This article is sponsored by Razorpay
Imagine waking up before dawn, working tirelessly just to get by, and still dreaming of something bigger. That was the reality for Chalapathi, Manjunath, and Adeep — three men from small towns, struggling with financial hardship and jobs that barely kept them afloat.
Then, they found a workplace that didn’t just offer them a job but believed in their potential. They were given trust, mentorship, and the chance to grow. This is their story of transformation — from being overlooked to becoming valued team members.
Think back to your own journey: when did you feel truly supported, and when did you feel invisible or stuck? These men found the space to grow their professional lives, but how many others await that chance? How many untold stories are out there, waiting for the right environment to unfold?
Life hasn’t been kind to Chalapathi, but his story is a powerful reminder of how resilience can turn hardship into strength.
Born in a small farming family in Tamil Nadu, following the death of his grandfather, he relocated to live with his grandmother in Bengaluru and started working at the tender age of 13 in a printing press to help support his family.
Chalapathi eventually found work at a startup founded by one of his car cleaning customers. For nine years, he juggled multiple roles — office assistant, late-night chauffeur, and more. The work was exhausting, but his drive was clear: he wanted to earn enough to support his family and build a new home, as the roof of his family’s house had been leaking for years.
Chalapathi’s breakthrough came when the startup he worked for closed down and a colleague’s referral led him to Razorpay.
His breakthrough came when the startup he worked for closed down, leaving him searching for new opportunities. A colleague’s referral led him to Razorpay. “I reached out to Razorpay HR, and they said, ‘Yes, we have a vacancy, but it’s after three months’. I couldn’t believe it; I thought HRs always say this, but nothing ever comes of it,” he tells The Better India.
To his surprise, three months later, Chalapathi received a call from HR asking him to come in for an interview. “I got selected as an admin in the company,” he adds. His first two years brought new opportunities, especially when he transitioned from admin to the procurement team. Though it was a new domain for him, he embraced the challenge and was eager to learn.
Chalapathi with Razorpay Co-founder Shashank Kumar
What stood out about his time at Razorpay was the company’s belief in his potential, despite his lack of formal experience. Chalapathi was entrusted with responsibilities that most would consider risky, such as managing procurement and office interiors. “They gave me a credit card and let me handle asset management, buying laptops, and even overseeing office interiors,” he recalls.
“When I joined Razorpay, I had zero knowledge of audits, and after six months, the first audit started. Anuradha Bharat, our HR head, and Adrian were a huge help during this time. They guided me through the entire process and supported me in closing the first-year audit,” he explains.
Manjunath’s story is a powerful reflection of sacrifice, hard work, and perseverance. Born in a small village in Hassan, Karnataka, his early years were shaped by financial hardship. His father worked as a cook for marriage functions, and his mother was a homemaker.
Despite his desire to continue his education, he was forced to leave school after Class 10 due to financial constraints. He began working in a construction factory and later at a kirana store. Eventually, he found a job as a security guard, working long hours across different locations in Bengaluru and Mandya.
Manjunath’s resolve to support his mother and provide a better future for his younger brother kept him going. “I didn’t want my mother to suffer anymore. I did not buy or save anything for myself till my wedding. My only focus was to support my family,” he shares.
His life changed when he joined Razorpay in 2016 as an office admin. The company’s inclusive culture provided him with the opportunity to grow and learn in various ways. He did not know English at the time, but the environment at Razorpay allowed him to flourish. “No one made me feel insecure for not speaking English,” he recalls.
Manjunath says he admires the company’s culture of equality the most: “Everyone is treated the same”.
“They helped me learn how to work on Slack, manage the CCTV, excel sheets, invoices, and even access the control system. It wasn’t just my manager, but other employees also came forward to help me. Everyone was so supportive and eager to guide me, making sure I was never left behind,” he says.
His hard work and dedication eventually led him to move from his initial role in security to a position in the legal department.
What stands out most for him is the culture of equality in the company. “At Razorpay, everyone is treated the same. We all eat together and respect each other,” he says.
While sharing a personal experience, he says, “One of the most heartwarming moments for me at Razorpay was when we organised an event and put in a lot of hard work. For the first time, our efforts were truly appreciated. I had never been acknowledged for my hard work before, no matter how much I gave. But this time, everyone recognised our efforts, and I was rewarded. It made me feel incredibly happy and valued, something I had never experienced before.”
