Kavita Dubepatil: Orah’s Human Potential champion Director, Orah Nutrichem Pvt. Ltd. Some leaders build with strategy; others build with heart. At Orah, one person embodies both — Kavita Dubepatil. A Biotech Engineer by education, she has become an emerging force in human resource management, and her journey is one of resilience, reinvention and relentless passion.
“She came back with a bang.”-Roheit Dubepatil
Stepping back into a professional career after a break is never easy; the gap, the self-doubt and the balancing act are things only a few truly understand. Kavita did not just return; she came back with intent, earning a master’s degree in Human Resources and setting out to master what Orah calls its Human Potential Department, doing it with remarkable grace and insight. Her leadership shows in the initiatives she has championed. HER Leave, a thoughtful special leave policy designed to support Orah’s female colleagues, speaks to a deep understanding of their needs.
The Pilgrimage Leave carries that same soulful instinct into the company’s culture. And when the time came to restructure salaries, a complex, often sensitive undertaking, she handled it with maturity, clarity and a human-first approach. These are not simply HR initiatives; they are marks of an emerging Culture Champion, someone who sees beyond policies and procedures to the people they are meant to serve. Beyond the boardroom, she is known as a steady sounding board, the kind of colleague whose perspective brings clarity when chaos surrounds a room, who listens, challenges and encourages in equal measure.
Balancing the roles of professional, wife, mother and leader is no easy feat, yet she meets each one with the same poise, energy and quiet determination that define her work at Orah. To those close to her, she is fondly known as “Mauli”, a name that, in Marathi, carries the warmth of a guiding, nurturing presence. It is a fitting description for someone who leads Orah’s people function exactly that way: with heart, humility and an unwavering belief in human potential.
Ashish Porwal: Asset Light, Knowledge Heavy Business Head, Orah Nutrichem Pvt. Ltd.
Great strategies succeed when human potential is trusted, nurtured and empowered. This belief runs through the way Orah speaks about itself, and few people have worked harder to turn it into a way of building a company than Ashish Porwal. Since Orah’s earliest days, he has led Production and Business Development, and he remains the steady centre of the enterprise: the person who makes sure that a big idea in the lab becomes a dependable ingredient/active in a customer’s hands.
“Asset Light and Knowledge Heavy Company.” Ashish Porwal, on the future Orah is building
That phrase has become something of an internal mantra. Ashish uses it to describe Orah’s ambition to be a torchbearer for the Indian nutraceutical industry, a company whose strength lies not in fixed infrastructure but in science, formulation knowhow, and the ability to see what nature has already provided and do the rigorous work of proving it.
It is the same philosophy Orah states on its own website: approach science with a human touch, and empower the people doing it. The thinking goes back to the launch of ORAH Vit E, the company’s tocotrienol-rich natural antioxidant. Orah was the first company in India to manufacture and commercialise natural tocotrienol-rich Vitamin E, and the ingredient went on to earn ECOCERT and Halal certifications.
At the launch, Ashish’s message was simple and commercial: the innovations most sought after are the ones that reward the consumer on both price and performance. It is a discipline that sits comfortably alongside the science. The mission behind ORAH Vit E is stated just as plainly: We strive to get Vitamin E the respect it deserves. Ask those who work beside him and the same words keep coming back. Roheit Dubepatil, who has known Ashish since their early days as young professionals with big dreams, calls him “Mr Dependable and The Wall” — a pillar of strength, reliability and constant inspiration.
His dedication, humility and hunger to learn have stood out at every step of the rise he has made with wisdom, grace and a sense of humour that lifts everyone’s spirits. He leads with empathy and listens with intent, and relationship management comes naturally to him. Whether it is a high-stakes boardroom meeting or a team huddle, he makes every person feel heard and valued. Across the group, Orah Nutrichem, Kavita Biotech & Bioscience and Orah Infra Resources, he is the go-to person: the one who is already there when something needs solving and already thinking three steps ahead when a fresh perspective is needed.
He does not only think of today; he builds for tomorrow, and that strategic, visionary streak has helped shape Orah’s growth. Behind him stands a loving, supportive family, whose support shows in the balance and dedication he brings to work every day. He carries the same conviction beyond Orah’s walls. As a panellist at industry–academia platforms such as the NSIC (now Beyond Research) conference, he has argued for a stronger bridge between the two worlds so that science students arrive ready for the realities of industry.
