India's Top 50 Powerful People (30-21)

30. 

ELATTUVALPIL SREEDHARAN, 77, Engineer

Truth Mascot

Because he’s the last word on objectivity, whether it’s the Hyderabad Metro project or the airport modernisation in Delhi and Mumbai.

Because he has made the Capital appear a world-class metropolis, making the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) the most punctual metro transport in the world, with 99.5 percent punctuality last year.

Because DMRC has helped save over 700 lives till date by avoiding road accidents, has reduced consumption of petrol, diesel and CNG by 1,19,025 tonnes and saved 66 minutes every day per commuter.

Strange,but true Hasn’t taken a vacation in 20 years. His only break was taking a few days off when traveling to England on work, to spend time with his son.

Is particular about Often swipes his finger along the floor of the metro train as well as the platform to check for dirt.

29. 

NANDAN NILEKANI, 54, Entrepreneur

The Thinkmaker

Because the chairman of the $4.5 billion IT behemoth wrote a bestselling book of ideas,

Imagining India, and has become an articulate catalyst of change, who’s embedded in top government councils at home and in influential economic forums globally, representing the voice of India.

Because he’s the only Indian on the foundation board of the World Economic Forum, is a

member of the prestigious Petersen Institute of International Economics, and was again the solitary Indian to have spoken at the invitation-only Technology Entertainment and

Design (TED) in California.

Because he’s welcomed not just on the prime minister’s council at the Centre but on numerous committees of a rival state government.

Awkward moment Wife Rohini insists on asking questions when he is delivering a

lecture in public.

Proud moment When wife Rohini set up the Arghyam Foundation with a corpus of

Rs 150 crore to focus on water management.

28. 

RAJINIKANTH, 59, Actor

Big Brother

Because the one-time carpenter and conductor has fanatics extending from Japan to Korea, and his 38,000 registered fan clubs around the world with an estimated 19 lakh

members are waiting for him to start his own political party.

Because at Rs 26 crore a film, he’s the most highly paid star in southern India.

Because every time he stars in a flop, such as Kuselan, he compensates his distributors and bounces back with a big budget blockbuster, such as Shankar’s Rs 150-crore film, Endiran.

Because no protest or celebration in Tamil tinseltown is complete without his presence.

Spiritual guru Swami Satchidananda of Rishikesh, on whose call he made a movie, Baba, before the Swami’s death in 2002.

Unforgettable number 10A, the route number on which he was a conductor in his early days in Bangalore.

His political icon Former Singapore premier Lee Kuan Yew.

27.

K.V. Kamath, 62, Banker

Banking on Trust

Because a lesser mortal would not have been able to protect ICICI Bank from the heat of the global meltdown.

Because everyone from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to P. Chidambaram to Montek Singh Ahluwalia spoke up for him during the crisis and every corporate chieftain worth his market cap vouched for the integrity of the bank.

Because ICICI is the largest private insurance company, the topmost private equity player, the number one online broking outfit and the leader in retail credit, with total assets of Rs 3.74 lakh crore and a group income of Rs 62,000 crore.

Milestone 2009 Is chairman from May 1, but his salary will take a big hit.

Is sure to be Following tennis and F1 racing.

26. 

M.S. DHONI, 28, Cricketer

Captain Cool

Because under his leadership, India won the T20 World Cup and he is now captain of India in all three forms of the game.

Because he has become the country’s most sellable cricketer after Sachin Tendulkar, endorsing 15 brands, from clothes to cold drinks.

Because he is nobody’s puppet, ticking off the national selectors this season for leaks from the selection meeting.

Touch of class Won heaps of praise for his graciousness during the retirements of Anil Kumble and Sourav Ganguly last season.

Latest acquisition A Hummer to add to the four cars and 17 high-speed motorcycles already parked in his garage in Ranchi.

Smart move Broke away from the sports marketing agency that had signed him on, to join a new company, Mindscapes India.

25. 

MALVINDER MOHAN & SHIVINDER MOHAN SINGH, 36&33, Industrialists

Terra Pharma

Because even as the world economy crumbles around them, they have proved to be the smartest and the luckiest, selling a majority stake in Ranbaxy for Rs 10,000 crore, while retaining control of the company.