Adeep’s journey to success was anything but straightforward. Growing up in a village in Karnataka, his family faced significant financial struggles. Despite his desire to continue his education, he was forced to drop out of school after Class 10 to support his family.
Over the next six years, he worked tirelessly in various low-paying jobs, including as a helper in a spring factory, a cement factory worker, a waiter, a BSNL salesman, and at petrol pumps.
During this time, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of regret. “It was a sad feeling when my friends talked about their college experiences, and I had to tell them that I never went to college,” Adeep reflects.
Adeep went from being a security guard to an office assistant at Razorpay.
Adeep’s journey at Razorpay was a turning point. He joined in 2016 as a security guard, and with guidance from colleagues like Manjunath, he quickly grasped the intricacies of documentation and grew within the company. After two years in the company, Adeep moved on to another company as an office assistant, seeking a better opportunity.
On his last day, while working the night shift, he had an unforgettable moment with Razorpay’s co-founder, Shashank Kumar. “When I told him about the offer, he got up and hugged me. That was very heartwarming because I didn’t know they treated everyone with so much love. This was the first time somebody treated me like this,” says Adeep.
After two years at another company, Adeep returned to Razorpay as an office assistant. “Initially, I was not familiar with the company’s systems, but I gave my 100% and slowly learned,” he shares. By 2021, he moved to the HR operations team, managing pre-onboarding, documentation, and employee onboarding.
He reflects, “At Razorpay, everyone is treated the same. In other companies, they don’t let you go to the boss’s cabin without asking, but here it’s different.” Adeep also recalls his time as a security guard when colleagues noticed he ate lunch late and invited him to join them.
What stands out most in the stories of Chalapathi, Manjunath, and Adeep is not just their resilience but the equal opportunities they were given at Razorpay. From the beginning, their colleagues and supervisors trusted, encouraged, and mentored the three men.
Edited by Leila Badyari; All pictures courtesy Razorpay
Imagine waking up before dawn, working tirelessly just to get by, and still dreaming of something bigger. That was the reality for Chalapathi, Manjunath, and Adeep — three men from small towns, struggling with financial hardship and jobs that barely kept them afloat.
Then, they found a workplace that didn’t just offer them a job but believed in their potential. They were given trust, mentorship, and the chance to grow. This is their story of transformation — from being overlooked to becoming valued team members.
Think back to your own journey: when did you feel truly supported, and when did you feel invisible or stuck? These men found the space to grow their professional lives, but how many others await that chance? How many untold stories are out there, waiting for the right environment to unfold?
“I couldn’t believe it”: How one chance changed everything for Chalapathi
Life hasn’t been kind to Chalapathi, but his story is a powerful reminder of how resilience can turn hardship into strength.
Born in a small farming family in Tamil Nadu, following the death of his grandfather, he relocated to live with his grandmother in Bengaluru and started working at the tender age of 13 in a printing press to help support his family.
Chalapathi eventually found work at a startup founded by one of his car cleaning customers. For nine years, he juggled multiple roles — office assistant, late-night chauffeur, and more. The work was exhausting, but his drive was clear: he wanted to earn enough to support his family and build a new home, as the roof of his family’s house had been leaking for years.
Chalapathi’s breakthrough came when the startup he worked for closed down and a colleague’s referral led him to Razorpay.
His breakthrough came when the startup he worked for closed down, leaving him searching for new opportunities. A colleague’s referral led him to Razorpay. “I reached out to Razorpay HR, and they said, ‘Yes, we have a vacancy, but it’s after three months’. I couldn’t believe it; I thought HRs always say this, but nothing ever comes of it,” he tells The Better India.
To his surprise, three months later, Chalapathi received a call from HR asking him to come in for an interview. “I got selected as an admin in the company,” he adds. His first two years brought new opportunities, especially when he transitioned from admin to the procurement team. Though it was a new domain for him, he embraced the challenge and was eager to learn.
Chalapathi with Razorpay Co-founder Shashank Kumar
What stood out about his time at Razorpay was the company’s belief in his potential, despite his lack of formal experience. Chalapathi was entrusted with responsibilities that most would consider risky, such as managing procurement and office interiors. “They gave me a credit card and let me handle asset management, buying laptops, and even overseeing office interiors,” he recalls.
