“I lost ₹30 crore, but I lost my health first”: Entrepreneur on sleep, stress and the real cost of hustle culture
Entrepreneur Prashant Desai recently shared a raw note on Instagram. The post was not about business tactics or quick comebacks. It was about loss, stress, and a body that paid the price. While many focused on the ₹30 crore he lost, Desai spoke about something deeper. He spoke about what those 30 months did to his health, and why success stories often skip this part.
A late-night call that summed it up
Desai wrote that the call came at 3:47 am. Another store was losing money. By then, sleep had already become a stranger. Seventeen stores across seven cities were struggling. Three decades of savings were wiped out in just 30 months. The business pressure never switched off, and neither did his mind.
What no one asked about his body
People were curious about the money. No one asked what happened to his body during that time. Desai shared that he slept less than 6 hours every night for years. Stress eating became routine without him noticing. He ran 4 days a week and tried to stay disciplined, yet his face kept getting fuller. The effort was there, but the results were not.
The real reason his health did not bounce back
Desai said the answer was hidden in sleep loss and constant stress. He pointed out that sleeping under 6 hours damages insulin sensitivity and testosterone levels. High cortisol from stress blocks fat loss, even when exercise is regular. Training hard could not undo sleep deprivation. The body was exhausted before it could heal.
Wealth returned, health still catching up
Within 7 years, Desai recovered almost all the money he had lost. Health, however, did not return at the same speed. He admitted this recovery will take more time. The post made one thing clear. Money can come back with effort and time, but health recovery is slower and uncertain.
The grind culture and its silent cost
Desai questioned the startup culture that celebrates four hours of sleep and 90-hour work weeks. He reminded readers of founders who paid a heavy price. Rohan Mirchandani of Epigamia passed away due to cardiac arrest at 42 in 2024. Ambareesh Murthy, Siddhartha Bhaiya, and Nithin Kamath have also suffered strokes. The grind looks heroic, but the body keeps score.
What he urges people to be mindful about
Desai did not preach quitting ambition. He urged awareness. Sleep more than six hours whenever possible. Take short naps, even during flights. Eat better and cut down on sugar and alcohol. Manage stress by laughing more and slowing down when needed. His message was simple and direct. Wealth can be rebuilt, but lost health is almost impossible to buy back.Disclaimer: This article is based solely on Prashant Desai’s Instagram post and publicly shared information. It does not intend to offer medical or financial advice. Readers are advised to consult qualified professionals for personal health or business decisions.
