Nestled on one of Mumbai’s most exclusive addresses, Malabar Hill, lies the home of a man who transformed barren land into a thriving urban paradise: Dr Niranjan Hiranandani.
Despite having built an iconic township in Powai, a “city within a city”, the real estate magnate continues to live in the six-storey building named after his mother, Kanta.“It’s my mother’s name,” he adds, acknowledging that “the women of the house seem to always rule the roost.”
Only a few occupy this residence: himself, his wife Kamal, his sister-in-law, and “two tenants just to keep it… more lively.” Evenings are especially precious, the sea view and familiar surroundings drawing him back. As he puts it, “When we were shifting… I actually cried. I didn’t want to come here… I get attached… to places.”
Dr Hiranandani’s journey wasn’t smooth. He honestly recounts, “We failed in both textiles and early real estate, and I had to pay off the debts.” But he persisted. Speaking of Powai’s transformation, he recalls, “Every time I would buy one plot, sell it… it left me very incomplete.” That quest for fulfilment pushed him to take bolder steps. “One day… I decided… to make roads… street lights… gardens,” he reveals, a critique of the lack of infrastructure around his early Lokhandwala constructions.
When asked why he chose barren quarry land in Powai, he answers simply: “Because that person was ready to sell it to me and nobody else was foolish enough to buy it.” He shared, “I didn’t even tell my father… I borrowed money… at 2% interest per month.”
A heartwarming chapter of the interview is the story of his marriage. Introduced by his father at a community event, he recalls, “You see that girl… the one with long hair covering the hips… will you marry her?” And just like that, they were engaged.
Reflecting on their decades together, he credits her unwavering support, saying: “The most difficult period of my life… she was the most supportive person. She never had any demands whatsoever.”
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At 52, he contemplated giving up business to focus on charity, but life nudged him forward. Today, his leadership spans 14 colleges, hospitals, and social initiatives like the Tata Parkinson’s Trust, invited personally by Ratan Tata.
Speaking of legacy, he reflects: “When I die, I don’t want to be remembered for my wealth—but for doing good things, building good things, and being a good person.” That, he says, is only possible because “I have a good wife.”
