Rekhi family

The Rekhi Family is an Indian business and corporate family based in New Delhi. Devotees of Lord Krishna, the Hindu family traces back to Indian Royalty during and before the British Raj.

Born in 1878, Shri Uttam Chand Rekhi (U.C. Rekhi) was a 4th generation businessman and the foundation of the family's fortune. He graduated in 1898, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree bestowed upon him by the Lt. Governor of Punjab. He ventured into the Dairy Industry and in 1939 expanded into Commercial Food Service, with his first contract being that of the Uniack Club. In 1940, U.C. Rekhi acquired the Changla View Hotel, further diversifying in the Hospitality Industry. U.C. Rekhi and his wife, Shrimati Chano Devi, gave birth to 5 daughters and 3 sons, with their third son, Trilok Chand marrying into the famous Diwan family, forming the Rekhi-Nanda family. The family was also referred to as the "Kings of Cotton," with their dominance in the Textile Industry.

Rekhi-Nanda Family

Trilok Chand Rekhi & Kushal Diwan Nanda

Born in 1914, Shri Trilok Chand Rekhi (T.C. Rekhi) was the fifth child and third son of U.C. Rekhi. In February 1944, T.C. Rekhi married Fire movie actress and daughter of Punjab origin industrialist Diwan Brij Lal Nanda, Kushal Diwan Nanda, forming the Rekhi-Nanda family.

The Nanda family’s fortune lies in a deal between the British and Maharaja Gulab Singh, where the Maharaja had to pay 30 million after being crowded the ruler of Jammu and Kashmir. The Nandas, then Sahais, helped the Maharaja pay the entire debt and in exchange were conferred upon the ‘Diwan’ title and for generations became the Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. In 1942, the Nandas expanded into Catechu business in Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh which resulted in them having a strong business empire to fall back on after Partition.

After graduating from the Hindu College, Delhi in 1935, T.C. Rekhi joined his father in the hospitality business, particularly managing the catering of more than 4,000 army and air force officials. With his keen eye to further diversify, T.C. Rekhi started a trading company Mercantile Engineering Co. based in Madras, which focused on importing and selling water pumps. He also ventured into the aerated beverages market with his company Rekhi Obra & Co. In 1941, he took over Munshi Lal Building in one of India’s primary financial hubs, Connaught Place. Later, Rekhi also opened three restaurants in the building: Safari, Kohinoor, Shangrila. Located in Lutyens' Delhi, Connaught Place today is among the top ten most expensive office locations in the world, and the Rekhis own one of the largest buildings there.

T.C. Rekhi and Kushal Rekhi furthered the hospitality business by purchasing the Swiss Hotel, Nainital and its confectionery, Sakley’s Swiss Confectionery in 1958, and opened a new restaurant in Nainital by the name of Kumaon Farm Products. They also diversified into to the real estate sector. The Rekhi-Nanda Family legacy lives on with T.C. & Kushal Rekhi’s five children.

Chanda Rekhi & Raman Bhasin

Chanda Rekhi is the Rekhi-Nanda family's elder daughter. She married Raman Bhasin, a prominent figure in the Indian Real Estate Industry. Bhasin is also a close cousin of the Nanda-Kapoor-Bachchan Family.

Shamia Rekhi

Shamia Rekhi is the eldest granddaughter of the Rekhi family. She is married to Delhi based businessman Atul Kumar. Their manufacturing and trading business supplies a vast range of products for the Hospitality Industry. They also have vast interests in the Hospitality, Food, and Beverage Industry and own the Stone Wood Resorts Group and Amani Group. Large players in Goa, they own the Antares Beach Resort, La Gulls by Amani, Amani Vagator, Nagoa Grande, The Living Room, The River Palace Owl nightclub, amongst others. They also own India's first floating bar and lounge, Watermark, as well as have stakes in nightclubs across India, including Toy Room and B.E.D.

Diwan Arun Nanda

Diwan Arun Nanda is an Indian tech mogul and advertising wizard. He is the Founder of Rediffusion. Arun Nanda also serves on the Board of Clariant Chemicals, Yes Bank, Wunderman, Young & Rubicam, and Oriental Hotels, holding company for the Taj Hotels.

Other Prominent Members

Vaibhav Rekhi & Dia Mirza Rekhi

Graduate from the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, Vaibhav is a Mumbai based businessman and investment banker. He is the founder of Piramal Fund Management. On 15 February 2021, Vaibhav tied the knot with famous actress, model, and movie producer Dia Mirza. Apart from being Miss India and Miss Asia Pacific 2000, Dia is also the United Nations Goodwill Ambassador & Secretary-General Advocate for Sustainable Development Goals, Ambassador for the WildLife Trust Of India, Ambassador for Save The Children, and the International Fund for Animal Welfare-Global Ambassador. Dia is also the owner of two production houses, Born Free Entertainment and One India Stories. Vaibhav and Dia recently had their first child, Avyaan. Vaibhav was previously married to the United Nations Yoga Representative, Sunaina Rekhi. They have one daughter, Samaira.

Dr. Raseela Rekhi

U.C. Rekhi’s second child, Dr. Raseela Rekhi graduated with scholarship from the University of Cambridge in 1931. Breaking social norms of the time, she became a doctor from Lady Hardigne Medical College, receiving a Gold Medal in Medicine.

Pamela Rekhi & Manmohan Singh

Dr. Raseela Rekhi's daughter, Pamela married industrialist Manmohan Singh, owner of Frick India, the largest equipment manufacturing company.

Queenie Singh

Queenie Singh is a prominent socialite, jewelry designer, and Miss India 1987. She is Pamela and Manmohan's daughter. Queenie was originally married to industrialist Raja Dhody, who she has two children with - Tiara and Rajvir. She later married billionaire industrialist and heir to the Newby empire, Rishi Sethia. Rishi also started London based members-only club for billionaires, Annabel’s.

Gaurav Rekhi

A graduate from Carnegie Mellon University, Gaurav is HSBC's Chief Operating Officer. Prior to HSBC, Gaurav was the Executive Director at Goldman Sachs, Managing Director at Accenture, and the Global Head of Transformation at Merrill Lynch.

Aditya (Adi) Shankar

Adi Shankar is an Indian-American film producer, writer, film director, YouTube personality, and occasional actor. Ranked amongst GQ's "Most Influential Global Indian Men", a graduate from Northwestern University, Adi has produced some of the most famous movies of the century, including The Grey and Assassin's Creed. He is the founder of the Bootleg Universe media company and the production house 1984 Private Defense Contractors.

References

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