Most powerful business leaders in India

The most powerful business leaders in India

The India Today magazine revealed last month, it's prestigious list of the country's most powerful people across diverse fields. We present here, the businessmen and women who rank as the country's most influential leaders. 

(Content Reproduced From India Today)

MUKESH AND NITA AMBANI, 54, Industrialist, 48, Educationist

Because Mukesh and wife Nita form the first couple of Mumbai, running its popular IPL cricket team, supervising its most sought-after school, and hosting its must-attend parties.

Because in a year when foreign investment to India dried up, the chairman of Reliance Industries, worth $50 billion (Rs 2,50,000 crore), sold a 30 per cent stake in 21 blocks to British Petroleum for $7.2 billion (Rs 3,500 crore).

Because Mukesh has easy access to the country's power corridors irrespective of party lines, be it Rahul Gandhi, Nitin Gadkari or senior bureaucrats in various ministries.

Because the couple has friends across the political spectrum like Praful Patel and Prithviraj Chavan, both of whom attended a party at Antilla for Sachin Tendulkar's 100th ton.

Because he acquired a stake in the media space through the Raghav Bahl-promoted Network18 and TV18, which run, among others, CNBC India, CNN-IBN, IBN 7 and Colors.

Power roadblock Antilla, his 27-storey Mumbai home, has been ready since October 2010 but the couple is yet to move in.

After hours He goes on drives with wife Nita from their Altamount Road home to Worli Sea Face and back.

Pit stop They often stop for ice-cream at Natural.

RATAN TATA, 74, Industrialist

Because the Tata Group's total revenues are expected to increase from Rs 3,80,000 crore in 2010-11 to Rs 5,00,000 crore in 2011-12 as it continues to expand its position as India's premier multinational corporation.

Because after spending a year looking for a candidate to succeed him, a committee of professionals zeroed in on his first choice, Cyrus Mistry, also a member of the panel. Mistry's sister is married to Noel Tata, Ratan's half-brother.

Because he is an adviser on industry to David Cameron, prime minister of UK, where he is the largest employer in the manufacturing sector.

Because despite the Niira Radia tapes, the chairman of the Tata Group remains an icon of industry.

You can find him at his flat in Colaba. After retiring in December 2012, he will move into a 13,350 sq ft sea-facing bungalow in Colaba.

Walk the talk Ratan Tata broke a 140-year-old tradition in the UK of no work on a bank holiday when he forced managers of Jaguar Land Rover to attend office on Monday, May 30, 2011, just a week after he had publicly slammed the English for lacking a "work ethic".

Loves to drive Ferrari California.

SAMIR & VINEET JAIN, 57 and 45, Media Barons

Because they often set the nation's news agenda, whether through the launch of the online campaign 'Against Corruption Together' which drew support of more than 2.5 million for the Lokpal Bill, or their 'Coalgate' expose.

Because the group's English news channel, Times Now, asks tough questions of those in power.

Becausetheir newspaper, The Times of India, is the largest circulated English daily in the world with an average readership of 7.61 million.

Because even in these trying times, the group's turnover exceeds Rs 5,000 crore and it has expanded its multimedia bouquet with new print editions, a new TV movie channel and an overseas station for Radio Mirchi.

Because they are a publishing giant with 13 newspapers, 18 magazines, 11 publishing centres and 26 printing centres.

Next generation Samir's daughter Trishala, an artist, showcased her work at a second solo exhibition titled Tangerine Trees and Marmalade Skies at Gallery BMB in Mumbai in March. She also looks after Crest and Speaking Tree at The Times of India.

Food for thought Vineet loves sushi and dimsums. Samir likes home-cooked vegetarian food.

DEEPAK PAREKH, 67, Banker 

Because he and other corporate hotshots wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about the strong nexus between some businessmen, bureaucrats and power-brokers, which Manmohan took note of. 

Because he is the first port of call for the Government when it seeks expert advice, be it on restructuring Hindustan Aeronautics or modernising Indian Railways. 

Because the HDFC group's market cap of Rs 2.2 lakh crore is the highest by far for any banking or financial services group in the country. 

Brand Loyalty Kebab Corner and Golden Dragon, both in Mumbai. 

Time out Parekh, who sits on the boards of companies like Siemens, GlaxoSmithkline and Castrol, resigned as director from Hindustan Unilever and Hindustan Oil within two weeks in December 2011.

