Kunal spent 22 years in the US building three successful businesses. After his mother's health crisis, he moved back to India. Here's his unfiltered advice on what it really takes to thrive.
Kunal built 3 successful businesses in the US over 22 years. When his mother was diagnosed with a rare form of Parkinson's, he made the move. Here's his unfiltered guide to what it really takes.
"I could have become a billionaire easily if I stayed another 10 years in the US. But hey, life is not all about money - you don't want regrets." Kunal spent 22 years building the American Dream in Florida - three successful businesses, kids in premium colleges, US citizenship. Then his mother was diagnosed with a rare form of Parkinson's. Within months, he was in India, facing hostile neighbors, corrupt police, and a healthcare system he calls "controlled chaos." Here's his unfiltered guide to what it really takes to thrive.
Kunal had it all - three businesses, great family, kids in college, living in Tampa, Florida.
"I had a great life in US because I was entrepreneur throughout my life. I established three businesses there. We were in the physician space - Florida has a huge population of Indian physicians and retired people. I was lucky enough to find my first investor there. I ran a company for 22 years."
His father's death in 2015 planted the seed:
"My father died in 2015. I had a shock - emotional shock - because I could not spend much time with my dad. I was not expecting him to die so soon. He died of heart attack and the whole experience with hospitals in India was not positive. That gave me a notion - I don't want to have that risk with my mom."
In 2023, his mother was diagnosed with a rare form of Parkinson's:
"My mother got diagnosed with CBS - corticobasal syndrome. In that Parkinson's, half of your body gets disabled and it was declining very fast. Within three months she got half paralyzed. Since I saw my father die in my absence, I didn't want her to go through that trauma. That's when I decided - I'm going back to India no matter what happens to my business, my family life, my kids. Everybody else was second priority. It was just my mom."
Coming from the healthcare industry in the US, Kunal has a unique perspective:
"Indians are great physicians - I dealt with them all my life in the US. Every fourth American doctor is Indian. They have great knowledge, wisdom, ready to adopt new things, technologically savvy. But the healthcare system in America is very different than India. In India, we still have a 'chalta hai' type of attitude."
"The doctors here are very good - they have knowledge, understanding, ready to help. But the difference is simple: how you treat patients in US is very different than here. In US, I always had confidence that I'm in safe hands. I don't get that feeling here in India. That certainty part - you have full confidence in the system - is missing."
"My mom is on a government scheme - Ayushman Bharat. She gets free healthcare. But the prescription they give is for one month. Now she's homebound, so we have to put her in wheelchair, take her to hospital, wait in queue for 1-2 hours to see the doctor. Sometimes doctor doesn't even see her. Only the doctor can write the prescription. It takes half a day just to write one stupid prescription which is the same medicine every month. It's very unorganized and lengthy."
Kunal's first year was a nightmare:
"I had all kinds of bad experiences in the beginning. Neighbors went against me. Some employees whom I fired went against me. I had to literally go to police stations, bribe some police guys just to get them away from me. I dealt with 5-6 attorneys. Everything was a mess."
"I have an old home where my mom used to live. Neighbors knew there's an old woman living alone - they started having different motivations. They think these are old homes with no papers. People have encroached everywhere - we used to have space for a truck, now we don't have space for a car. When you try to make a change, they think you're the only 'krantikari' (revolutionary). They don't like that."
"If there would be a person other than myself, he would just pack bags and run away within two months. Many friends told me: 'You would not survive more than 6 months. You would bring your mom to US and live there.' They made public statements: 'You're a US citizen, what are you doing here?' I just stood firm - this is my motherland, this is my mother's home, I have all the rights."
Kunal budgeted for a comfortable life and trained his staff systematically:
"I budgeted everything - if I need a good car, this is the cost. Maids, servants, driver - what I can do myself and what I can't. I sat down with everybody - all my staff, maids, servants, cleaners, drivers. I have a big white board and wrote their roles and responsibilities. This is the role of driver, this is when maid is supposed to come, this is the breakfast she has to make."
"It took me almost 6 months to change my cook's habit of not using so much oil in our food. I literally gave her small packets. When the oil finished, I didn't order it for 6 months. I said: 'Find a way to make food without oil, otherwise you're going to blow both of us up!'"
"Cleanliness in home is a big deal. In US, we never see dust, things are never dirty. Here, the cleaner comes once and says 'I'll clean tomorrow morning.' But why can't you clean when it becomes dirty? The dishes are not done - 'I'll do it tomorrow morning.' The maid comes two times but does dishes two times? People have their own way of doing things."
Kunal still works US hours and maintains his business connections:
"Internet is the most underrated tool we have. Internet in India is as good as US now - that's one of the best things I found. Amazon was the second thing I really like. I still work during the night because it's US hours."
