Jai Mehta: Study from Colombia University, co-owner of KKR, property worth 4000 crores

New Delhi. Studied at Columbia University, first wife died in a plane crash, got married to the top actress of Bollywood, then trapped in debt trap, bought IPL team with his wife’s friend, today owns more than 4000 crores property and is employing 15000 people. Some such ups and downs are the story of Bijensman and Juhi Chawla’s husband Jai Mehta. He is a very low profile person. There are not much in front of the media. Recently, he told about getting caught in a debt trap on a platform, after which he is again in discussion. Let us tell you about Jai Mehta’s journey in detail.

India’s well-known industrialist Jai Mehta is a business leader who not only handled the inherited business land but also brought it to new heights. He is the chairman of Mehta Group and is also recognized as a co-owner of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Business, sports, relationships and emotions are deeply associated in the life of Jai, who keeps a quiet nature and distance from the media. Jai was born on 18 January 1961 to Mahendra Mehta and Sunayana Mehta. He is the grandson of famous industrialist Nanji Kalidas Mehta, who founded the Mehta Group. Jayne took an engineering degree from Columbia University in America and then did MBA from Switzerland’s IMD (Institute for Management Development).

Jai recently admitted in an interview on IMD’s YouTube channel that his business was once badly shocked by heavy debt. He said, “First, don’t take much debt, because we were stuck in a debate trap and it was almost finished us.” This was the same period when he bought Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for ₹ 630 crore ($ 75 million) in 2007 along with Shah Rukh Khan and wife Juhi Chawna. At that time, many people called this decision “madness” but Jai was confident that this new T20 format of cricket would be in India like football or Europe’s saucer. He called KKR a “small but smart investment” – which has reached a value of ₹ 9,100 crore (about $ 1.1 billion) by 2024 and has also won the IPL title three times.

Although he did not explain technical details of the incidents of Debt TRP, nor made it clear from which unit of the company was associated with the company – his words testify that it was a big business lesson of his life. It is necessary to clarify here that there is no public confirmation of any financial fraud or legal dispute on Jai Mehta.

Jay Mehta’s participation in KKR has now become an example of a successful strategic investment, not just business. Apart from this, they are also investors in Mumbai restaurant business – Gustoso (Italian) and Rue Du Liban (Middle Eastern).

private life

Jai’s personal life is equally emotional and inspiring. She married Bollywood star Juhi Chawla in 1995. This marriage was kept very private due to Juhi’s mother’s death in the accident and the problems of career. Earlier, Jai’s first wife Sujatha Birla (sister of Yash Birla) passed away in a plane crash in 1990. Juhi and Jai’s relationship deepened at this sad turn. They have two children named Jahnavi and Arjun. The family lives in a heritage bungalow in Malabar Hill, Mumbai.

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Public image and family

Jai Mehta often describes Juhi as her closest friend. In 2022, he wrote on Instagram for Jai that he shows him the right direction in difficult times and his strongest support. Juhi has also told that Jai used to send him to letters, flowers and gifts every day, which melted his heart. The story of Jai Mehta is of a businessman who lived a balanced, quiet but strong life despite challenges like personal sufferings, economic crisis and debt.