 KUMAR MANGALAM BIRLA, 44, Industrialist

Because the Aditya Birla Group's revenue jumped from Rs 1,75,000 crore in 2010-11 to Rs 2,00,000 crore in 2011-12, despite tough global conditions.

Because the group has a presence in 36 countries.

Because Birla will invest Rs 400 crore in the next two years to set up hypermarkets that sell everything, from pasta to detergents, under one roof.

Because in 2011, the group took over US-based carbon black specialist Columbian Chemicals for $875 million (Rs 4,350 crore), making it the world's largest producer of carbon black.

Because within a span of two days in April 2011, the group bought Sweden-based speciality pulp and bio-refinery company Domsjo Fabriker for $340 million (Rs 1,700 crore) and the chloro chemicals division of Kanoria Chemicals and Industries for Rs 830 crore.

Food for thought Italian restaurant Trattoria at Taj President, his wife's favourite.

Tech toys He is an avid Apple user. He has the iPhone, the iPad and the iPod.

ANAND MAHINDRA, 55, Industrialist

Because under his leadership, the Rs 75,000-crore Mahindra Group with core competence in automobiles has also become a leader in it with the merger of Satyam and Tech Mahindra in 2012 and is making a strong foray into defence after signing joint ventures with an Israeli and an American company at the March 2012 Defexpo.

Because he created Mahindra Rise, a social entrepreneurship initiative where people vote and the best ideas win.

Because Mahindra Racing, the only Indian team to venture into MotoGP, has finished third in the Constructors' Championship in its debut season.

Wheel to reel He has joined hands with Hollywood legend Robert Redford to promote Indian talent by establishing the annual Sundance Institute Mahindra Global Filmmaking Award.

SUNIL BHARTI MITTAL, 54, Industrialist

Because Bharti Airtel, which he is chairman of, has been the only major telecom player unscathed by the 2G scam even as the Supreme Court cancelled 122 2G licences, including those of Tata Teleservices and Idea Cellular.

Because Bharti has emerged as the third largest telecom network in Africa, behind UK-based Vodafone and Spanish TelefÓnica, with a subscriber base of 227 million.

Because the Prime Minister has appointed him co-chair of the India-Africa Business Council, a platform to enhance ties between the two sides.

Power move He inducted his twin sons Kavin and Shravin into the business. Shravin works in the Africa operations while Kavin works in a joint venture with Japan's SoftBank.

Next move Bharti Walmart, Mittal's joint venture with the world's largest retailer, Walmart, plans to raise Rs 500 crore to fund its expansion plans.

G.M. RAO, 61, Industrialist

Because the expert airport builder has bagged the contract to modernise Male International Airport for Rs 2,555 crore, established a Rs 300-crore state-of-the-art maintenance and overhaul facility at Hyderabad airport and won the Airports Council International's second best award for service quality in the world for Delhi airport.

Because the GMR Group has acquired a 30 per cent strategic stake for Rs 2,475 crore in PT Golden Energy Mines Tbk, forged a relationship with Sinarmas Group in Indonesia for one billion tonne coal reserves and is developing an 800 mw power project at Jurong Island, one of the single largest Indian investments in Singapore.

Because the group has emerged as India's largest player in the nhai projects, winning India's first mega road project for four-to-six laning conversionof the 555 km Kishangarh-Udaipur-Ahmedabad stretch on the Delhi-Mumbai corridor.

Food for thought Enjoys homemade South Indian food. Does business lunches at The Oberoi in Gurgaon and breakfast at MTR, Bangalore.

Gift for wife A family vacation in Africa for 15 days, after three years.Little known fact Plans to step down on turning 65 to work for the GMR Varalakshmi Foundation.

ANIL AMBANI, 51, Industrialist

Because his influence in Delhi's power circles saw him lead a harassed telecom industry in negotiations with the Government; neither he nor Ratan Tata was named in the 2G cases.

Because when no Indian banks offered him finance in January 2012, he arranged a Rs 6,000- crore loan from a consortium of Chinese banks.

Because his ventures also received low-interest financing from Japan and Europe.

Because three films produced by Reliance DreamWorks, his jv with Steven Spielberg, were nominated for 11 Academy Awards.

Because his truce with elder brother Mukesh, confirmed at a family reunion in Chorwad, Gujarat, in December 2011 to mark father Dhirubhai Ambani's 80th birth anniversary, boosted their stock prices.

Birthday gift He visited the Mahakal Temple in Ujjain on his 51st birthday in June 2011, with elder son Jai Anmol.

