How Garbage king of India built a Rs 12,000 crore empire from waste. Watch

Once bankrupt and homeless, Gravita India founder Rajat Agarwal went on to build a recycling business worth nearly ₹12,000 crore from the ground up. Dressed in a simple white shirt while stepping out of his Mercedes Maybach, Agarwal summed up his business philosophy by saying, “We make garbage into gold.”

‘The Toughest Days of My Life’

Speaking during a conversation with Jaiswal, Agarwal recalled the most difficult phase of his journey. “We had to sell our house…those were the toughest times,” he revealed.



Despite facing financial collapse, Agarwal said he always believed that setbacks were temporary. According to him, “There is no other option but making a comeback.”

Lessons Learned From Failure

Rather than treating bankruptcy as the end, Agarwal viewed it as a chance to reflect and improve. He admitted that one of his biggest mistakes was trusting the wrong people.

“It is a common mistake, but I misjudged some people. When you bring the wrong people along with you and keep them along with your journey, that’s a very big mistake,” he said.

From Homelessness to Leading Thousands

Like many first-generation billionaires, Agarwal still remembers the period when he became homeless. Today, however, he leads a company that provides employment to more than 15,000 people, something he says motivates him every day.

Work, Discipline and Balance

Agarwal also spoke about the importance of discipline and time management, saying life is ultimately “governed by the clock.”

In the early years of building his business, he revealed that he regularly worked 16 to 18 hours a day. Over time, as he built a stronger team and delegated responsibilities, he shifted towards maintaining a healthier work-life balance.