Anand Ahuja: Bhaane Founder and Fashion Entrepreneur

Introduction

Anand Ahuja is a fashion entrepreneur, retail business leader and sneaker enthusiast. He is best known as the founder of Bhaane, the co-founder of VegNonVeg and a director at Shahi Exports.

Many people also know Anand as the husband of Indian actor Sonam Kapoor. However, he had already developed his own career in fashion, manufacturing and retail before their marriage.

His business journey connects traditional clothing production with modern streetwear, sneakers, basketball culture and online retail.

Anand Ahuja Quick Facts

Fact	Information
Full public name	Anand S Ahuja
Profession	Entrepreneur and fashion business executive
Birthplace	New Delhi, India
Known for	Bhaane, VegNonVeg and Shahi Exports
Education	University of Pennsylvania
Wife	Sonam Kapoor
Marriage date	May 8, 2018
Children	Two sons
First son	Vayu Kapoor Ahuja
Major interests	Fashion, sneakers and basketball

Who Is Anand Ahuja?

Anand Ahuja is an entrepreneur working across fashion, footwear, retail and clothing manufacturing.

He created Bhaane as a modern clothing brand focused on simple and comfortable designs. He later helped establish VegNonVeg, a specialist sneaker and streetwear retailer in India.

Anand is also connected with Shahi Exports, the large clothing manufacturing company led by his family.

His career is different from that of a typical celebrity. He rarely depends only on public attention. Instead, he focuses on building brands, developing retail ideas and supporting creative communities.

Anand Ahuja’s Age and Date of Birth

Anand Ahuja’s exact birth date is not completely clear because reliable public records do not agree.

Several media publications report that he was born in July 1983. However, UK corporate records list his birth month and year as July 1985.

Because these records conflict, his exact age should not be presented as a fully confirmed fact.

What is clear is that he was born and raised in New Delhi before studying and working outside India.

Early Life and Family Background

Anand grew up in a family closely connected with the clothing industry.

His father, Harish Ahuja, is the chairman of Shahi Exports. The company was originally established by Anand’s grandmother, Sarla Ahuja, in 1974.

His mother is publicly known as Priya Ahuja. Anand also has two brothers, Anant Ahuja and Amit Ahuja.

Growing up around a large apparel business gave him an early view of manufacturing, fabrics, supply chains and international clothing markets.

However, he did not simply remain inside the family company. He used this experience to develop businesses aimed at younger customers interested in design, streetwear and sneakers.

Readers interested in Indian business families can also explore the story of Akshata Murty and her career, investments and fashion background.

Education

Anand attended the American Embassy School in New Delhi.

He later studied at the University of Pennsylvania in the United States. Published professional profiles state that his studies included economics and international relations.

He also entered an MBA programme at the Wharton School. However, credible reports indicate that he did not complete the programme.

His education gave him knowledge of international business, economics and global markets. These subjects later became useful when he began working across India, the United States and the United Kingdom.

Early Career

Before launching his own businesses, Anand gained experience with major international companies.

His early professional experience reportedly included work or internships with:

• Deutsche Bank
• Macy’s
• Amazon

These positions introduced him to banking, department-store retail and online shopping.

Amazon was especially relevant to his future work because e-commerce later became an important part of fashion and sneaker retail.

After gaining experience abroad, Anand returned to India and became involved in business development at Shahi Exports.

Founding Bhaane

Anand founded Bhaane in 2012.

Bhaane is a contemporary clothing and lifestyle brand. Its designs are generally simple, relaxed and easy to wear.

The brand did not focus only on expensive formal clothing. It aimed to create modern everyday products for younger customers who wanted comfort and personal expression.

The name became connected with India’s growing independent fashion community.

Bhaane has worked across clothing, footwear, retail and creative projects. The business has also developed relationships with major international sports and fashion brands.

Anand’s approach to Bhaane reflects his belief that clothing should help people express themselves instead of forcing them to follow one fixed style.