GAUTAM ADANI, 49, Industrialist

Because his group is becoming a global infrastructure major, with a turnover of Rs 30,000 crore and interests in ports, power generation, coal mining and logistics.

Because he is the largest corporate player in the country to operate from outside the traditional business centres of Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai.

Because he became the first Indian in 2011 to own a port outside India at Abbot Point in Australia and has become the largest private port player in India.

Because by generating 4,600 mw in 2011, he became the biggest private thermal power producer in India, and is poised to become one of the largest coal mine owners in the world.

Big buy Challenger 605, his third aircraft, after a Bombardier Hawker and a Beechcraft.

Loves Watching movies in cinema halls, most recently Kahaani and Agent Vinod

AZIM PREMZI, 66, Industrialist

Because he oversaw a turnaround last year as the number of Wipro's active clients increased from 880 to 953 and high-value clients (contracts of minimum Rs 500 crore) from one to six.

Because when he led a group of eminent citizens in writing an open letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in October 2011 expressing concern about governance deficit, Manmohan responded immediately by saying that internal dissension must not hijack economic progress.

Becausehe donated Rs 8,846 crore to the Azim Premji Foundation to improve school education in India.

Cool buddies Kamal Nath, K.V. Kamath and Ashok Ganguly.

Brand loyaltyUses Wipro-manufactured soap Chandrika as shaving cream.

SHASHIKANT & RAVI RUIA, 68 and 62, Industrialists

Because despite being embroiled in the 2G scam, they have kept their kith and kin out of jail.

Because in a year when growth took a backseat, the brothers increased their steel production capacity from 4.6 million tonnes per annum (MPTA) to 10 MPTA to become the world's fourth largest flat steel producer.

Because the group's port capacity was enhanced from 76 to 88 mpta in Hazira, making them India's second largest port operator after Gautam Adani.

Because the brothers increased crude refining capacity from 14 to 18 mpta to become India's second largest private crude refiner after Reliance Industries.

Operate from Shashi Ruia from Mumbai's Mahalaxmi headquarters, while Ravi Ruia shuttles between Essar's Emaar Business Park office in Dubai and the Berkeley Square office in London.

Food for thought Ravi frequents eateries such as Berkeley and Zetter in London. For Shashi, it's quality south Indian food.

VENU & MALLIKA SRINIVASAN, 59 and 52, Industrialists

Because together they are a manufacturing powerhouse, with Venu Srinivasan heading the $4 billion (Rs 20,000 crore) TVS group, India's second largest two-wheeler maker, and Mallika heading the $1.3 billion (Rs 6,500 crore) tractor major TAFE, India's second largest tractor manufacturer.

Because the TVS group's new entity, TVS Europe Distribution Limited, has acquired Universal Components UK, the second acquisition there in three years, taking the group's turnover in UK to more than Rs 1,000 crore.

Because tafe is all set to break into the sub-20 hp segment post a strategic alliance with Captain Tractors, Rajkot.

Power moment When their daughter Lakshmi married Rohan Murthy, son of the Infosys founder N.R. Narayana Murthy, at her maternal grandfather A. Sivasailam's home in Chennai-where Venu and Mallika got married in 1982.

Did you know? Mallika can drive a tractor apart from being able to sell one.

Power statement For her, being voted into the Forbes list of 50 Power Businesswomen in Asia 2012. For him, a reported Rs 1,800 crore investment in wind energy farms over the next three years.

Common mantra They are staunch devotees of Puttaparthi Sai Baba.

SHIV NADAR, 66, Industrialist

Because the Rs 31,000-crore HCL Group has moved beyond low value-added outsourcing to high valued-added software services like designing the Boeing Dreamliner's airborne systems.

Because he is focusing his philanthropic endeavour in education, with the setting up of a VidyaGyaan boarding school for the underprivileged in Bulandshahar, Uttar Pradesh, a multi-disciplinary University in Greater Noida, and pledging to set up 25 Shiv Nadar schools across 10 cities to take quality education outside major metros.

Because he is opening the world of Indian art, usually an elite preoccupation, to the common man with the inauguration of the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art in Saket, New Delhi.

Power move Inducted daughter Roshni into the business as executive director.

RAJIV BAJAJ, 45, Industrialist

Because he spearheaded a turnaround at Bajaj Auto, making it the most profitable two-wheeler manufacturer in India with operating margins of almost 20 percent.

Because he has a bike for every market category: Pulsar, a sports motorcycle, Discover, for the sporty commuter, and Boxer, a utility bike.

