From Jewellery to Bindis: A Startup's Spark

Meghna Khanna, a Bengaluru entrepreneur, found a new purpose by launching The Bindi Project in December 2022. This followed the closure of her 18-year-old handcrafted jewellery business, Levitate, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The new venture focuses on creating unique, reusable bindis, drawing inspiration from traditional designs and upcycled materials. The Bindi Project has seen remarkable financial growth, with revenues doubling from approximately Rs 10 lakh in its first year (FY24) to Rs 20 lakh by FY25. This success has also garnered attention from the fashion industry.

Khanna's journey began after a conversation about heirlooms sparked the idea for reusable bindis. Utilizing leftover elements from her previous business, she developed diverse designs categorised as festive, leather, textile, and contemporary. These handcrafted bindis, made from materials like leather scraps and upcycled textiles, are promoted as versatile accessories wearable with both traditional and modern attire. The brand's visibility increased through social media, particularly Instagram reels, and pop-up stalls, serving over 1,500 customers nationwide by October 2025.

The distinctive designs of The Bindi Project have attracted the attention of Bollywood stylists, leading to their use by high-profile actors such as Kareena Kapoor, Kajol, and Tamannaah Bhatia. Featured on Shark Tank India Season 5, the brand continues to expand its reach through online sales and has plans to collaborate with artisans across India, aiming to create employment opportunities for rural women. Khanna's vision is to make bindis a fun, culturally-rooted accessory for contemporary expression.