Ramesh Juneja’s journey from the dusty roads of Uttar Pradesh to building one of India’s pharmaceutical giants is the stuff of real-life inspiration. Born in 1955 in Meerut, he graduated in science and kicked off his career in 1974 as a medical representative (MR) with KeePharma Ltd. Picture this: a young man hopping on crowded UP Roadways buses every day, traveling long distances—sometimes 80-85 km one way—through heat, dust, and endless waits just to meet doctors and pitch medicines to pharmacies.

Those were tough days. Low pay, grueling travel, and the constant hustle. But one ordinary visit to a small medical shop in the early years changed everything.

Ramesh was there promoting his company’s products when a poor man walked in, desperate. His family member was seriously ill, but the medicines were out of reach. With no cash, the man quietly pulled out family silver jewelry—perhaps a cherished heirloom—and handed it over to the shopkeeper.

“Take these… just give me the medicine. My loved one can’t wait,” the man pleaded, his voice breaking.

Ramesh stood frozen. He watched the transaction, heart heavy. In that moment, a fire ignited inside him. “Why should life-saving medicine force someone to sell their most precious possessions?” he thought. “This can’t be right. Medicines should heal, not bankrupt families.”

That single, heartbreaking scene became his lifelong mission: create high-quality drugs that were truly affordable for the common man, especially in rural and small-town India.

He kept grinding—moving to Lupin Limited in 1975 as a first-line manager for nearly eight years, learning the industry inside out. In 1983, he took a leap and started Bestochem (a formulations business) in partnership, but later withdrew in 1994.

Then came the big move. In 1995, Ramesh teamed up with his younger brother Rajeev Juneja (born exactly 10 years apart on the same date!) and launched Mankind Pharma with just ₹50 lakh investment and a tiny team of about 20-25 medical representatives. The name said it all: for humankind, for everyone.

From day one, their mantra was simple yet powerful.

Ramesh often recalls: “We didn’t set out to become the richest. Our dream was to make sure no one has to choose between medicine and meals. Quality shouldn’t come with a luxury price tag.”

They focused on generics, built a massive field force (today one of India’s largest), and launched bold, memorable brands. Manforce condoms broke taboos with cheeky, mainstream advertising. Prega News became a household name for pregnancy tests. HealthOK, Gas-O-Fast, and others followed—always high quality, always budget-friendly.

The strategy paid off massively. Mankind grew rapidly, especially in non-metro and rural markets where affordability mattered most. They kept manufacturing in-house for control and cost efficiency.

Today, Mankind Pharma stands as India’s fourth-largest pharmaceutical company. After its 2023 IPO (which listed at a premium), the valuation soared. As of early 2026, the market cap hovers around ₹87,000–98,000 crore (roughly $9–10 billion USD, depending on daily fluctuations).

Ramesh (Chairman) and Rajeev (Vice Chairman & Managing Director) built an empire that employs thousands, reaches millions, and—true to that long-ago promise—keeps medicines accessible.

Next time you see a Manforce ad with Amitabh Bachchan or pick up a Prega News kit, remember: behind it is a man who once rode buses for hours, witnessed real pain, and decided one day to rewrite the rules of an entire industry.

A small act of empathy on a dusty shop floor sparked a revolution that touched countless lives. That’s the real power of purpose-driven success.