Becausehe forged an entry into Africa and plans to enter Brazil.

Reference point He was so inspired by the book Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind written by strategists Al Reese and Jack Trout that in 2010 he convinced Trout to be a consultant to Bajaj Auto and spend quality time with the teams every quarter.

 MANOJ & SAMEER GAUR, 47 and 40, Industrialists

Because the brothers spent $400 million (Rs 2,000 crore) to host India's first Formula1 Grand Prix and proved that India can organise a glitch-free, glitzy, mega sporting event.

Because the Paddock Club parties and LAP lounge bashes became the high point of Delhi's social calendar over the Formula 1 weekend.

Because though they were perceived to be close to former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati, they are building bridges with Akhilesh Yadav, typical of how sensibly they run their projects across 11 states.

Because none of their many projects, including the five townships being built along the Yamuna Expressway over 450 million sq ft, is dogged by land acquisition issues like elsewhere in India.

You can find them at home in Greater Noida, where they shifted in 2011 from Delhi to be closer to their projects.

KALANIDHI MARAN, 46, Media Baron

Because despite allegations that his brother, former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran, may have favoured Aircel for a quid pro quo in family enterprise Sun Network, and despite DMK's loss of power in Tamil Nadu, he remains a major presence in the media space.

Because at a time when airlines are struggling for money, he infused Rs 100 crore into SpiceJet, in which he now owns a 48 percent stake, in March 2012.

SAJJAN JINDAL, 52, Industrialist

Because despite the setback to his steel business after the Supreme Court ban on iron ore mining in Karnataka, his company Jindal South West remains the third biggest steel producer in India.

Because the chairman and md of JSW Steel consolidated his control over steel company Ispat in which he bought a 49 per cent share in December 2010, after Vinod Mittal, former promoter of Ispat and brother of steel czar Lakshmi Mittal, stepped down as vice-chairman in March 2012.

Because he is an influential voice of Indian industry having only recently completed his term as president of apex industry chamber ASSOCHAM.

Power acquisition His three-storeyed bungalow on Napean Sea Road, Mumbai, that he reportedly bought for Rs 400 crore in July 2011.

Family Wife Sangita Jindal chairs the jsw Foundation, which manages the group's social development initiatives.

Adventure seeker He goes skiing in France or to the base camp of Mount Everest annually.

GVK & SANJAY REDDY, 75 and 47, Industrialists

Because they acquired another 13.5 per cent stake to become the majority owner of Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai.

Because their GVK group acquired Hancock Coal Mines and Infrastructure in Australia for Rs 6,300 crore.

Because they can produce at least 30 million tonnes of coal a year over the next 30 years.

Love to drive GVK likes his Rolls-Royce. Sanjay prefers his BMW.

Brand loyalty Canali for GVK; Zegna for Sanjay.

Tech toys BlackBerry and iPad 2 for both.

Food for thought Chinese for GVK and all cuisines for Sanjay.

Operate from GVK from Mumbai, Hyderabad and Gurgaon; Mumbai, Brisbane and Hyderabad for Sanjay.

SUBRATA ROY, 64, Businessman

Because his close friend Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party is back in power in his business hub Uttar Pradesh.

Because when SEBI demanded, he immediately signed a cheque for Rs 11,500 crore to Sahara's investors.

Because after snapping up London's iconic Grosvenor House Hotel for Rs 3,250 crore in 2010, he is now close to buying The Plaza hotel in New York.

Because he brought BCCI, the world's richest cricket board, to the negotiating table by pulling the plug on his investment in the sport-Sahara India spends Rs 560 crore on Team India's sponsorship and Rs 1,720 crore on the Pune Warriors.

Because he came to debt-ridden Vijay Mallya's rescue by buying a majority share for Rs 500 crore in India's only Formula1 team, Force India, and renamed it Sahara Force India.

Loves to drive Customised open Honda CRV. Owns a fleet of Rolls-Royce, Bentleys and BMWs.

Next move He is launching an audacious direct-to-home consumer product business.

RAGHAV BAHL,52, Media Baron

Because one of the biggest media deals in recent times with Mukesh Ambani's RIL will help him settle the company's debts and expand in the important southern market.

Because Network18, with channels like CNN-IBN and Colors, is one of India's biggest media companies with a market capitalisation under Rs 2,000 crore. Because the group's Viacom18 Motion Pictures has got the superhit formula worked out. After the success of Tanu Weds Manu in early 2011, Shaitan and more recently Kahaani have been runaway successes.

