Mukesh, Anil Ambani display bonhomie as President honours their father

NEW DELHI: The bitter split of Reliance empire among Mukesh and Anil Ambani seemed to have pushed into background as the brothers today displayed bonhomie when they accompanied their mother Kokilaben to receive the prestigious Padma Vibhushan awarded to their father late Dhirubhai Ambani.

Mukesh and Anil, along with their spouses Nita and Tina respectively, sat together and often spoke to each other at the Darbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan during the hour-long civil investiture ceremony.

Anil escorted Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu to Mukesh's seat for exchanging greetings before the function started.

Mukesh, chairman of Reliance Industries Ltd, was for most of the time in his designated seat along with wife Nita and sister-in-law Tina, while Anil, chairman of Reliance ADA group, was often seen escorting several Union Ministers and a few other dignitaries to their mother for introduction.

All four clapped together when Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi took the name of the Reliance founder for awarding the country's second highest civilian award posthumously, which was received by Kokilaben from President Pranab Mukherjee.

The Reliance empire was split among the two brothers after a bitter feud in 2005, three years after the demise of their illustrious father.