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तेजस भालेराव | Tejjas Bhaleyrao
Founder | Entrepreneur • Explorer • Storyteller
Growing up in the small town of Hingoli, my fascination with history, geography and travel began long before I ever considered becoming an entrepreneur. Summers spent reading at the local public library and childhood journeys across India taught me that every destination has a story waiting to be discovered.
Over the past fifteen years, my entrepreneurial journey has taken me through technology, sourcing, animation, films, entertainment, sports and international business, with each chapter shaping the way I think about people, experiences and storytelling. Successes brought opportunities, while setbacks taught resilience, humility and the importance of building strong foundations.
In 2025, after rebuilding my life once again, I chose to dedicate my full attention to creating PBA Explore—not simply as a travel company, but as a platform to help travellers experience India’s spiritual and cultural heritage with authenticity and context. I believe a meaningful journey is not measured by the number of places visited, but by the stories understood, the memories created and the perspectives gained. Every itinerary we design reflects this belief through thoughtful planning, comfortable travel, carefully selected stays and storytelling that brings destinations to life.
My mission is simple: to help travellers return home not only with photographs, but with a deeper understanding of the places they have experienced. I hope that every journey with PBA Explore leaves our guests happier, more relaxed and more connected to the remarkable heritage of our country.
“Travel is not about collecting destinations. It is about understanding the stories that have shaped them. When people understand a place, they don’t just remember the journey—they develop a lasting connection with it.”
A Childhood Built on Curiosity ( 1991 - 2006)
Born and raised in the town of Hingoli, I grew up in a middle-class family where education, independence and curiosity were encouraged. While many of my friends spent their summer vacations differently, I spent mine reading books from public library, often reading a new book every two days. History, geography and stories of civilizations fascinated me from an early age. Family trips across India only strengthened my belief that every place has a story waiting to be discovered.
What I learned
Curiosity is the beginning of every meaningful journey.
Learning Beyond the Classroom ( 2006 - 2011 )
Mechanical engineering introduced me to analytical thinking, but entrepreneurship attracted me far more than a conventional career. Before completing my degree, I stepped into the world of sales, working in the telecom industry. Going door-to-door selling mobile connections taught me resilience, communication and the confidence to approach anyone without hesitation.
What I learned
Sales isn’t about convincing people—it’s about understanding them.
The Entrepreneurial Beginning ( 2011 - 2015 )
My entrepreneurial journey started with mobile phone trading and an Android tablet import business. While my first venture ended because of partnership challenges, it taught me lessons no classroom ever could. Soon afterwards, I began working as a sourcing partner for a Delhi-based handicraft company, travelling extensively across Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Those years deepened my appreciation for India’s diversity, craftsmanship and regional cultures.
In 2013, I entered the creative industry through an animation studio, laying the foundation for what would later become Power Bridge Asia (PBA).
What I learned
Every setback leaves behind experience that becomes useful later.
Building Through Creativity ( 2015 - 2018 )
In 2015, my wife and I founded Power Bridge Asia (PBA) with a vision of connecting businesses between India and China. Under PBA, we expanded into animation, software development, game development and education. It was an exciting period of creativity, learning and ambitious growth.
Despite our efforts, the business eventually collapsed in 2018. Losing something we had spent years building was painful, but it forced me to rethink how sustainable businesses are built.
What I learned
Growth without strong foundations rarely lasts.
Building Bigger, Learning Harder ( 2018 -2025)
The next chapter took me into films, entertainment and large-scale ventures. I worked as an Executive Producer on Marathi films, established PBA Filmcity, launched multiple studios, produced music videos, contributed to film and television projects, co-founded sports facilities and expanded into hospitality with a wedding venue.
In 2024, I launched PBA Entertainment LLC in Dubai to distribute films across the Middle East. What looked like the next stage of growth ended in significant financial losses during 2025. It became one of the most difficult periods of both my professional and personal life.
What I learned
Scale should never outpace systems, leadership and focus.
Returning to What Always Inspired Me ( 2025 - Present )
After rebuilding once again, I asked myself a simple question:
What kind of work would I still love doing twenty years from now?
The answer had always been there.
Travel.
History.
Culture.
Storytelling.
During a visit to Ujjain, I realised how often travellers were given incomplete or inaccurate stories about places of immense historical and spiritual significance. That experience became the inspiration behind PBA Explore.
Today, my focus is not simply on organising tours, but on creating journeys where every destination is understood, every itinerary is thoughtfully designed and every traveller returns home with memories, knowledge and a deeper appreciation for India’s heritage.
