“Jiske saath vyapaar karo, usse kabhi na pyaar karo” 🤯
This line stuck with me when I first watched Band Baaja Baaraat.
While everything worked out for them in the end, I can’t say the same for many family businesses in India. Here are a few family businesses where things between loved ones turned ugly:
[1] Ambani v Ambani: Dhirubhai Ambani’s death in 2002 without a will led to conflict between his sons, resulting in a demerger of Reliance Group by their mother.
In 2009, the finance minister intervened for the sake of the Indian capital markets. Damn!
[2] Hinduja Brother: The $14 billion Hinduja group owns six publicly traded Indian companies.
In 2012, the brothers declared ‘Everything belongs to everyone and nothing belongs to anyone’. However, Vinoo, Srichand’s (eldest brothers) daughter, sought control of his share due to fears of being excluded & took her uncles to court!
[3] Fortis’ Singh Brothers: Shivinder Singh had dragged his elder brother Malvinder to court for ‘oppression and mismanagement’ of family businesses. The brothers hailed from a pharmaceutical family business and had started Fortis Hospital together.
[4] Raymond’s Singhania v Singhania: Vijaypat Singhania’s son, Madhupati, left the family in 1998 after signing a Family Agreement relinquishing his and his children’s rights to the family property. In 2015, his children filed a suit against their grandfather in Bombay HC, claiming rights to the Raymond brand, ancestral properties, and group assets, after Vijaypat handed over Raymond to his other son Gautam.
However, all is not dark. There are many businesses like Zerodha that are family-run and are doing extremely well. The Ambani brothers have also patched up. But what do you think – is it smart to go into a business with your loved ones or should we never mix pyaar & vyapaar?
