1) RAGHAV BAHL, 49, MEDIA BARON
THE COLORS OF MONEY
Because from measuring the heartbeat of the Bombay Stock Exchange, his network now increases the pulse rate of prime time viewers, with his new channel Colors within striking distance of the nine-year-long No. 1, Star Plus.
Because three of the biggest hits of last year, Singh is Kinng, Golmaal Returns and Ghajini, were owned or distributed by The Indian Film Company.
Because while his two business channels continue to dominate their spaces, he is expanding into new media, with Homeshopping18 a Rs 200-crore property in its second year, and in.com becoming the second largest Indian general interest portal within six months of its launch.The big discovery: That he likes watching soaps, especially of his own channel. “Balika Vadhu for sure, and occasionally, Jaane Kya Baat Hui, Uttaran and Jeevan Saathi”.
Wish he could have: Kept some extra cash to buy media assets which are currently available at such mouth-watering discounts.
2) HARISH SALVE, 53,
THE ARGUMENTATIVE INDIAN
Because everyone who is in trouble or who believes he could be in trouble wants him in their corner, whether it is arch-rivals Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati or longtime foes Lalit Modi and Subhash Chandra.
Because there is hardly any corporate case that he is not arguing and hardly any politician who hasn’t sought his advice.
Because he usually wins the cases he fights.
What excites him: Taking on a former Pakistani minister in a television debate or arguing against OBC reservation in Central government educational institutions. When Salve talks, people usually listen.
Big acquisition: A 7-series BMW, breaking his promise to himself that he would “behave”.
Nice guy move: Every evening he helps his wife Meenakshi set up a stained-glass showroom by typing emails and suggesting marketing strategies. As he quips, “it’s from maximum wages to minimum in the evenings”.
MASTER OF ALL TRADES
Because he is steering the makeover of the eponymous GMR Group from a domestic player in the infrastructure business to a global player with a presence in seven countries.
Because with the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, completed in a record 30 months in March last year, he proved India can have world class facilities.
Because even as the Group builds the new terminal at the Delhi airport, it has ensured an enduring connect with the Delhi Daredevils in the IPL contest.
Big buy: Acquisition of 50 per cent stake in Intergen, a leading global power generation company, at a cost of approximately $1 billion, making the Group the largest private power generation company in India.
Little known fact: A mechanical engineer by training, he was employed in the Public Works Department of Andhra Pradesh before he resigned to turn a jute trader.
Should be embarrassed about: The foray into insurance, creating ING Vysya and finally pulling out of it.
