Why Phi Capital founder Anupam Thareja is Anand Mahindra's go-to person

When Anand Mahindra gives you his seal of approval, you tend to go a long way. At an event in Mumbai recently, the executive chairman of the Mahindra Group shared how Anupam Thareja, the founder of private equity firm Phi Capital, has always been his go-to man for getting an honest opinion.

“Anupam is the funkiest looking investment banker I ever met,” Mahindra said at the event. Thareja used to be an analyst for Mahindra’s tractor business.

“He would often come up to me and tell us everything that we were doing wrong. We built a strong friendship thanks to this trait.”


Despite years having gone by, Mahindra added, “Whenever I wanted the truth, whenever I wanted no bull***t, I would call Anupam.”