What I learned
A meaningful journey changes not only where you have been—but how you see the world.
The Road Ahead
My vision is to establish PBA Explore as India’s most trusted storytelling-based travel company, known for combining authentic research, comfortable travel and meaningful cultural experiences. Beyond organising tours, I hope to contribute to preserving and sharing India’s rich spiritual and historical heritage through books, documentaries, digital content and thoughtfully curated journeys.
“The destinations may remain the same, but the stories we tell can transform how people experience them.”
Why I Built PBA Explore
People often ask me why, after spending years building businesses in technology, animation, films, entertainment and hospitality, I chose to dedicate myself to travel.
The answer isn’t simply that I enjoy travelling.
It’s that I’ve always been fascinated by the stories behind the places we visit.
As a child, history and geography were my favourite subjects. Summer vacations were spent reading books in the local library, and family journeys across India introduced me to temples, forts, rivers and ancient cities long before I understood their significance. Later, as an entrepreneur, my work took me across different parts of India, where I experienced the country’s remarkable diversity—not just in landscapes, but in traditions, architecture, languages and local cultures.
One experience, however, changed my perspective completely.
During a visit to Ujjain, I listened as a guide explained the history of Mahakaleshwar Temple. Much of what was being shared was inaccurate or incomplete. Standing there, I realised that many travellers were leaving one of India’s most sacred places without truly understanding why it mattered.
That moment stayed with me.
I realised that most tours focus on answering where and when, but very few explain why.
Why was this temple built here?
Why is this river considered sacred?
Why did kingdoms rise and fall in this region?
Why have pilgrims travelled these routes for centuries?
Without those stories, even the most extraordinary destinations become little more than stops on an itinerary.
That realisation became the foundation of PBA Explore.
“Every destination has a story. My responsibility is to ensure that story is told with authenticity, respect and meaning.”
I wanted to build a travel company where research mattered, where stories were respected, and where every destination was presented with authenticity and context. At the same time, I wanted our guests—many of whom are senior travellers—to experience these journeys in comfort. A meaningful tour should never feel rushed or exhausting. It should leave space to observe, reflect, ask questions and create lasting memories.
Every itinerary we design is shaped by that philosophy. We carefully plan travel times, choose comfortable hotels, select reliable meal stops and invest time in understanding the history, culture and spiritual significance of each destination before we share it with our guests.
For me, PBA Explore is more than a business.
It is the coming together of everything that has shaped my life—my curiosity for history, my love for travel, my years in storytelling through animation and films, and my belief that experiences become more meaningful when we understand the stories behind them.
My hope is simple.
When someone returns from a PBA Explore journey, I don’t want them to remember only the places they visited. I want them to return home with a deeper understanding of India’s heritage, a sense of peace from the journey, and stories they will proudly share with their families for years to come.
“I believe leadership isn’t about asking people to follow you. It’s about creating an environment where every team member understands the purpose, feels valued and takes ownership of the journey.”
Throughout my entrepreneurial journey, I have built businesses across multiple industries and worked with teams of different sizes. Successes have taught me confidence, while failures have taught me humility. Together, they shaped the principles I follow today.
01.
Lead by Example
I never ask my team to do something I wouldn’t do myself. Whether it is planning itineraries, speaking with guests, solving problems or handling operations, leadership begins with participation.
02.
Know Your People
Every individual has different strengths and limitations. My responsibility as a leader is to understand both, assign the right responsibilities and help each person grow with confidence.
03.
Stay Curious
The moment we believe we know everything, we stop improving. I encourage continuous learning, research and questioning because better knowledge leads to better decisions.
04.
Keep th Traveller at the Centre
Every decision at PBA Explore starts with one question:
“Will this improve our travellers’ experience?”
If the answer is yes, it is worth pursuing.
05.
Build Systems, Not Dependency
Every decision at PBA Explore starts with one question:
“Will this improve our travellers’ experience?”
If the answer is yes, it is worth pursuing.
06.
Deliver More Than Promised
One principle has remained constant throughout my entrepreneurial journey:
Always strive to give people more value than they expected.
Whether it is a conversation, a tour or a business relationship, I believe lasting trust is built by consistently exceeding expectations.
Discover tools designed to make your journey easier.
Over the years, my entrepreneurial journey has been featured across television, print media and digital platforms. These conversations have covered entrepreneurship, business, filmmaking, leadership and, more recently, my vision for meaningful spiritual and cultural tourism.
Each interview reflects a different chapter of my journey—from building businesses and navigating challenges to creating PBA Explore with a renewed sense of purpose.