No entrepreneurial list would be complete - auto components or otherwise - without the inclusion of Baba Kalyani. If the term ‘living legend' applies to anybody in this sector then it is him.

This mechanical engineer from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (Pilani, Rajasthan), has single handedly transformed the Pune based Bharat Forge Ltd into a technology-driven global leader in metal forming. Today, BFL has trans-continental presence across eight manufacturing locations and serves a wide range of sectors including automotive, oil and gas, power, locomotive & marine, aerospace, construction & mining, etc.

Kalyani's leadership and entrepreneurial capabilities have been instrumental in making Bharat Forge a world leader in the forging industry. Today, as part of the Kalyani Group - a US$2.5 billion conglomerate, Bharat Forge has the largest repository of metallurgical knowledge and is the largest manufacturer and exporter of automotive components from India.

Kalyani, who also has an MS in Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, US, was one of the few Indian entrepreneurs to look beyond Indian shores at a time when most Indian manufacturers were happy in serving just the domestic market. Of course, it was anything but easy.

There was almost zero acceptance for Indian manufactured goods in the developed markets. But with strong perseverance and conviction, Kalyani stood his ground and won over customers with a stringent focus on quality, innovation and consistency.