Co-Founding VegNonVeg

Anand co-founded VegNonVeg in 2016 with Abhineet Singh and other members of its early team.

VegNonVeg became one of India’s early specialist multi-brand sneaker stores. It offered customers access to popular global footwear and streetwear brands.

The business was created at a time when organised sneaker culture was still developing in India.

VegNonVeg did more than sell shoes. It helped build a community around:

• Sneaker collecting
• Basketball
• Streetwear
• Music
• Art
• Youth culture

Anand and Abhineet have publicly discussed the development of the country’s sneaker market in a Vogue India interview about India’s growing sneaker culture.

The store helped make limited-edition and premium sneakers more accessible to Indian buyers. It also gave sneaker fans a place to discover new products and meet people with similar interests.

Role at Shahi Exports

Anand is also publicly identified as a director at Shahi Exports.

Shahi Exports is one of India’s major apparel manufacturers and exporters. The company works with international fashion businesses and operates manufacturing facilities across different parts of India.

Anand’s work connects the company’s large-scale manufacturing experience with newer retail and consumer brands.

This connection is important because Bhaane and VegNonVeg are customer-facing businesses, while Shahi Exports operates mainly within clothing production and international supply chains.

Together, these roles give Anand experience in several areas of the fashion industry, including:

• Product development
• Manufacturing
• Branding
• E-commerce
• Physical retail
• International partnerships

Business Style and Leadership

Anand’s public business style is strongly connected with creativity and collaboration.

He has spoken about using the knowledge and resources available through Shahi Exports to create opportunities for younger designers and entrepreneurs.

His brands often combine products with culture. For example, VegNonVeg uses events, stories and collaborations to connect with sneaker fans instead of operating only as a normal footwear shop.

This community-based approach has helped his companies build a clear identity.

He also appears to prefer long-term brand development over short-term publicity. His interviews usually focus on products, customer communities, design and business ideas.

NBA and International Partnerships

Bhaane has developed partnerships connected with international sports and fashion brands.

In 2023, Bhaane and the National Basketball Association launched an official NBA online retail platform for customers in India.

The partnership combined Anand’s interest in basketball with his experience in clothing and e-commerce.

It also showed how his businesses could connect global sports organisations with India’s growing consumer market.

Bhaane Group later entered a formal partnership with India’s Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade. The initiative focused on manufacturing knowledge, startup support and opportunities for Indian businesses to reach international markets.

Marriage to Sonam Kapoor

Anand Ahuja is married to actor and fashion personality Sonam Kapoor.

Reports state that the couple first began communicating through social media. They later met in London and developed a relationship.

Anand and Sonam married on May 8, 2018, in Mumbai. Their wedding received major attention from the Indian entertainment and fashion media.

The couple often use the phrase “Everyday Phenomenal” when sharing messages about their relationship.

Although Sonam has a major public career, Anand generally maintains a quieter public personality. He often appears with her at family celebrations, fashion events and selected public occasions.

Anand Ahuja’s Children

Anand and Sonam have two sons.

Their first child, Vayu Kapoor Ahuja, was born in August 2022.

The couple welcomed their second son in March 2026. The birth was announced publicly through their social media accounts.

Anand occasionally shares family moments online, but the couple also protect many details about their children’s daily lives.

Sneaker Collection and Basketball Interest

Sneakers are one of Anand’s most recognised interests.

He began collecting footwear before specialist sneaker stores became common in India. His personal interest later helped inspire the creation of VegNonVeg.

He has kept sneakers in several cities and has publicly said that he has never counted his complete collection.

Basketball is another major interest. The sport has influenced his fashion choices, business collaborations and retail ideas.

His love for basketball helps explain why his companies frequently connect footwear with sport, music and street culture.

Fashion and Public Image

Anand is known for a simple and relaxed personal style.

He often wears:

• Comfortable shirts
• Jackets
• Casual trousers
• Streetwear
• Limited-edition sneakers

His fashion choices are normally less formal than traditional business clothing.

This personal style matches the identity of Bhaane, which promotes simple products and individual expression.

