The quiet Ambani: 5 things to know about Nina Kothari, sister to Mukesh, India’s richest billionaire

Aug 10 , 2020

Nina Kothari with her daughter, Nayantara Kothari Bhartia. Photo: Instagram/@ambanicontent

Nina Kothari keeps a low profile, but as sister to the Reliance Industries’ sibling rivals Mukesh, Asia’s richest man, and Anil, who went from billionaire to bankrupt, she’s busy acting as her family’s peacemaker

Nina Kothari does not make headlines often, but her wealth, position and business acumen have made her a household name in her native India. She is the daughter of late Indian business tycoon Dhirubhai Ambani and her brother Mukesh is currently the richest man in the nation – and all of Asia. But Kothari has made her own path in life and her legacy is sure to be remembered – here are five interesting facts to know.

She runs her late husband’s company

Nina’s husband Shyam Kothari died in 2015 after a prolonged battle with cancer. A couple of months later, Nina Kothari took the reins of her husband’s company, Kothari Sugars and Chemicals. Now aged 58, is currently chairwoman while her son Arjun works as the company’s managing director.

She is a very private person

Kothari is shy by nature and only socialises with a small group of friends. There are few exceptions to this rule, such as when she was seen with a large gathering of celebrities when her son Arjun got married in December 2019. Even so, public photos of the occasion were limited as few guests posted photos on social media, and reporters weren’t allowed to take pictures of the momentous occasion.

She is her family’s peacemaker

Tensions were high in the Ambani family when brothers Mukesh and Anil Ambani began disputing how to run the business their father left them when he died. However, Nina and her sister Dipti had no interest in demanding their fair share. Both women are married to wealthy businessmen with their own business empires and so didn’t desperately need the extra cash.