Ajay Harinath Singh Greatest Brand Leader 2018-2019

Dr. Niranjan Hiranandani
Building Excellence
through Sheer Grit
Dr. Hiranandani has come a really long way from being an accounts teacher to becoming the undisputed king
of the Indian realty sector. As the Co-founder and MD of Hiranandani Group – one of the most prestigious real
estate developers based in Mumbai – he is continually working on his vision of creating a new India with selfsufficient
and enduring townships
Renowned in business circles
as ‘Builder Extraordinaire’, Dr.
Hiranandani is the man responsible
for changing the skyline of Mumbai
with the delivery of landmark project
‘Hiranandani Gardens’ Powai. Under his
astute leadership, the group has pioneered
the concept of developing mixed-used
integrated townships model with vibrant
community living and has set the benchmark
in terms of quality construction, precision
engineering, technology & innovation,
timely delivery and holistic development.
Sailing Smoothly from Academia
to Industry
Born and brought up in Mumbai, Dr.
Niranjan Hiranandani is the son of the
Padmabhushan awardee, ENT specialist
Dr. L H Hiranandani. After completing his
schooling from Campion School, Mumbai,
he graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce
Degree (Hons.) and earned a distinction
of standing second in Mumbai University.
Thereafter, he obtained his F.C.A. from
the Institute of Chartered Accountants
of India and completed his Doctorate in
Philosophy titled “Housing Revolution in
India Challenges and Prospects.”
Describing his journey of becoming an
entrepreneur, he states, “My brother and
I are first generation businessmen. My
father Mr. L H Hiranandani was a famous
ENT specialist and he wanted me also
to become a professional. Therefore I
became a Chartered Accountant but as I
always wanted to do a business, I forayed
into the textile segment. Simultaneously, I
co-invested in plots in Malad and started
building there. The turning point came
when I had to choose between both the
businesses that were making losses. In
January 1981, I received a letter from my
textile mill workers union asking for a 100
per cent increase in wages. Though, they
would have accepted even 10 per cent
raise, I looked at it as a ‘sign from above’
and decided to sell off the textile unit and
focus completely on real estate.”
Thus, he could have actually said
goodbye to realty business and focused
on textiles – hadn’t it been for a letter
from the union of his weaving unit. “That
was actually a letter from God,” he says.
Subsequently, he sold-off the textiles unit
and focused completely on construction.
He never looked back after that. “Our
passion for excellence helped us establish
a firm footing in the industry,” he declares
with pride.
A Perfectionist to the Core
Dr. Hiranandani has been continually
displaying extraordinary qualities as
developer, and is a perfectionist in terms
of quality, brilliance and untiring zest for
excellence. With a focus on creating a
better experience for his clients, he makes
sure that the group works in accordance
with the requisite quality parameters, and
is committed towards client satisfaction,
is reliable and offers excellence in
“Sincerity and Commitment with
consistent efforts is the recipe to
achieve success & scale great heights”
architecture. In a nutshell, he intends to
offer an experience of a lifetime to every
family, through infrastructure that is
synonymous with supreme quality, beauty,
and longevity.
Owing to his exceptional leadership
qualities and strong business acumen, he
has efficiently enabled the group to spread
its footprints in the newer markets like
Thane, Panvel, Alibaug, Khandala, Chennai,
Ahmedabad and Pune. By virtue of his
able leadership, the group has diversified
into multiple spheres namely education,
healthcare, hospitality, infrastructure,
entertainment and organized retail.
Joining Hands for a Prosperous
Nation
Owing to his profound knowledge, sharp
business acumen and an ambitious
attitude, he has been conferred with
the leadership role and has occupied
senior advisory positions across various
prominent business organizations and
industry bodies. Currently, he spearheads
National Real Estate Development Council
(NAREDCO) – which works under the aegis
of Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs,
Government of India – as the President.
He has also been appointed as Senior
Vice President of ASSOCHAM (Associated
Chambers of Commerce and Industry).
He is an Advisor of the Real Estate
Committee of Federation of Indian
Chambers of Commerce & Industry
(FICCI); Member – RERA Conciliation
Cell formed by Maharashtra Real Estate
Regulatory Authority (Maha RERA) India;
Member of Central Governing Council of
Export Promotion Council for EOUs & SEZs
(Ministry of Commerce – Government of
India). He is currently acting as a trustee
for the creation of Nathdwara Township as
a heritage destination and has been acting
as an adviser to the Government of India
on housing and habitat policy for over a
decade.
Continually Working for Social
Welfare
Despite being one of the top richest Indians,
he is an extremely rooted and grounded
personality and is bent on making a positive
difference in the world. Some of his past
social contributions include drafting the
State Policy for Slum Rehabilitation in
Mumbai designed to improve the wellbeing
of over 6 million slum inhabitants. He is
serving on the board of the Housing and
Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO),
an organization which distributes US$3
billion per annum to help fund the building
of housing for low income families.
As an out-an-out philanthropist and a
responsible citizen of the nation, he is
deeply committed to social welfare. He is a
trustee of 17 colleges and 8 schools under
Hyderabad (Sind) National Collegiate
(HSNC) Board and runs vocational skill
centre in Mumbai. He is also trustee for
2 hospitals and 3 Temples as part of his
charity initiatives.
Full of Zeal & Zest for Life
Brimming with zest for life, Dr. Hiranandani
is an expert at striking a perfect work-life
balance too. “Work is my passion and
hobby. I am really enjoying what I am doing.
Going to parties and having fun is what I do
apart from the work. I am the first one to
go on the dance floor, may not be the last
one though,” he elaborates smilingly. For
him passion for work is all that matters,
as he puts it, “It is not about working for
money. Money is a by-product of what you
do with passion and sincerely.”
20 | india’s greatest leaders 2019-20 |