Anand Poddar: The Dreamer Who Delivers

Anand Poddar: The Dreamer Who Delivers

Anand Poddar, Director of Ardent Steel Pvt. Ltd., is a visionary entrepreneur and dynamic leader who believes in turning dreams into reality. With a B.Tech background and a passion for sports, he has excelled across industries, from iron ore to pellet manufacturing and real estate. 
Rooted in patriotism and inspired by his father Shyam Sundar Poddar, he balances business with social impact. His faith in Lord Jagannath fuels his ambitions, leading to successful ventures like KP Prime Assets and Ardent Steel. He also fulfilled the dream of Arijit Singh’s Odia fans by organizing his world-class concert at the Barabati Stadium.

In this exclusive Q&A, we step into the mind of a leader who believes in making the impossible possible. Here are the excerpts from the interview.

Could you please share your story with us?
Passionate about sports, I represented Odisha at national platforms for six to seven years in table tennis. I never planned to become an entrepreneur, it happened by chance after graduation when I entered the iron ore trade. With God’s grace and my father’s support, success followed. I’ve always tried to remain grounded, god fearing and praying that my actions never harm others.

How do you view the balance between wealth, aspiration, and lifestyle in today’s generation?
Success in the mining sector was a defining moment for me, achieving what few could. Mine owners and industry peers vouch for my accomplishments, and I take pride in that. Beyond business, patriotism has always driven me. For instance, as the chairman of Bhubaneswar Knights Round Table organizing Bhubaneswar’s longest tricolor event, stretching from Nandankanan to Jaydev Vihar, was a dream project, an impossible feat made possible. With a family legacy tied to the freedom movement, patriotism runs in my blood. My father’s dedication to Netaji and Veer Savarkar’s research inspired me. The Guinness World Record of an 11-km tricolor unfurled by 30,000 people on Republic Day was a proud moment.

Bringing Arijit Singh to Odisha was a massive undertaking. Was it purely passion-driven, how you managed the scale and challenges of such a grand event?
Organizing the Arijit Singh concert in Odisha was a passion-driven challenge, inspired by witnessing global events like Coldplay’s concert. The goal was to make it seamless despite the hurdles. When the prime minister mentioned the concert economy, it fueled our determination. In just 29 days, we made it happen. Choosing Barabati Stadium was a risk, but it wasn’t about money, it was about putting Odisha on the global concert map. Thanks to Tarun Chaudhary of Tarish Entertainment & Parthajeet Patnaik of Falcon group for the support. Some risks aren’t for profit but impact, and this concert was exactly that.

Do you think hosting the Arijit Singh concert has helped change the mindset in Odisha about buying tickets for events, shifting from a culture of free passes to a paid experience?
The Arijit Singh concert in Odisha saw 32,000 attendees, but organizing it wasn’t without financial challenges. In Odisha, large-scale concerts are rare, and even those who could afford tickets often expected invitations. Despite setting the lowest ticket prices compared to other cities, only aprox 14,000 tickets were sold online. This forced us to make a tough decision: whether to cut costs by scaling down production or to go all-in and make it a grand experience. 

Concert culture has changed, with most audiences preferring to stand, but we ensured 3,000–4,000 seats for elderly attendees and dignitaries. The artist himself embraced the event, acknowledging Odisha as the land of Lord Jagannath. With this sentiment in mind, we chose to expand rather than limit the experience, ensuring that 30,000–35,000 people could enjoy a world-class concert. It wasn’t just about financials, it was about creating a historic moment for Odisha.

What would be your advice to entrepreneurs in and outside Odisha looking to invest in the state’s entertainment and event industry?
Odisha’s entrepreneurial ecosystem needs stronger private and government support. The state has transformed, moving beyond outdated perceptions to showcase world-class infrastructure and management. The success of the Arijit Singh concert proved Odisha could host large-scale events. Entrepreneurs should see Odisha’s potential; those who have ventured here have thrived through collective support, infrastructure, and growth opportunities.