(November 5, 2025) From the bustle of Mumbai’s streets to the boardrooms of London, from producing television ads in India to managing wealth portfolios across Africa and the Middle East Aparesh Ranjit’s life reads like a study in adaptability. A seasoned banker who once took an unexpected detour into the entertainment industry and the grounded husband of Bollywood star Shilpa Shirodkar, he has built a life steered by the courage to adapt and begin anew across careers and continents.
Today, as Relationship Director for Africa at Barclays Private Bank, Aparesh moves with ease between worlds guiding high-net-worth clients, navigating cultures, and shaping financial strategies across markets and geographies.
Raised on Mumbai’s heritage
Aparesh is originally from Mumbai and belongs to the Pathare Prabhu community which is one of the city’s oldest indigenous groups. This ancient Mumbai community has shaped the city’s social and culinary fabric for over seven centuries. The old elite clan traditionally involved in administration and landholding is known for its historical contributions to Mumbai, distinctive customs, and unique cuisine. “We’ve been in Bombay since after the fishermen settled there” he tells Global Indian, speaking about the community and his roots. “So Bombay is our village. We don’t have any other,”
That deep connection to Mumbai remains an anchor in his life, even as his career has taken him to New Zealand, Dubai, the Netherlands, and the UK.
Aparesh Ranjit
From hospitality to high finance
After completing his graduation from St Xaviers, Mumbai in finance, physics, and mathematics, his first job was in the hospitality industry. “I worked in a hotel for a year after graduation,” he recalls. “But finance was where my true interest lay.”
Soon Aparesh was working with American Express in the UK, followed by a stint at Global Trust Bank. “That period really gave me the grounding I needed,” he says. Alongside work, he earned an MBA in Human Resources, and later, realizing his passion still lay in finance, he completed a second MBA in Finance from the Netherlands. “That’s where my international career really started,” he notes. “It gave me a new way of looking at finance, as a global ecosystem rather than a local industry.”
A detour into the world of lights and cameras
Then came a surprising twist. “I took what was supposed to be a two-year sabbatical and ended up staying five,” he laughs. Back in India, Aparesh entered the entertainment industry, driven by his family’s creative background. “I started a production house and produced about a dozen TV commercials for local and international brands,” he says. “I even produced a Marathi feature film, Sau Shashi Deodhar (2014).”
His creativity extended beyond production as he managed endorsements for his brother-in-law, superstar Mahesh Babu. “It was a completely new world for me,” he mentions calling it “ dynamic, unpredictable, but exciting. For someone like me who’s always eager to learn, it was a fascinating experience,” he remarks.
Life with Shilpa Shirodkar: Grace beyond the limelight
Aparesh Ranjit’s personal life draws attention because of his wife, Shilpa Shirodkar, who lit up Indian cinema in the 1990s, and is now making a comeback with a couple of popular shows and a film releasing this month. Aparesh speaks of her fame with affection and perspective.
“When we got married, we left India soon after,” he says. “So we didn’t really live in the country for the first ten years.” Even abroad, Shilpa would be recognized. “People in New Zealand and London would come up to her, take pictures. I preferred to stay out of the limelight,” he smiles.
What drew him to her, he recalls, was her simplicity. “She was like any other girl with no airs, no star persona. That’s what I loved.” The two continue to balance separate yet intertwined worlds. “It’s long-distance now as she’s in Mumbai working on films again, and I’m in London. But we meet at least once a month. Either I’m in India for work or she visits here.” It works because there’s mutual respect.
Aparesh Ranhit and Shilpa Shirodkar
Global banking, local wisdom
Aparesh Ranjit’s global career took off in 2001 when he joined AMP (Australian Mutual Providence), a southern hemisphere–based company with a strong presence in South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, where he was posted. “New Zealand is a beautiful country with a fantastic quality of life,” he says. “But the financial sector was small, so after three years I moved to the UK.”
That move would define the next two decades. “Joining Barclays was a milestone,” he says. “It gave me the opportunity to work in the UK, the Middle East, and Africa, handling truly international markets.” As Relationship Director for Africa at Barclays Private Bank, Aparesh helps clients manage offshore assets and investments. “When our clients want to diversify, to invest internationally, buy property abroad, or simply have their wealth managed securely. My job is to make that happen efficiently.”
Decades of international work have shaped his philosophy. “Working in different markets gives you perspective,” he says. “In the Netherlands, people are direct. They like to get straight to the point. In Africa, it’s the opposite. You talk about family, life, likes and dislikes before business.”
He believes this cultural sensitivity or cultural intelligence is crucial. “You have to gauge within the first five minutes how to approach a conversation,” he explains. “It’s not something you can learn from books; you learn it by living it.” This understanding, he adds, fosters empathy. “When you respect how others think and communicate, you become not just a better professional but a better person.”
Returning to banking: A second act
After five years in entertainment, re-entering the banking world was unexpectedly easy. “Five years is a long time to be away in any industry.” But when he reached out to his former managers at Barclays, the response was overwhelmingly positive.
“They said, ‘We’d love to have you back!’ That meant a lot. I must have done something right in my earlier years at the organization,” he smiles. “They even accommodated my request to be based in Dubai or Singapore instead of London, so I could be closer to Shilpa, who was pursuing her acting career in India.”
That trust, he says, reinforced his belief in maintaining relationships. “In banking, as in life, goodwill matters. If people remember you for your integrity, doors will always reopen.”
Looking forward to a new chapter
Currently, his focus is expanding. “I am in the process of transitioning from West Africa to look after India and the global Indian diaspora for Barclays,” he reveals. “It would be an exciting challenge working with NRIs and the Indian diaspora.”
The move also aligns with his personal goals. “My daughter just graduated and is studying law in the UK,” he says with pride. “Once she’s settled, I’m open to wherever work takes me. Ultimately, I’d like to return closer to India, to spend more time there and maybe retire there eventually.”
Aparesh and Shilpa with their daughter, Anoushka
Work, play, and balance
Despite a schedule filled with client meetings and international calls, Aparesh ensures balance. “Every Wednesday evening I play badminton while weekends are for golf.
He admits weekdays feel easier as Shilpa is away in India while he is in the UK. “I prefer workdays as I’m around colleagues, clients, and people. Weekends can get quiet. But that’s life. After living in different countries and adjusting to change, you learn to be content in every situation.”
Life’s mantra
Looking back, Aparesh distills his journey into one principle, and that is adaptability. “You need to be open to change,” he says. “Always eager to learn, always flexible. That’s what takes you a long way.” Having built a career that spans continents and industries, he radiates calm wisdom. “At the end of the day, you just need to be happy with what you do,” he signs off.
- Follow Aparesh Ranjit on LinkedIn
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