Ask any Indian who grew up in the 1980s or 90s about Onida, and watch their face light up. The devil mascot. “Neighbour’s Envy, Owner’s Pride.” That campaign didn’t just sell TVs — it shaped Indian consumer culture. Onida is still around today, selling smart TVs and home appliances, and it’s still owned by the same family that built it. Here’s the full story of who owns Onida Electronics.
| Parent Company | Mirc Electronics Limited |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Founders | G.L. Mirchandani & Vijay Mansukhani |
| Headquarters | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Products | Smart TVs, ACs, washing machines, microwaves |
| Listed On | BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange) |
Who Owns Onida Electronics?
Onida is the flagship brand of Mirc Electronics Limited, a publicly listed company on the Bombay Stock Exchange. The company was founded in 1981 by G.L. Mirchandani (Gulu Mirchandani) and Vijay Mansukhani, both of whom remain actively involved in the business. G.L. Mirchandani serves as Chairman and Managing Director of Mirc Electronics, making the Mirchandani family the controlling shareholders. Onida rose to prominence through its iconic advertising campaigns in the 1980s and 90s, selling colour televisions at a time when owning one was an aspirational milestone in Indian households. The brand later expanded into air conditioners, washing machines, and microwave ovens. Today, Onida competes in the smart TV space alongside South Korean giants and Chinese newcomers. For another legacy Indian electronics brand’s ownership story, see who owns BPL. Find their current product lineup at onida.com.
| Entity | Role | Stake |
|---|---|---|
| G.L. Mirchandani & family | Founder, Chairman & MD | Promoter majority |
| Vijay Mansukhani | Co-founder, Director | Promoter group |
| Public shareholders | Minority stakeholders | ~30–40% |
Key Milestones
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1981 | Mirc Electronics founded; Onida brand launched with colour television sets |
| 1983 | “Neighbour’s Envy, Owner’s Pride” campaign launched — becomes one of India’s most iconic ads |
| 1989 | Listed on Bombay Stock Exchange; expanded manufacturing |
| 1995–2000 | Launched AC and washing machine lines; became a full home appliance brand |
| 2007 | Entered flat panel TV segment as CRT era ended |
| 2014–2016 | Launched smart LED TVs; faced intense competition from LG, Samsung, and Xiaomi |
| 2020 | Revived the devil mascot in marketing; repositioned brand toward budget smart TVs |
| 2026 | Active brand selling smart TVs and home appliances in Indian market |
Leadership
G.L. Mirchandani serves as Chairman and Managing Director of Mirc Electronics, continuing to lead the company he co-founded over four decades ago. Vijay Mansukhani, the other co-founder, has also remained on the board. The company’s continuity under founding family leadership is notable in an industry where many contemporaries have changed hands multiple times.
My Take on Onida
The Onida story is one of endurance. That devil mascot campaign is still the most memorable consumer electronics ad in Indian history, bar none. What impresses me is that Onida hasn’t tried to be something it’s not — they’re not chasing premium like Sony or competing on volume with Xiaomi. They’ve found a middle lane: recognizable heritage brand, decent quality, affordable pricing, mostly smart TVs and appliances. Is it as exciting as it was in 1983? No. But it’s still there, still selling, still family-owned, which is more than you can say for dozens of brands that were once Onida’s rivals. Legacy means something.
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At present the product quality is not good , it creates problem after using one year.
After sales service is worst than any local shops , no responsibility , no proper knowledgeable technician. They keep the products for months , spares parts not available.
Onida should be professional and come out of “Desi ” attitude.