In 2019, GQ India recognised him as one of the country’s most stylish men.

Anand Ahuja’s Net Worth

There is no publicly available audited record confirming Anand Ahuja’s exact personal net worth.

Many entertainment websites publish large estimates. However, these figures are usually not supported by financial statements, verified shareholding information or official asset records.

It is also incorrect to treat the full value or revenue of Shahi Exports as Anand’s personal wealth.

His known sources of business activity include Bhaane, VegNonVeg, Shahi Exports and company directorships. However, his exact ownership percentages, salary and personal investment value have not been publicly confirmed.

For this reason, any exact net worth figure should be treated as an unverified estimate.

Social Media Presence

Anand uses Instagram under the username @anandahuja.

His public posts commonly include:

• Family photographs
• Sneakers
• Basketball
• Fashion
• Bhaane projects
• VegNonVeg activities
• Travel moments

He also maintains a professional presence on LinkedIn, where he is associated with Bhaane, VegNonVeg and other business activities.

Follower numbers change regularly, so they should always be checked directly before publication.

Anand Ahuja’s Influence on Indian Fashion

Anand’s strongest influence can be seen in the connection between Indian fashion, modern retail and sneaker culture.

Bhaane gave customers a simple and contemporary clothing option. VegNonVeg helped make specialist sneaker retail more visible and organised in India.

His businesses also created spaces where fashion could connect with art, music, sport and community events.

This makes Anand an important figure within India’s modern lifestyle retail market, even though he is sometimes introduced mainly as Sonam Kapoor’s husband.

His independent career shows that he has built a professional identity through fashion, manufacturing and entrepreneurship.

For another founder story, readers can discover how Rachel Watkyn built Tiny Box Company as an ethical packaging business.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Anand Ahuja?

Anand Ahuja is a fashion entrepreneur and business executive. He founded Bhaane, co-founded VegNonVeg and serves as a director at Shahi Exports.

What is Anand Ahuja famous for?

He is famous for building fashion and sneaker businesses. He is also widely known as the husband of Indian actor Sonam Kapoor.

What companies does Anand Ahuja own?

He is the founder of Bhaane and a co-founder of VegNonVeg. He is also connected with Shahi Exports and holds several company directorships. His exact ownership percentage in each business is not publicly confirmed.

Who is Anand Ahuja’s wife?

His wife is Sonam Kapoor, an Indian actor and fashion personality. They married on May 8, 2018.

Does Anand Ahuja have children?

Yes. Anand and Sonam have two sons. Their first son, Vayu, was born in August 2022, and their second son was born in March 2026.

Where did Anand Ahuja study?

He studied at the University of Pennsylvania. Published profiles state that his subjects included economics and international relations.

Is Anand Ahuja the owner of Shahi Exports?

Anand is a director at Shahi Exports, while his father, Harish Ahuja, is the company’s chairman. Public records do not establish that Anand personally owns the entire company.

What is Anand Ahuja’s net worth?

No verified public record confirms his exact personal net worth. Figures published by celebrity websites should be treated as estimates rather than confirmed facts.

Why did Anand Ahuja start VegNonVeg?

His love of sneakers and basketball helped inspire the business. VegNonVeg was created to give Indian customers better access to specialist sneaker brands and streetwear culture.

Where does Anand Ahuja live?

Public records and media reports connect him with both India and the United Kingdom. His family is known to spend time in London, Mumbai and Delhi.

Conclusion

Anand Ahuja is an entrepreneur who has built a career across fashion, sneakers, retail and clothing manufacturing.

Through Bhaane, he created a modern clothing and lifestyle brand. Through VegNonVeg, he helped support the growth of specialist sneaker culture in India.

His role at Shahi Exports also connects him with one of India’s major apparel manufacturing businesses.

Although his marriage to Sonam Kapoor increased public interest in his life, Anand has an independent professional identity. His work shows how traditional manufacturing knowledge can be combined with modern design, digital retail and youth culture.