“When I joined Razorpay, I had zero knowledge of audits, and after six months, the first audit started. Anuradha Bharat, our HR head, and Adrian were a huge help during this time. They guided me through the entire process and supported me in closing the first-year audit,” he explains.
“They helped me learn how to work on Slack”: Finding a family at Razorpay after years of struggle
Manjunath’s story is a powerful reflection of sacrifice, hard work, and perseverance. Born in a small village in Hassan, Karnataka, his early years were shaped by financial hardship. His father worked as a cook for marriage functions, and his mother was a homemaker.
Despite his desire to continue his education, he was forced to leave school after Class 10 due to financial constraints. He began working in a construction factory and later at a kirana store. Eventually, he found a job as a security guard, working long hours across different locations in Bengaluru and Mandya.
Manjunath’s resolve to support his mother and provide a better future for his younger brother kept him going. “I didn’t want my mother to suffer anymore. I did not buy or save anything for myself till my wedding. My only focus was to support my family,” he shares.
His life changed when he joined Razorpay in 2016 as an office admin. The company’s inclusive culture provided him with the opportunity to grow and learn in various ways. He did not know English at the time, but the environment at Razorpay allowed him to flourish. “No one made me feel insecure for not speaking English,” he recalls.
Manjunath says he admires the company’s culture of equality the most: “Everyone is treated the same”.
“They helped me learn how to work on Slack, manage the CCTV, excel sheets, invoices, and even access the control system. It wasn’t just my manager, but other employees also came forward to help me. Everyone was so supportive and eager to guide me, making sure I was never left behind,” he says.
His hard work and dedication eventually led him to move from his initial role in security to a position in the legal department.
What stands out most for him is the culture of equality in the company. “At Razorpay, everyone is treated the same. We all eat together and respect each other,” he says.
While sharing a personal experience, he says, “One of the most heartwarming moments for me at Razorpay was when we organised an event and put in a lot of hard work. For the first time, our efforts were truly appreciated. I had never been acknowledged for my hard work before, no matter how much I gave. But this time, everyone recognised our efforts, and I was rewarded. It made me feel incredibly happy and valued, something I had never experienced before.”
“Everyone is treated the same”: How equal opportunity at Razorpay changed Adeep’s life
Adeep’s journey to success was anything but straightforward. Growing up in a village in Karnataka, his family faced significant financial struggles. Despite his desire to continue his education, he was forced to drop out of school after Class 10 to support his family.
Over the next six years, he worked tirelessly in various low-paying jobs, including as a helper in a spring factory, a cement factory worker, a waiter, a BSNL salesman, and at petrol pumps.
During this time, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of regret. “It was a sad feeling when my friends talked about their college experiences, and I had to tell them that I never went to college,” Adeep reflects.
Adeep went from being a security guard to an office assistant at Razorpay.
Adeep’s journey at Razorpay was a turning point. He joined in 2016 as a security guard, and with guidance from colleagues like Manjunath, he quickly grasped the intricacies of documentation and grew within the company. After two years in the company, Adeep moved on to another company as an office assistant, seeking a better opportunity.
On his last day, while working the night shift, he had an unforgettable moment with Razorpay’s co-founder, Shashank Kumar. “When I told him about the offer, he got up and hugged me. That was very heartwarming because I didn’t know they treated everyone with so much love. This was the first time somebody treated me like this,” says Adeep.
After two years at another company, Adeep returned to Razorpay as an office assistant. “Initially, I was not familiar with the company’s systems, but I gave my 100% and slowly learned,” he shares. By 2021, he moved to the HR operations team, managing pre-onboarding, documentation, and employee onboarding.
He reflects, “At Razorpay, everyone is treated the same. In other companies, they don’t let you go to the boss’s cabin without asking, but here it’s different.” Adeep also recalls his time as a security guard when colleagues noticed he ate lunch late and invited him to join them.
What stands out most in the stories of Chalapathi, Manjunath, and Adeep is not just their resilience but the equal opportunities they were given at Razorpay. From the beginning, their colleagues and supervisors trusted, encouraged, and mentored the three men.
Edited by Leila Badyari; All pictures courtesy Razorpay