Loves to drive Toyota Camry.

 VIJAY MALLYA, 56, Industrialist (Power Rank: 27)

Because he used all his powers of persuasion and political networking to nudge a consortium of 13 banks led by SBI and ICICI to take the most unusual step of converting a sinking Kingfisher Airlines' debt into equity.

Because he is hanging on to his airline investment by the skin of his teeth, having sold 42.5 per cent stake in his under-performing Formula 1 team to Sahara Group.

Best buy Chris Gayle for his IPL team, Royal Challengers Bangalore. He took them to the semi-finals in 2011.

ANIL AGARWAL, 58, Industrialist

Because after 15 months of tackling regulatory hurdles, Vedanta completed its acquisition of Cairn India, touted as the biggest M&A deal in the energy sector, for $8.67 billion (Rs 44,000 crore).

Because Vedanta's offer to buy the Government's remaining stake in Hindustan Zinc and Bharat Aluminium for Rs 17,000 crore shows the company intends to continue with its big-ticket acquisitions.

Because Vedanta's proposed merger of Sesa Goa and Sterlite Industries into a single entity called Sesa Sterlite with a market cap of Rs 1,00,000 crore will make it one of the top 15 companies in India by market cap.

Power roadblock Vedanta's attempt at an image makeover in 2011 backfired when its Rs 20-crore 'Creating Happiness' campaign, spearheaded by Agarwal's daughter Priya, drew widespread protests from activists and forced Gul Panag as well as Shyam Benegal to back out as judges for the campaign's filmmaking competition.

MAHENDRA MOHAN, 72 & SANJAY GUPTA, 49, Media Barons

Because their flagship Hindi daily Dainik Jagran is the No. 1 newspaper in India with 16.4 million readers, according to Indian Readership Survey Q2 2011.

Because the Guptas have acquired Indore-based Hindi daily Nai Duniya, making them number 1 across 11 states.

Because i-next, their youth-oriented daily, now has a readership of 22 lakh.

Operate from Sanjay operates from Noida. Uncle Mahendra Mohan is based out of Kanpur but frequents Delhi.

Time out Mahendra Mohan likes a game of cards with friends. Sanjay enjoys dancing at parties.

KUSHAL PAL SINGH, 80, Industrialist

Because DLF's monopoly as India's largest real estate behemoth with a land bank of 240 million sq ft of developed area is unchallenged despite a debt burden of Rs 27,000 crore.

Because the DLF chairman and ceo's ambitious aim of realising over Rs 7,000 crore from the sale of non-core businesses by 2013 could be the silver bullet to end his company's debt woes.

Because his birthday celebrations in Udaipur in 2011 created a logjam of private jets at the airport, with guests including Sunil Bharti Mittal, Pawan Munjal, U2's Bono, David and Victoria Beckham, and Shakira.

Because the release of his autobiography Whatever the Odds, by long-time friend and GE's former chairman Jack Welch via satellite in 2011, was one of the grandest book launches Delhi ever has seen.

Food for thought Vegetarian by choice but loves sea food.

His gadgets iPhone and iPad.

Did you know? He has two birth dates, November, 19, 1929, in his horoscope and August 15, 1931, in municipal records. He suspects the earlier one to be true but has retained the 1931 date.

N. SRINIVASAN, 67, Industrialist

Because he is the big boss of BCCI and helped double the earnings of the world's richest cricket board from Rs 1,000 crore to Rs 2,000 crore in 2011.

Because he had the power to stymie International Cricket Council, cricket's controlling body, that tried hard to push the Umpire Decision Review System as demanded by other major cricketing nations.

Because he convinced the market there's nothing beyond cricket in India and garnered a record Rs 3,851 crore from Star TV for a six-year broadcast deal for domestic matches.

Chill out zone Vacations are a must at Kodaikanal, where he has a bungalow. Once a week, he loves a game at the TNGF Golf Course or a coffee at Madras Boat Club, Chennai.

In his garage Volkswagen Beetle, BMW, Mercedes Benz, Rolls-Royce, Range Rover and Land Cruiser.

Brand loyalty Rolex watch, Mont Blanc pen and Bally shoes.

Food for thought Masala dosa from Woodlands or Saravana Bhavan in Chennai.

Inspirational bestseller The Godfather by Mario Puzo.

MALVINDER MOHAN & SHIVINDER MOHAN SINGH, 39 and 36, Industrialists

Because in the last one year, the brothers have bought seven overseas healthcare entities for more than Rs 2,100 crore.