It is the same instinct in a different room: build the knowledge base first, and the rest follows. To colleagues, he is far more than a Business Head — he is a mentor, a friend, and a picture of what good leadership looks like.
Biotech & Bioscience and Orah Infra Resources, he is the go-to person: the one who is already there when something needs solving and already thinking three steps ahead when a fresh perspective is needed. He does not only think of today; he builds for tomorrow, and that strategic, visionary streak has helped shape Orah’s growth. Behind him stands a loving, supportive family, whose support shows in the balance and dedication he brings to work every day.
He carries the same conviction beyond Orah’s walls. As a panellist at industry–academia platforms such as the NSIC (now Beyond Research) conference, he has argued for a stronger bridge between the two worlds so that science students arrive ready for the realities of industry. It is the same instinct in a different room: build the knowledge base first, and the rest follows. To colleagues, he is far more than a Business Head — he is a mentor, a friend, and a picture of what good leadership looks like.
Kajal Deshmukh: Where design thinking meets new product development Manager — New Product Development, Design Thinking & Customer Connect
Somewhere between a scientific brief and a finished active ingredient lies a great deal of unglamorous, essential work: literature reviews, patent landscaping, regulatory deep dives, and the discipline of translating a promising molecule into something a formulator can actually use. That is the terrain Kajal Deshmukh works in every day — building NPD project pipelines, formulating B2B activeingredient blends for cosmetics, nutraceuticals, food and animal nutrition, and anchoring each one in peer-reviewed science.
Her title says something real about how Orah approaches new product development: it is not only a pipeline of ingredients; it is a solution to a problem. Problem solving is the discipline behind every brief. Orah’s research journeys begin with design thinking — studying the sector, spotting the gaps, framing the problem and picturing the ideal consumer — long before anyone enters the lab. So every brief has to answer not just “what is the active?” but “who is it for, and what do they need it to do?” That customer-connect instinct runs through project briefs in every sector Orah serves. Kajal came to Orah as a fresher from Kalyan, highly recommended by her teachers.
The moment she walked into the interview, the team saw the spark — out of the entire pool of candidates, she was an instant “yes.” With Roheit Dubepatil as her mentor, she found her stride and never looked back, doubling down on assignments, driving company conversations and focusing entirely on execution. Give her the seed of an idea and her mind instantly starts building it. In two years, she has launched two products for the company, ORAH Glo E and ORAH Glo V, under the guidance of Roheit Dubepatil.
“She came, she saw, she conquered.” Roheit Dubepatil
Colleagues joke that working with someone so relentless means every long day ends with a cheerful “Sir, one last thing…” Behind the drive is a quiet strength: serene yet determined, with a mind that is always looking for solutions. Her dream has always been a doctorate, and with the support of Roheit and Kavita Dubepatil, she is now pursuing her PhD while balancing her work at Orah, a mark of her commitment to learning and excellence. At her core, she is a proud daughter who wants to take care of her family and fulfil her parents’ aspirations, carrying the humility, resilience and integrity they gave her with dignity and self-respect. To her colleagues, she is a brilliant talent, a delight to work with, and a core pillar of the team.
Kaustubh Pawar: Formulation science and Business Development Formulation science & the next generation of pharma talent
Kaustubh Pawar’s path runs through some of the most demanding corners of pharmaceutical R&D: four years of handson formulation work spanning oral solids, ophthalmic products, novel drug delivery systems and biosimilar parenteral products. Along the way, he secured All India Rank 2 in GPAT, was named Best Outgoing Student of his institute (MIT) in 2018, and received an R&D Achiever Award from Biocon Biologics. He joined Orah with a taste of the big corporate world and an ambition to one day start a venture of his own.
Rather than rushing ahead, he made a mature realisation: to lead one day, he must first master the tricks of the trade. Despite a highly decorated academic record, he never led with his résumé. He showed a rare openness to unlearn, learn and relearn and the courage to say, “I have a lot to learn before I lead.” That attitude shows in the way he grows.
He takes feedback in his stride and turns it into fuel to improve. Sales was not his first choice, yet seeing what the organisation needed, he leaned in, adapted his mindset and cracked his first customer. Technically strong, with a fresh and analytical perspective, he has all the makings of a successful leader. Colleagues have also praised the clarity with which he explains KRAs, KPIs and sector thinking, turning organisational frameworks into something
every team member can use.
