India, Aug. 21 -- When Nazara bought 55% stake in Nodwin Gaming back in 2018, it was a risky bet that esports would one day rival cricket and Bollywood as a huge business opportunity in the entertainment industry.

But in 2018, India's esports sector was barely on any radar, Smartphone penetration had created a generation of PUBG fans, but competitive gaming was seen more as a hobby or a break from work, rather than a profession or career.

Nodwin was only a small startup at the time, with a turnover of just INR 18 Cr, compared to Nazara's revenue scale of close to INR 180 Cr. Plus, esports was still very much a niche category at the time of the acquisition.

Seven years later, Nodwin Gaming has gone beyond an esports company to targettin...