On Nikhil Kamath's 39th birthday, his mother shares memories of early days: 'Celebrated with what we had'

Beyond Zerodha, Nikhil has also co-founded True Beacon.

On September 5, as Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath celebrated his 39th birthday, his mother, Revathi Kamath, shared a personal note and photograph online to mark the occasion. The image, taken many years ago, showed a young Nikhil beside her with a birthday cake. In her post, she wrote: “Today my son Nikhil Kamath’s birthday and I never forget to celebrate my sons’ birthdays!!”

Her words, though brief, pointed to a long-standing tradition of celebrating her children’s milestones regardless of circumstances.

In a separate Instagram post on the same day, Revathi reflected on the family’s earlier years when financial constraints were a constant reality but birthdays were never overlooked. “We always made sure to celebrate both of our sons’ birthdays without fail. No matter what our economic condition was at that time, we celebrated with whatever resources were available. Because happiness was never about how much we had, but about how much love we shared,” she wrote.

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A post shared by Revathi Kamath (@revathikamath.world)

The message drew widespread appreciation from social media users. One response read: “It’s never the resources but parents’ emotions that are magical. This bonding is divine.” Another user added: “Very well said, it’s all about love shared.”

Revathi has often spoken publicly about the period before her sons achieved business success. In an earlier Facebook post, she recalled how quickly family life took shape after marriage. “Within 10 months of marriage, my son Nithin was born and my life got completely dedicated to him and the family. Seven years later, Nikhil was born, and both boys were far from conventional. Every day was a challenge,” she wrote.

Nikhil Kamath, before establishing himself in the financial sector, worked at a call centre while trading equities in his teenage years. In 2010, he and his elder brother Nithin co-founded Zerodha, which has since grown into India’s largest retail brokerage firm.

Beyond Zerodha, Nikhil has also co-founded True Beacon and is known for his work as an investor and philanthropist. More recently, he has hosted a podcast series in which he interviews public figures and leaders.