"Those who have extremely good experience in US and developed relationships with potential clients - keep and nurture those relationships. I send one email every month to all my contacts in US just to say hi, hello, how are you doing. People don't check social media often but they check emails. The purpose is to stay in touch even 10,000 miles away."
"Anybody who worked on H1 jobs or Green Card - whatever you did in US with best abilities, you'll find plenty of opportunities around that. I know friends who came back and created huge global companies in SAP with 3,000 engineers. This is the best combination - you lived in US for 20 years, you know how to navigate US market, India is a pool of good talent. Everything is online now - QuickBooks, MailChimp, HubSpot. You don't need to physically be in US to run a business."
Meeting PM Modi in Washington DC inspired Kunal's mission:
"I had about 30 seconds conversation with PM Modi. He knew my father, saw the book I wrote on my dad. He said: 'What are you doing here? There is nothing here. The movement is in India, this is the moment you should be in India. Adventure is in India.' That 30-second conversation hit me so hard."
"I went to a government school - nothing has changed except population. Same resources, maybe a computer lab that never functions - only one computer working for data entry. Roof has leaks, AC doesn't work. But teachers make 20 lakh rupees a year now versus 20,000 in our time. The outcome of education is still extremely poor."
"These kids are very smart just like we were. We had no backing, nothing - we still went all the way. Why can't we create the same opportunities for kids here? India is still very far socially - I'm not talking about elite India. I'm talking about 60-80% of population who are poor. People are still dying on the road."
"The purpose has to be very clear. Don't get bothered by small things. India is not going to be US in next 20 years - we won't even be close to Singapore or any European country. Don't expect that."
"Work with people - communication is the key. You cannot live in silos like you were habitual of in US. If you start living in silos, you would continue to have problems. Not everything is legally as good as US - you cannot call cops for everything."
"Have bankers at your side. Find good attorneys. Develop 2-3 genuine friendships with people who are there to support you. Be safe - don't make enemies. You don't have to be a revolutionary putting your nose into every damn thing you don't like."
"The biggest myth is NRIs think they're going to be VIPs and people will treat them with respect without even asking. Nobody gives a damn about NRIs in India, I can tell you. Maybe your driver, maids, servants - people who make money from you. Politicians like your company because you're elite, but eventually it's just a waste of time."
Kunal warns: "A local constable would never understand your plight as an NRI. For him, you're just a normal citizen. Either you know the police commissioner or someone senior, or you need a lawyer to even get your FIR filed. If you don't know the top man in police, just stay away."
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Kunal shares: 'I had all kinds of bad experiences. Neighbors went against me, employees I fired went against me. I had to go to police stations, bribe police guys, deal with 5-6 attorneys - everything was a mess. Many friends told me I wouldn't survive more than 6 months.' He emphasizes standing firm despite challenges.
Kunal explains: 'Doctors in India are very good with knowledge and understanding. But the difference is how you treat patients. In US, I always had confidence I'm in safe hands. I don't get that feeling in India.' He describes the system as 'controlled chaos - poorly organized' with bureaucratic prescription processes.
Kunal is blunt: 'The biggest myth is NRIs think they're going to be VIPs. Nobody gives a damn about NRIs in India. Maybe your driver, maids - people who make money from you. Politicians like your company because you're elite, but eventually it's just a waste of time. Most people just talk, very few follow up.'
Kunal emphasizes: 'The purpose has to be very clear. Planning may not be defined, but purpose must be absolutely clear.' His purposes: care for his mother and give back to India. He says: 'India is not going to be US in 20 years - don't expect that. Work with people, communication is key.'
Kunal's approach: 'I sat down with everybody - maids, servants, cleaners, drivers. I have a big white board with roles and responsibilities.' He gives an example: 'It took 6 months to change my cook's habit of using too much oil. I gave her small packets and didn't order oil for 6 months.' Key: Train everyone your way.
Kunal warns: 'Legal system came as a surprise. A local constable would never understand your plight as an NRI - you're just a normal citizen. Either you know the police commissioner or someone senior, or you need a lawyer to even get your FIR filed. Have bankers at your side, find good attorneys, develop genuine friendships.'
Kunal says: 'Internet in India is as good as US now - that's one of the best things. I send one email monthly to all US contacts just to say hi. People check emails more than social media. You don't need to physically be in US to run a business. Everything is online - QuickBooks, MailChimp, HubSpot.'
Kunal focuses on education: 'Government schools have same resources - computer labs that never function, leaking roofs. Teachers make 20 lakh now vs 20,000 before, but outcomes are still poor. These kids are smart - why can't we create same opportunities? India is still very far for 60-80% of population who are poor.'
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