because he gave me double the standard price.
He is still my customer.”
As Ramesh took up hairstyling himself, the business began to flourish and a year later,
he began to sign up for hairstyling courses to hone his seemingly natural talent. “I
even went to Singapore and did a course with Toni & Guy,” he says.
