[Need help] Stuck on "What is your last salary" in India. How to navigate this and get paid for the skills I have?

Hello everyone, I'm excited to make my first post on this forum! A bit about my background: I'm an IIT graduate with a decade of experience as a Product Manager. I have been an entrepreneur but unfortunately, I couldn't sustain the business, so I'm now looking to re-enter the job market. My last startup was acquired, and during the acquisition, I negotiated a unique compensation structure for my entire team, linking my personal compensation heavily to performance. The package was 30 LPA fixed + 30 LPA performance-linked + 30 lacs in yearly equity where I was working as VP of Product. However, the acquiring company acted unethically and laid off my whole team just before the year was up, leaving us in a difficult position. As I apply for new PM roles, I'm finding that almost all companies are basing my salary on the 30 LPA fixed component of my previous package + a small hike. This puts me at a significant disadvantage compared to peers with even half my experience. I'm seeking advice on how to navigate this challenge and ensure I'm being compensated fairly for my skills and experience. One option I'm considering is applying for international roles, as I'm being considered for L7 PM positions abroad. My hope is that they won't base my compensation on my previous fixed salary. After working overseas for a few years, I'd then look to return to India in a stronger position. Second option is that I switch to Software Engineer role. I know programming equivalent to SDE2. It seems SDE is easier to get evaluated in comparison to skills in PM roles. However, I'm open to other suggestions and would greatly appreciate any guidance from the community. Are there other effective strategies I should be considering? Thank you in advance for your insights! #tech #startup #startups #layoffs #salary #hiring #productmanager #product #pm