Vijaypat Singhania and Gautam Singhania are a father-son duo, and their story has not only alerted parents across the world but has confirmed that we are indeed living in Kalyug (the age of downfall). On one side, we have Bollywood movies like Wake Up Sid!, Patiala House, Apne, Waqt: Race Against Time, Paa and many others, which showcase the true love between a father and son despite the complexities of their bond.
However, on the other hand, we have Vijaypat Singhania and Gautam Singhania's feud that has taught parents to think thrice before giving everything to their children. If you've been living under a rock, it's high time to learn about Vijaypat Singhania and his tragic journey from being one of India's biggest business magnates to now living in a rented house.
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Well, before we unfold the heartbreaking story of Vijaypat Singhania, here are some things that you need to know about the entrepreneur, who once had net worth of Rs. 12,000 crores. For the unversed, Vijaypath Singhania was born on December 19, 1938, and five years after his birth, his father, Lala Kailashpat Singhania purchased Raymond. According to the official website of the Raymond Group, a small woollen mill was set up in Mumbai's Thane area back in 1925.
The textile mill was producing low-cost woollen garments and blankets. Although it was a small mill, but Lala Kailashpant Singhania purchased it from E.D. Sassoon & Co. in the year 1944 with the vision to dominate the Indian textile industry. After India's Independence in 1947, Lala Kailashpant Singhania started manufacturing at a brand new unit, JK Files, which was reportedly a part of the J.K. Organisation.
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After Lala Kailashpant Singhania's demise, it was his cousin, Gopal Krishna Singhania, who took over the Raymond Group. Keeping the ideologies and vision of his late cousin intact and running, Gopal Krishna Singhania passed the baton to Lala Kailashpant Singhania's son, Vijaypat Singhania in 1980. Under Vijaypat Singhania's leadership, Raymond Group thrived in a series of new areas and different industries. From polyester filament yarn, prophylactics, and charter services to indigo denim and cold-rolled steel, Vijaypat Singhania transformed Raymond Group into one of India's biggest conglomerates.
By the year 1984, Raymond Group had become the pioneer in washable wool and wool blending suiting, courtesy of their stain-proof fabric and total-easy care fabric. Not only this, Vijaypat Singhania opened the first Raymond showroom outside India in 1990. He also launched Park Avenue, which went on to become a prominent name in the FMCG market. Apart from Raymond Group's expansion, Vijaypat Singhania also worked on the brand's image as Raymond came up with the taglines 'The Complete Man' and 'Feels Like Heaven' under him.
It was in the year 2015, when Vijaypat Singhania handed over the company, Raymond worth Rs. 12,000 crores to his younger son, Gautam Singhania. Along with that, he also transferred his 37 per cent stake in the company worth Rs. 1000 crores to Gautam.
The doting father, Vijaypat Singhania trusted his son, Gautam Singhania, like any parent in the world and didn't think twice before giving everything to his son. However, as soon as Gautam took over the company, he made some decisions that were against his father's will.
According to a report in Indiatimes, Vijaypat Singhania and Gautam Singhania had an agreement back in 2007, in which it was stated that the former would receive an apartment worth Rs. 7,100 crore in their family residence, JK House in Malabar Hill at a price of Rs. 600 crores. To everyone's surprise, Gautam backed out of the agreement and denied giving the apartment to his father.
The heated arguments soon created a rift between the father-son duo and within a short period of time Vijaypat Singhania and Gautam Singhania's bond turned completely sour. In the coming years, Gautam started neglecting his father, Vijaypat's advice and guidance, which started making the old man miserable and with no affection from his son, he started getting depressed.
In an interview with Business Today, Gautam Singhania talked about how his own son, Gautam Singhania betrayed him after he handed over Raymond worth Rs. 12,000 crore to him. The former billionaire advised parents across the world to think twice before giving everything to their kids. Vijaypat Singhania admitted that it was his mistake not to keep some money to him. He said:
"He (Gautam) had agreed to give me some parts of the company, but of course, he backed out. So, I have nothing. I gave him everything. By all means, give what you want to. I'm not telling you "don't give. I'm only saying, give it after you're gone, after your death. Don't give it in your lifetime because you may have to pay a very heavy price."
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Further, in the same interview, Vijaypat Singhania shockingly revealed that his son, Gautam Singhania used to abuse him during their heated arguments. For the unversed, Vijaypat Singhania is currently living in a small rented house and talking about the same, he stated that by mistake, he got hold of some money with which he is surviving. Otherwise, he would've been on the roads. Vijapat Singhania explained:
"If I say something which he doesn't like, he may scream at me, he may abuse me. He does all these kinds of things. So, I would probably try to keep away as much as I can. By mistake I was left with some money on which I'm surviving today. Otherwise, I would have been on the road. He'd be happy to see me on the road. I'm sure of that. If he can throw his wife out like this, throw his father out like this, I don't know what he is."
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After years of feud between the father-son duo, it was on March 21, 2024, when Gautam Singhania, shocked everyone after he posted a picture with his father, Vijaypat Singhania on his official Instagram handle. In the picture, Gautam and Vijaypat posed happily to the camera, hinting at the possibility of a reconciliation. Along with the picture, Gautam penned a note in the caption that could be read as:
"Happy to have my father at home today and seek his blessings. Wishing you good health Papa always."
As soon as the picture was uploaded on Instagram, it went viral on the internet. Everyone was in immense shock to see Gautam Singhania and Vijaypat Singhania together in the former's home all of a sudden. Although we have seen them posing together but there's no official confirmation about the end of their feud. However, we hope things change from now for the better between the father-son duo, who have been fighting for some years now.
What are your thoughts on Vijaypat Singhania and Gautam Singhania's feud? Let us know.
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