Sahil Gupta : Enhancing Customer Loyalty By Sticking To His Core Values
Sahil Gupta
CEO
Sahil has transformed Bodycraft Clinic & Salon, which was founded in 1997 by his Army-housewifeturned entrepreneur mother as a modest skincare clinic in Bengaluru, into one of the country's thriving, futuristic brands. It now operates over 26 branches across India, in Bengaluru, Gurgaon, Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Dehradun.
Bodycraft Clinic & Salon has been awarded and ranked among the top 50 hottest brands in Bengaluru for three consecutive years. Supported by a family of skilled dermatologists and beauticians, including Sahil's father, wife, and sister, Body craft Clinic & Salon today serves more than 3,50,000 satisfied clients. Its 25 state-of-the-art facilities span over 60,000 square feet and are equipped with cutting edge hair and skin care technologies.
Bodycraft Clinic & Salon is also home to over 650 professionals trained by inter national experts. No wonder it has been Bengaluru's most known and trusted destination for styling, hair and skin care, cosmetology, and wellness services. Sahil, an alumnus of IIT Kharagpur, joins us for an exclusive conversation to share insights into his inspiring entrepreneurial journey.
Having been a pillar of strength to Body craft Clinic & Salon, could you briefly describe its journey since its inception?
Bodycraft Clinic & Salon's journey is rooted in purpose, resilience, and a deep commitment to excellence. What started 28 years ago as a modest skincare practice by my mother, Manjul Gupta, an Army housewife who retrained as a beauty expert, has blossomed into a nationally recognised brand. With my sister Swati joining in 2003 and my father bringing in his expertise as a
dermatologist, we laid the foundation for something far greater. In 2006, we evolved into a full-fledged salon, spa, and clinical set-up.
I stepped in during 2010, bringing learnings from my consulting career to help scale the brand, eventually enabling external funding in 2016–17. My wife, Dr Mikki Singh, further bolstered our clinical strength. Like many businesses, we faced turbulence during COVID, but came out sharper and stronger. Today, with 26 stores across India, Bodycraft Clinic & Salon remains proudly family-run and women-led, a rare blend of personal values and professional excellence focused on delivering holistic, world-class beauty and wellness experiences.
What are the valuable lessons you acquired from IIT Kharagpur?
IIT Kharagpur offers a prestigious, intel lectually stimulating environment with a vast campus, diverse courses, and a vibrant student community. Surrounded by talented peers, I developed humility, ambition, and a strong drive to succeed. The rigorous curriculum honed my analytical, data-driven, and problem solving abilities. Leading initiatives like placements nurtured my leadership and teamwork skills. Faculty mentorship instilled a respect for continuous learning. Key skills I carry into my current role include strategic problem solving, project management, and structured decision making.
College taught me to break complex goals into manageable tasks using scientific principles, which is critical when scaling a business. Today, delivering meaningful, consumer-centric experiences is my focus. Robust governance and cross-functional synergy are essential as we grow. Ultimately, business, like campus life, is about people. Clear communication and stakeholder engagement are vital to sustaining success and shaping a purpose-driven organization.
How do you stay in touch with the alumni network?
Staying connected with our alumni network is effortless, thanks to active WhatsApp groups where we regularly share birthday wishes, celebrate achievements, and support one another. It’s an informal yet great way to stay in touch. Additionally, city-based alumni chapters host gatherings once or twice a year, offering a chance to reconnect over dinner and drinks. On a larger scale, IIT organizes structured alumni events and city-wide meetups, strengthening cross-batch ties. In college, the
I stepped in during 2010, bringing learnings from my consulting career to help scale the brand, eventually enabling external funding in 2016–17. My wife, Dr Mikki Singh, further bolstered our clinical strength. Like many businesses, we faced turbulence during COVID, but came out sharper and stronger. Today, with 26 stores across India, Bodycraft Clinic & Salon remains proudly family-run and women-led, a rare blend of personal values and professional excellence focused on delivering holistic, world-class beauty and wellness experiences.
Delegation and trust now fuel efficiency, enabling sustainable growth while upholding quality and innovation
What are the valuable lessons you acquired from IIT Kharagpur?
IIT Kharagpur offers a prestigious, intel lectually stimulating environment with a vast campus, diverse courses, and a vibrant student community. Surrounded by talented peers, I developed humility, ambition, and a strong drive to succeed. The rigorous curriculum honed my analytical, data-driven, and problem solving abilities. Leading initiatives like placements nurtured my leadership and teamwork skills. Faculty mentorship instilled a respect for continuous learning. Key skills I carry into my current role include strategic problem solving, project management, and structured decision making.
