When i was an employee working in large companies, i used to invest my salary savings into PPF, VPF and bonds in the initial years. Later on i started investing in equity mutual funds and slowly added some equities to it.
In retrospect, i wish i had started equity investing much earlier and allocated more to it. However i am quite satisfied with the results since i became financially independent and could quit my job to pursue my passion.
So, what is equally (if not more) important is how much you save. A saving rate of 50% can get you to financial freedom within 15–20 years.
Of course, being an entrepreneur now, i now invest my savings and income into my business. Incidentally this business is helping people become financial free!