Synopsis- The best fund managers prove themselves to be experts, versatile in challenging markets and strong, true to the investor, and consistent in delivering outperformance. This includes established professionals and those just rising into the next generation of talent; shaping equitable mutual fund investing across all types of investors.
Fund managers are the unappreciated designers of India’s mutual fund expansion, combining research, risk management, and discipline to reap returns. In 2025 with markets (potentially) hitting all-time highs, only to climb or correct there are a few of India’s leading fund managers who have stood out and consistently beat their benchmarks, thus gaining investor confidence.
How We Selected the Top Fund Managers
- Performance Consistency: Only those who had a verified track-record of at least 3-5 years of surpassing their benchmark while also providing a strong return.
- Risk-Adjusted Returns: Included Alpha, Sharpe Ratio, downside protection, or however they were evaluated.
- Assets Under Management and Authority: Total number of assets managed, fund size, and ability to move money with large portfolios.
- Investment Approach: Addressed flexibility, sector/thematic experience, and ability to change with volatility.
These “want lists” informed the data to reasonably build a credible list both for novice investors and for more seasoned investors alike.
1. Sankaran Naren – ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund
- Funds Managed: ICICI Prudential Balanced Advantage Fund, ICICI Prudential Multi-Asset Fund
- AUM: ₹1,23,053 crore (33 schemes)
- 3Y and 5Y CAGR: 15%, 17.5% (flagship funds)
- Investment Philosophy: Value and contrarian investing, requires dynamic allocation and a macro-tactical approach.
- Experience: 26 years
- Reason to Stand Out: Has been able to manage substantial AUM through multiple cycles. An experienced manager on asset allocation, along with making disciplined market calls.
2. R. Srinivasan – SBI Mutual Fund
- Funds Managed: SBI Small Cap Fund, SBI Focused Equity Fund
- AUM: ₹1,14,343 crore (14 schemes)
- 3Y and 5Y CAGR: 18%, 19.2%
- Investment Philosophy: Bottom-up stock picking, growth bias and long term compounding.
- Experience: 26 years
- Reason to Stand Out: Consistency has been remarkable, conducts in-depth research on sectors, and generates alpha via mid and small-cap funds.
3. Shreyash Devalkar – Axis Mutual Fund
- Funds Managed: Bluechip, Midcap and Multicap Funds.
- AUM: ₹58,601 crore (12 schemes)
- 3Y and 5Y CAGR: 14.5%, 17.9%
- Investment Philosophy: Quality and growth bias, and concentrated or high conviction portfolios that are appropriately sized for risk.
- Experience: 14 years
- Reason to Stand Out: Has shown solid performance in large- and mid-cap funds and has also been recognized for making prudent very concentrated conviction bets.
4. Harsha Upadhyaya – Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund
- Funds Managed: Kotak Standard Multicap, Large and Midcap Funds
- AUM: ₹50,059 crore (14 schemes)
- 3Y and 5Y CAGR: 17.2%, 18.7%
- Investment Philosophy: Blend of growth and value; diversification with prudent sector rotation for all three portfolios.
- Experience: 23 years
- Reason to Stand Out: Superior experience across market cycles with change in strategy in an uncertain environment.
5. Sohini Andani – SBI Mutual Fund
- Managed Funds: SBI Magnum Midcap, SBI Equity Hybrid Fund (4 plans)
- AUM: ₹36,724 crore
- 3Y/5Y CAGR: 15.9% / 16.8%
- Investment Strategy: Quality growth stocks, risk management, and fundamentals-based analysis
- Experience: 23 years
- Why It Stands Out: She managed a long track record in mid-cap and diversified fund management.
Also read: Top Mutual Funds in India Bought and Sold in September 2025
6. Aniruddha Naha – PGIM India Mutual Fund
- Managed Funds: Midcap Opportunities, Diversified Equity (12 plans)
- AUM: ₹12,503 crore
- 3Y/5Y CAGR: 20.3% / 21.4%
- Investment Strategy: Aggressive high-conviction thematic portfolio build-up
- Experience: 18 years
- Why It Stands Out: Aggressive but talented and known for extracting alpha from differentiated themes.
7. Chandraprakash Padiyar – Tata Mutual Fund
- Managed Funds: Tata Equity PE Fund (10 plans)
- AUM: ₹7,906 crore
- 3Y/5Y CAGR: 16.2% / 18%
- Investment Strategy: Growth-at-reasonable-price (GARP), combines quantitative models and insights
- Experience: 19 years
- Why It Stands Out: Record of steady returns and risk management, which is consistent in value-oriented segments.
8. Jinesh Gopani – Axis Mutual Fund
- Managed Funds: Axis Long Term Equity (24 plans)
- AUM: ₹54,466 crore
- 3Y/5Y CAGR: 14.1% / 16.7%
- Investment Strategy: Grow stock selection, long-term perspective and sector rotation
- Experience: 17 years
- Why It Stands Out: Consistently outperformed in same categories as peers with ELSS and long-term equity exposures.
Emerging Fund Managers to Watch
- Nishit Patel (ICICI Prudential): Innovative factor-based and passive strategies supported by a sharp focus on risk-adjusted alpha.
- Shridatta Bhandwaldar (Canara Robeco): He developed a reputation for thematic and small-cap funds while boasting a strong 5Y CAGR.
- Manish Gunwani (Bandhan Mutual Fund): Using adaptive multi-cap strategies, he has shown versatility across segments and has improved performance metrics in the periods 2023-25.
These new players exhibit brave sector picks with an inventive approach to using data-driven or thematic investing, and they are challenging their veteran counterparts and quickly growing their AUM, and influence.
What Investors Can Learn from the Best
- Investors should focus on Consistency: Pick fund managers that have proven, long-term outperformance across market cycles not exceptional 1-year returns.
- Risk Management is Key: Recognize that the best managers devote just as much attention to protecting the downside as they do to pursuit of gains; diversification plays a role as well.
- Track Records Matter: Review fund manager history, their decision-making style, sectors they specialize in, and their investment discipline before investing.
- Stay Tuned: Be alert to changes in fund manager assignments and the fund’s investment strategy to ensure continued fit.
Conclusion
Good fund management is fundamental to sustainable investor success. By being informed about the respective strategies and track records of the best managers out there, informed long-term resilient investment decisions can be reached across India’s idiomatically equity-oriented environment over time.
Written By Rachna Rajput