College taught me to break complex goals into manageable tasks using scientific principles, which is critical when scaling a business. Today, delivering meaningful, consumer-centric experiences is my focus. Robust governance and cross-functional synergy are essential as we grow. Ultimately, business, like campus life, is about people. Clear communication and stakeholder engagement are vital to sustaining success and shaping a purpose-driven organization.
How do you stay in touch with the alumni network?
Staying connected with our alumni network is effortless, thanks to active WhatsApp groups where we regularly share birthday wishes, celebrate achievements, and support one another. It’s an informal yet great way to stay in touch. Additionally, city-based alumni chapters host gatherings once or twice a year, offering a chance to reconnect over dinner and drinks. On a larger scale, IIT organizes structured alumni events and city-wide meetups, strengthening cross-batch ties. In college, the
Alumni Committee plays a key role in nurturing this network. Friend ships from those days remain deeply cherished, filled with hostel memories and daily camaraderie. Our batch, one of the largest, doubled from 60 to 120 students.
What are the leadership approaches that you use?
When I joined the business, the salon industry was largely unorganized, with inconsistent practices and a heavy reliance on individuals over systems. It was difficult to find talent familiar with the sector, so I initially took a slightly more authoritative approach to streamline operations.
Thankfully, my mother and sister adapted quickly, helping build a solid foundation. As we grew, leading a diverse team required a democratic style. Ensuring open communication and fairness became vital, as frontline insights are invaluable. Building our brand meant leading with vision and strategy, empowering team members to make decisions. Delegation and trust now fuel efficiency, enabling sustainable growth while upholding quality and innovation.
What are your future aspirations for the next five years?
This year, we aim to grow from 26 to 40 locations, expanding beyond Bangalore while preserving the Bodycraft Clinic & Salon experience for both customers and teams. Our goal is to replicate our impact in Bangalore across new cities. Customer satisfaction, loyalty, and visible results remain our core focus, boosting confidence through beauty and wellness. As we scale, we’re committed to upholding our brand integrity and consistently enhancing our offerings. Growth brings fresh talent, and we strive to make their journey enriching and meaningful. Strategically expanding, we aim to contribute to the industry while building a brand that stands out. Our long-term vision is to go pan-India with over 65–70 locations in five years, becoming a top-five player known for quality, innovation, and global standards.
Sahil Gupta, CEO, Bodycraft Clinics & Salons
An alumnus of IIT Kharagpur, former consultant from Ernst & Young, and a second-generation entrepreneur, Sahil has grown his family business into a nation wide empire, Bodycraft Clinic & Salon.
•Hobbies:Spending time with family
•Favorite Cuisine:Chinese
•Favorite Book:Blue Ocean Strategy and Breakout Nations
•Favorite Travel Desti- nations: South east Asia, Europe, and the US
What are the leadership approaches that you use?
When I joined the business, the salon industry was largely unorganized, with inconsistent practices and a heavy reliance on individuals over systems. It was difficult to find talent familiar with the sector, so I initially took a slightly more authoritative approach to streamline operations.
Thankfully, my mother and sister adapted quickly, helping build a solid foundation. As we grew, leading a diverse team required a democratic style. Ensuring open communication and fairness became vital, as frontline insights are invaluable. Building our brand meant leading with vision and strategy, empowering team members to make decisions. Delegation and trust now fuel efficiency, enabling sustainable growth while upholding quality and innovation.
What are your future aspirations for the next five years?
This year, we aim to grow from 26 to 40 locations, expanding beyond Bangalore while preserving the Bodycraft Clinic & Salon experience for both customers and teams. Our goal is to replicate our impact in Bangalore across new cities. Customer satisfaction, loyalty, and visible results remain our core focus, boosting confidence through beauty and wellness. As we scale, we’re committed to upholding our brand integrity and consistently enhancing our offerings. Growth brings fresh talent, and we strive to make their journey enriching and meaningful. Strategically expanding, we aim to contribute to the industry while building a brand that stands out. Our long-term vision is to go pan-India with over 65–70 locations in five years, becoming a top-five player known for quality, innovation, and global standards.
Sahil Gupta, CEO, Bodycraft Clinics & Salons
An alumnus of IIT Kharagpur, former consultant from Ernst & Young, and a second-generation entrepreneur, Sahil has grown his family business into a nation wide empire, Bodycraft Clinic & Salon.
•Hobbies:Spending time with family
•Favorite Cuisine:Chinese
•Favorite Book:Blue Ocean Strategy and Breakout Nations
•Favorite Travel Desti- nations: South east Asia, Europe, and the US