The Aditya Birla Group’s new-entry paints venture, Birla Opus, is facing a senior-management shake-up less than two years after launch. According to a regulatory filing dated 1 November 2025, Mr. Rakshit Hargave has resigned from his role as CEO of Birla Opus (under Grasim Industries), effective close of business on 5 December 2025.
Birla Opus was publicly unveiled on 14 September 2023 by Grasim Industries, with the market launch slated for Q4 FY24 (~February 2024). The business aimed to rapidly scale up with six integrated manufacturing plants, backed by a ₹10,000-crore investment.
Hargave joined Grasim in November 2021 and led the paints division through its “project to launch” phase, according to the filing. His exit comes at a time when the paints business is still in its early commercial ramp-up and has not yet reached full scale.
Industry analysts say the timing raises questions about execution, leadership continuity and the competitive dynamics in India’s decorative-paints sector — where market-leader Asian Paints commands over 50 % share and margins are under pressure from rising competition.
A spokesman for Grasim Industries said the Board accepted Hargave’s resignation and that Mr. Himanshu Kapania, Managing Director, will oversee the paints business on an interim basis. The company did not provide further comment on the reasons for the leadership change.
Investors and analysts will be watching closely how Birla Opus executes the next phase of growth, especially given that it is entering a crowded segment and the success of its launch strategy remains unproven at scale.