Outside the lab, he has built something almost as demanding: KP’s Pharmacopoeia, a YouTube and Instagram channel that guides students and early-career professionals through careers in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. It makes the industry’s on-ramps a little less opaque for those trying to get in, much the way Orah hopes to build its own industry–academia interface.
Behind the sharp professional is a grounded young man, a reflection of a solid upbringing and the values his parents passed on, with a wit and energy that a lucky few get to see. It has been a short journey so far, but the trajectory is clear: a relentless worker who understands that culture is the foundation of success.
The Rising Stars of Orah Nutrichem
Orah is building more than products; it is building people. The Orah Journey is shaped by a Culture of Learning and Development that goes beyond technical and soft-skill training. While learning builds capability, Orah believes that true growth also comes from understanding and nurturing what each individual aspires to. This belief comes alive through Aspiration Under Management (AUM)—a philosophy that recognises that every employee has aspirations that matter. It is about creating the space, guidance and opportunities for individuals to grow in the direction of their aspirations, while growing with the organisation. Because at Orah, people are not viewed simply as headcounts or designations. They are individuals with potential, purpose and aspirations.
“When the why is clear, the what finds its own meaning.”
Three colleagues bring this culture to life every day from three different roles, with three different journeys and three different aspirations. What connects them is not just what they do, but the culture that encourages them to keep learning, growing and becoming more. Three colleagues live that culture day to day quietly and consistently, and from three very different corners of the company.
Apurva Pulate New Product Development
Every strong NPD team needs someone who can turn a promising idea into a commercialisable product, and Apurva is doing exactly that. Working alongside Kajal Deshmukh, she helps carry Orah’s new product development forward in a function where every project begins with a real problem and a customer need long before it reaches the lab.
Colleagues describe her as hard-working, intelligent and confident, and the combination is exactly what the work demands: the intelligence to see a problem clearly, the confidence to put an idea forward, and the hard work to see it through. Her roots are in rural education, and her story is a reminder that talent and ambition are not decided by an address. A true rising star of the team.
Pavan Chaudhari Factory Operations
Pavan’s story begins in Dhule, where quiet dreams grew stronger through determination and everyday discipline. A B.Pharm rank holder, he showed that consistent study and commitment can deliver results bigger than circumstances and long travel hours and family responsibilities never stopped him from completing his education. Today, he is being groomed to lead production, learning the discipline and sharp decision-making the manufacturing floor demands.
Hardworking and dependable, Pavan helps keep factory operations running and does amazing work while doing it. He observes keenly, works sincerely, and brings a calm, positive personality along with real dedication and ownership. He says small improvements create big changes in a system, and his confidence grows with every responsibility he takes on. He dreams of higher studies and hopes his achievements will inspire others.
Krushnkumar Murumkar Regulatory Affairs
In a company working across cosmetics, nutraceuticals, food and animal nutrition, regulation is never a single rulebook; it is many. Each sector and each market has its own expectations for safety, labelling, claims and documentation, and every new ingredient must meet them before it can reach a customer. Krushnkumar has taken charge of the company’s regulatory aspects.
Kajal Deshmukh: Where design thinking meets new product development Manager — New Product Development, Design Thinking & Customer Connect
This is the careful, behind-the-scenes kind of work that rarely makes headlines but makes everything else possible. It is the groundwork on which certifications, approvals and customer confidence are built. It lets Orah’s scientists innovate boldly, knowing the path from lab to market is sound. Good science becomes a good product only when it is compliant, and Krushnkumar is a big reason Orah can move forward with confidence. Six roles, six perspectives, one common thread: pushing natural innovation beyond the expected with science, rigour and a human touch.
माणसं जपली, तर परिणाम आपोआप घडतात— take care of your people, and the results take care of themselves. That’s the case this issue has tried to make, through a mission statement, but through the people actually building it, one active ingredient at a time. Behind every profile in this issue sits one simple philosophy: Good Relations!! Good Life!!
And a way of working that is living being-centric, where people, and every living being our work touches, come first. That is why, at Orah, we are not creating products; we are creating history, a global delight. To everyone featured in this issue and to the many faces who are still to find their page, thank you for building Orah with purpose, one day at a time.
