Danny Denzongpa's ₹40 crore business move: How the Agneepath actor expanded his Sikkim brewery empire to Assam to beat multi-millionaire Vijay Mallya's United Breweries in Northeast India

Veteran actor Danny Denzongpa, who became popular for portraying some of Bollywood's most memorable villains, built a successful business empire alongside his acting career. While audiences remember him for films such as Agneepath, The Burning Train, Ghatak and Hum, not many know that he also owns one of India's leading brewery businesses.

Danny established Yuksom Breweries in 1987, naming the company after his village in Sikkim. What began as a small-scale business gradually expanded into a major brewery operation, eventually becoming the third-largest brewery in India and the biggest in the Northeast, according to reports.

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Danny Denzongpa's brewery business: From Sikkim to Odisha and Assam

Danny launched Yuksom Breweries in 1987 with the aim of creating employment opportunities and contributing to the local economy of Sikkim. Over the years, the business grew significantly, giving him a strong presence in India's brewing industry.

In 2005, he took the first major step towards expanding the company beyond Sikkim by establishing Denzong Breweries in Odisha. Four years later, in 2009, he acquired Rhino Agencies Ltd in Assam for reportedly ₹40 crore.

According to a 2009 report by The Economic Times, Danny's expansion was also aimed at strengthening his company's position in the Northeast market at a time when Vijay Mallya's United Breweries was looking to enter the region.

His business ventures eventually became a significant source of income. In a 2009 interview with The Indian Express, Danny spoke candidly about the performance of his breweries and said, “Very well. Now I own three of them in Sikkim. They are my real bread and butter. Acting has happened by the way.”

Danny Denzongpa wanted to join the Army before becoming an actor

Born in Sikkim, Danny initially aspired to become an Army officer. However, following the tensions between India and China in the 1960s and witnessing the harsh realities of war, his mother requested him not to pursue a career in the armed forces.

He eventually turned towards his interest in music and acting. Danny enrolled at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, where he received formal training in acting. He began his film career in supporting roles in the early 1970s and gradually established himself as one of Hindi cinema's most recognisable villains. He was also honoured with the Padma Shri in 2003.

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Danny Denzongpa chose a slower acting career to spend time in Sikkim

Despite achieving considerable success in Bollywood, Danny never wanted to make stardom the centre of his life. As his career progressed, he increasingly prioritised spending time in his hometown of Sikkim and maintained a selective approach towards acting assignments.

In a 2018 interview with Scroll, he spoke about his preference for working during the winter months in Mumbai and avoiding the city's summer heat.

“My conditions are that I will shoot only in the winter in Bombay, between November and January. Bombay summers are terrible. It is so uncomfortable that you can’t keep your hair straight. You start sweating and everybody looks uncomfortable on the screen,” he said.

He further explained his relaxed approach towards work, adding, “Sometimes, I just don’t feel like working at all. My pace has been very slow and very happy. I don’t shoot on Sundays. I follow my heart, and I follow my impulse. I don’t plan.”

Danny Denzongpa's films

Over the past two decades, Danny has become increasingly selective about his film appearances. He played the antagonist in Rajinikanth's 2010 film Enthiran and appeared in projects such as Baby and Naam Shabana.

His last film appearance was in Sooraj Barjatya's 2022 film Uunchai. Alongside his acting career, his brewery business has remained an important part of his professional journey.