Because Malvinder Mohan Singh got the Japanese giant Daichii-Sankyo to complete the acquisition of a 63.92 percent stake after the global meltdown late last year.

Because Shivinder Mohan Singh’s Fortis Healthcare emerged from years of losses to post a 21 per cent increase in consolidated total income in the last quarter.

MMS and SMS Thats what friends call them. They both are vegetarians, teetotallers, and devout followers of the Radha Soami Satsang in Beas.

Yes it’s true To avoid being dressed identically, turbans included, the brothers call

each other every morning.

Pay your way The brothers pay to use their own jets because ‘it’s a business venture,

not a lifestyle statement’.

24.

KALANIDHI & DAYANIDHI MARAN, 43 and 42, Media Baron and MP

Tamil Tigers

Because the brothers were able to manoeuvre out of a serious standoff with their grand uncle M. Karunanidhi and re-establish their stranglehold on the satellite and cable business in the south.

Because the powerful presence of one brother in mass media and the other in party politics enables them to pump prime their business.

Because they are expanding in every arena, with four hit movies from their newly launched film production company, and more niche additions to their 20-channel Sun TV network.

Cool new toys 3G iphone and Mac Book Air for Kalanidhi; Canon EOS-1D Mark III

camera for Dayanidhi.

Centre of gravity Daughter Kaviya for Kalanidhi.

23.

SACHIN TENDULKAR, 37, Cricketer

Batsman Forever

Because his word is the gold standard on any cricket issue.

Because in his 20th year in cricket, he is not only his sport’s Peter Pan but also owns all the records that matter, most runs and most centuries both in Tests and ODIs.

Because when Adam Gilchrist criticised him in his book, a billion people took offence and the Australian cricketer found his column on an Indian website dropped overnight.

Because when Madame Tussauds measured him for a wax exhibit last month, India wondered what took them so long.

Power tribute Uber-luxury watchmakers Audemars Piguet’s limited edition Sachin Tendulkar chronograph to mark his 35 Test centuries, releasing just 350 pieces, with the colours of the Indian flag on the strap and his jersey number, 10, bigger and brighter than the rest.

Also known as Master Blaster to the outside world, he is addressed as paaji (elder brother) by his younger teammates.

Guest appearances He shows up at his children’s school sports day if he is in town, usually as chief guest.

22.

SUBHASH CHANDRA, 58, Businessman

The First Mogul

Because he is the elder statesman among media moguls in the country and has a finger in

every media pie, from satellite networks to cable distribution, from DTH to print.

Because he never gives up and has taken his battle with BCCI on the Indian Cricket League to the ICC.

Because he has friends and well-wishers across all political parties and got the President of India to inaugurate his pet project, The Global Pagoda, which has the Buddha’s relics in the world’s tallest pillarless dome.

Because Zee TV may be No. 3 in the Hindi entertainment channels but his regional business, from Marathi to Bangla, is growing fine.

New passion Interfaith communication, which he has made a personal mission by

co-founding the Global Foundation for Civilisational Harmony.

Style statement Maintains a distinctive lock of undyed white hair.

Is passionate about Vipassana. Attended a programme in 1990, does a 10-day course

every year and practices for 45 minutes daily.

21.

G.V.K. & SANJAY REDDY, 72 and 44, Industrialists

Rebuilding India

Because after reorganising their infrastructure entity, all projects are on track even in the current downturn, and they have refurbished the domestic terminal at Mumbai airport, begun work on a new terminal as well as kickstarted the 540 MW Goindwal Sahib

power project in Punjab.

Because they have entered into a new arena by signing up a greenfield port project in Gujarat and have opened a new luxury hotel in Chennai.

Because GVK Bio is poised to become a leader among biotechnology companies across the world.

Signature look Canali suits and Versace ties for GVK.

Favourite vacation spot London for GVK, Maldives for Sanjay.

Unusual hobby Gardening for GVK and deep-sea diving for Sanjay.

Diet secret Regular diet coupled with rigorous exercise for GVK; Sanjay generally avoids carbohydrates and desserts at night.