SparX by Mukesh Bansal

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal sits down with Peeyush Bansal, Co-founder and CEO of Lenskart. They dive into Peeyush’s journey from building early ventures to creating one of India’s most impactful consumer brands. How his mission to solve India’s vision crisis became a movement to make eyewear accessible for all.They talk about:Why India remains the blind capital of the world.The untapped opportunity in the eye correction market.Crises and hard choices that shaped Lenskart’s growth.Why putting the customer first isn’t a strategy, but a survival skill.How to build with purpose in a market that often overlooks real needs.The challenge of scaling offline retail.If you’re interested in entrepreneurship, purpose-driven business, or building in India’s next wave of consumer health innovation this conversation offers clarity, in every sense.

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal speaks with Manish Gupta, Senior Director at Google DeepMind. They discuss how artificial intelligence is evolving, what it means to build truly inclusive AI, and why India must aim higher in research, innovation, and ambition.Manish shares DeepMind’s vision of solving “root node problems,” fundamental scientific challenges that unlock breakthroughs across fields, and how AI is already accelerating discovery in areas like biology, materials, and medicine.They talk about:What AGI really means and how close we are to it.Why India needs to move from using AI to creating it.The missing research culture in Indian industry, and how to fix it.How AI can transform healthcare, learning, and agriculture in India.Why ambition, courage, and willingness to fail are essential to deep innovation.Manish also shares insights from his career across the IBM T.J. Watson Research Center and now DeepMind, two of the world’s most iconic research environments, and what it will take for India to build its own.If you care about India’s AI journey, research, and the future of innovation, this conversation is a masterclass in what it takes to move from incremental progress to world-changing breakthroughs.

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal takes a hard look at the state of India’s deep tech ecosystem. While the world races ahead with AI, semiconductors, and frontier science, India is at a crossroads: will we be creators of technology, or just consumers?Mukesh argues that true deep tech is only possible when rooted in deep science, a culture of research, curiosity, and discovery. He unpacks why India risks being left behind if we don’t invest in science the way the US, Europe, and China have, and what it will take for India to build original IP, Nobel-worthy science, and globally competitive deep tech companies.He explores:Why India’s dependence on foreign tech poses a strategic risk.The looming threats to IT services and startup ecosystems.How India can move from “Make in India” to “Discover in India, Invent in India, then Make in India.”Lessons from history: how breakthroughs in physics, AI, and the internet all started with curiosity-driven science.What it will take for India to aspire to Nobel Prizes, original IP, and world-class innovation.This is not just about technology, it's about India’s future. If you care about Viksit Bharat, scientific ambition, and the next wave of innovation, this video is a must-watch.

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal speaks with Raghuram Rajan (Former RBI Governor) on India’s economic crossroads, tariff wars, shifting geopolitics, AI disruption, and the urgent need for jobs and human capital investment.They discuss:India’s position between the U.S. and China.The real impact of tariffs on trade, GDP, and livelihoods.Why 7.8% GDP growth isn’t the full story.The jobs crisis and AI’s disruption of tech roles.Building human capital: world-class universities, R&D, and upskilling.Strategic autonomy in AI and reducing vulnerabilities.Dr. Rajan’s message to India’s youth on ambition, learning, and opportunity.If you want to understand the choices shaping India’s economic future, this is a must-watch conversation.

In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal speaks with Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, CEO of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF). India’s biggest push yet to fund science, research, and deep tech.Shiv explains why India needs to build its own technologies instead of only buying them, and how ANRF will unlock ₹50,000 crore in research grants and ₹1 lakh crore in patient capital to power innovation. They talk about:- How research moves from a basic idea to real products.- Why India spends less on R&D than other nations and how that can change.- How startups, industry, and researchers can work with ANRF.- The big focus areas: AI, medical tech, EVs, quantum, biotech, energy, and more. Shiv also shares his own journey from researcher to industry leader with 75+ patents, and now stepping into government to shape India’s research future. If you’re curious about India’s innovation story and where the next big breakthroughs will come from, this conversation is a must-watch.

In this episode of Sparx, Mukesh Bansal sits down with Tejasvi Surya, one of India’s youngest Members of Parliament for an unfiltered conversation on leadership, purpose, and building a stronger nation. From his early days as a student activist to becoming a Member of Parliament at 28, Tejasvi shares the defining moments, risks, and unwavering convictions that shaped his journey.They dive deep into themes of taking initiative without waiting for permission, the power of youth in nation-building and lessons from icons like Swami Vivekananda on mental strength, physical fitness, and resilience. Tejasvi reveals how a grassroots campaign over coffee shop meetings grew into a statewide movement, why consistency beats intensity in every pursuit, and how a 14-day solo trip to Bhutan helped him rediscover his purpose.The conversation also spans fitness, governance reforms, Bengaluru’s urban challenges, the future of public transport, and the disruptive force of AI along with a bold vision for Viksit Bharat 2047.