The week that was for India Inc: Bombay Club’s Budget rant, Kunal Kamra's airy tale, Sunil Munjal shows book love

ET’s weekly roundup of the wackiest whispers and murmurs in corporate corridors & policy parlours.

Reason to Cheer
Last week, a Mumbai-based industrialist who’s known for his M&A acumen got some good news from the apex court on the domestic front — it barred his estranged wife from entering his home until further orders. The businessman is said to be planning a big bash to celebrate the development, having been overseas when the order came.


Power Play
A few of India’s top industrialists had met in Delhi last month to come up with suggestions on ways to kick-start investment. One said closing down obsolete power plants was the right way forward as they are polluting and not cost-effective. The Budget has recognised this issue and more details are awaited.

On a Wing

Standup comedian Kunal Kamra, who’s been banned from flying by several airlines after heckling a TV anchor on a flight recently, was on a Vistara flight recently. Kamra was overheard telling a companion that he would stay back after the flight lands to thank the pilots and crew because it was the only airline letting him fly.

Enough Said
We bumped into a senior statesman of corporate India lunching with his friends at his favourite golf club in midtown Mumbai. Most of his gang were rather cheesed off with the Budget, arguing that there were no big ideas to spur much-needed growth. This particular gent, who usually likes to keep to himself, looked especially disheartened. Upon probing, he said the so-called Bombay Club had provided many inputs before the Budget. He himself had flown to Delhi for several meetings with the high and mighty. “I think I will seek a refund of the air tickets,” he quipped before he went off on his Sunday rounds on the green.

Charminar Love Stories
Unlike Delhi’s big bling eyesores, the big fat weddings of Hyderabad are far more elegant and classy even if they are equally industrial in scale. A recent headline act was the shaadi of Shravya and Sharan Reddy, or shall we say the grand union of two leading industrial families of the city. Bride Shravya is the daughter of Rinku and Satish Reddy, the city’s pharma billionaires. Her aunt and uncle are Pinky and Sanjay Reddy of the GVK Group — they were hosting several of the soirees before the big day. Sharan’s family flagship Ramky Group has expanded exponentially in recent years and has caught the fancy of PE buyout group KKR.

Walking Canvas

The grandees of Delhi art frat may flaunt their jamawar silks or gloat in their Gucci overcoats but at the ongoing India Art Fair, the showstopper has undoubtedly been art scion Anupam Poddar, cofounder of the Devi Foundation and owner of one of the most formidable contemporary art collections in the country. When he was not engaging in quiet chats with collectors and gallerists with a weakness for million-dollar canvases, he was all over the various venues, dappled lawn parties and luncheons, garnering praise for his sartorial chic. From a fitted royal blue bandhgala to aqua blue dinner jackets to a Cubism inspired beige suit, he’s been quite the art work himself.

Sunil’s Soiree

When he’s not plotting a deal, Sunil Munjal is busy organising cultural or intellectual gatherings around the country from Goa to Mumbai. Recently, a suburban hotel was the venue of some stimulating discussions but this time on more serious or shall we say boring stuff around the economy and business environment. It was also a great platform to gift to his friends his latest creative time — a book on the family’s legacy: The making of Hero MotoCorp, a saga of four brothers and two wheels and the revolution it ushered in.