Rhea Chakraborty quits acting to launch clothing brand that hits ₹40 Cr valuation in less than a year

Former actress and VJ Rhea Chakraborty's public and personal life underwent a seismic shift in 2020 after the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, drying up work, and the familiar world she once occupied in Bollywood slipped away. 

Rhea Chakraborty turns into an entrepreneur

Eventually, she and her brother Showik found themselves carving an entirely new path, with authenticity, resilience and the power of second chances.

What began as a podcast, a space for people to speak openly about struggle and survival, soon evolved into something bigger.

Those conversations laid the emotional and conceptual foundation for what would become Chapter 2 Drip, a streetwear brand that carries, in its name, the promise of renewal.

Chapter 2 Drip launched online in August 2024, quietly at first but with a message that resonated loudly.

The brand’s ethos, a “Chapter 2” for anyone rebuilding their life, struck a chord with young buyers navigating their own transitions.

Consumer traction was strong from the outset, convincing the siblings that this was not just a passion project but carried a scope for business.

However, Rhea was initially wary of taking the expensive and risky step of opening a physical store.

“I didn’t even have the guts to open a store because overheads naturally increase. Rents on Bandra’s Linking Road are ridiculously high,” said Rhea Chakraborty as reported by The Indian Express.

“We were doing well online, and I wanted to stay that way, but Showik found the space and convinced me. We were building a community, and a community needs a headquarters.”

In June 2025, the first Chapter 2 Drip retail outlet opened on Bandra’s iconic Linking Road, one of Mumbai’s highest-visibility shopping districts.

The storefront was not only a retail presence, but was designed as a community hub, a space to meet customers face-to-face, host events, and encourage people to share their own Chapter 2 stories.

The gamble seems to have paid off. According to The Indian Express, Chapter 2 Drip has reached a valuation of ₹40 crore, an extraordinary feat for a less than a year-old brand.

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