Because in 2011 they created Fortis Healthcare, a Rs 5,000-crore behemoth with 78 hospitals in 10 countries including Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

Because they have 200 day care speciality clinics, 200 pathology laboratories, 600 primary health care centres, 23,000 employees, 4,000 doctors and 12,000 beds.

Because they have built the tiny brokerage Religare into a Rs 2,700-crore financial company with a footprint across 10 countries.

Becaus more than half of their $1 billion (Rs 5,000 crore) revenue now comes from the global market.

Reference point Both are devoted followers of the Radhasoami Satsang Beas, vegetarians and teetotallers.

PAWAN MUNJAL, 58, Industrialist

Because he indigenised the two-wheeler market by severing ties with Honda and taking motorcycles to rural India.

Because he proved naysayers wrong by notching up a record six million-plus unit sales despite an economic slowdown.

Because he increased his share in the domestic motorcycle market to 60 per cent from 55 per cent in 2010-11 and retained his number one position, even without Honda's technological backing.

Because his was the first Indian brand to debut at the highly competitive AMA SuperBike racing championship this year.

Operates from his Greater Kailash I home or Vasant Vihar office in Delhi.

Loves to drive his Jaguar. Has a Range Rover and an Alpha Romeo in his garage.

Time out Usually goes on cruises to Alaska and Scandinavia. Often visits golfing destinations.

Power icon Tiger Woods. When Woods won his first major in over two years in March, his BBM status read: "Tiger's Back."

 RAHUL BHATIA, 49, Entrepreneur

Because in a year that the Indian airline industry bled and asked the Government for a tourniquet, IndiGo stood on its feet and made money (Rs 650 crore in 2011).

Because after beating back domestic competition, IndiGo is now giving international airlines a run for their money, commencing operations to Singapore, Bangkok, Dubai, Kathmandu and Muscat in 2011.

Because he is making a big splash in the mid-price range hotel industry with the launch of seven hotels under the Ibis brand in 2011.

Power friends Rakesh Gangwal, former ceo and chairman of US Airways Group, a 50 per cent partner in IndiGo.

Early start His first business idea was in 1984, to make digital telephone switches.

SUBHASH CHANDRA,61, Industrialist

Because his Zee group is buying out Dainik Bhaskar Corp's stake in the Mumbai-based newspaper DNA.

Because Zee Entertainment Enterprises has obtained landing rights in the difficult China market, where he already runs a profitable syndication and sales business.

Because he has announced an additional $250 million (Rs 1,200 crore) investment in Veria Living, the health-and-wellness channel he launched in the US in 2007.

Brand loyalty Apple products.

Early start He dropped out of school in Class XII.

UDAY KOTAK, 52, Industrialist

Because he was the most vocal industry advocate of an increase in import duty on gold to discourage 'unproductive' saving, a suggestion accepted by the finance minister in his March 16 Budget speech.

Because in 2011, at the end of a tough year for Indian banking, Kotak Mahindra Bank reported a net interest margin of 4.7 per cent, highest in the Indian banking industry and well above the 3.3 per cent industry average.

Because he owns a newspaper, Business Standard, which is closely read by India's economic policy elite and is reported to be Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's favourite daily.

Tech toys BlackBerry and iPad 2. His sons are pushing him to use an iPhone.

Power campaign The 'It's grt 2b 25' and 'Money Ka Matlab' ad campaigns to celebrate 25 years of the Kotak Group.

EKTA KAPOOR, 36, TV and Film Producer

Because through her TV serials and films, she's put women at the centre of entertainment, from the independent 30-year-old girl romancing a middleaged man on TV's Bade Acche Lagte Hai to the item girl in 2011's blockbuster The Dirty Picture.

Because she is a gamechanger, whether it is transforming the battered beti discourse on general entertainment channels or bringing sexy back to mainstream movies through her hit movies LSD, Ragini MMS and The Dirty Picture.

Because she has over a 100 shows across 20 channels in six languages.

Loves to drive Jaguar XJR.

Cool buddies Tanu Dasgupta, creative head of Balaji shows, and Mushtaq Sheikh, writer of the film Om Shanti Om

Obsessed about Her weight. The first thing she does when she lands anywhere is ask for a weighing machine.

Star tribute

A chapter is devoted to her in Meenal Baghel's Death in Mumbai where she's called "TV's most famous backroom girl".

Power speak "Life is about smaller pleasures and larger ambitions."