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Rajiv Singh, the chairman of the DLF Group, is credited with steering the company through the 2008 financial crisis and now presides over its uber-luxury segment. In 2020, the MIT graduate in mechanical engineering took over the reins from his father and real estate magnate Kushal Pal Singh. With an estimated fortune of almost INR 60,000 crore, Singh is considered the wealthiest Indian real estate entrepreneur. His continued emphasis on sustainability and innovation, bolstered by his belief in the right timing, has helped the company grow and expand into sectors including hospitality, retail, and recreation. When it comes to younger luxury homebuyers in India, company representatives think that they are more in tune with global trends. These buyers believe in diversified wealth creation through startups, finance, and technology, and demonstrate a willingness to invest in aspirational lifestyles provided that world-class amenities are provided. They also view luxury homes as more than just long-term assets but as spaces that reflect their lifestyle, provide privacy and security, and support modern, community-oriented living. And they no longer want to wait to their 50s to invest in their dream homes.
The company’s focus on sustainability is demonstrated through their use of solar panels, recycled water for irrigation purposes, tree transplantation, and adoption of sustainable architectural practices in projects such as The Camellias in Gurugram. With plans to expand the company’s portfolio through premium commercial developments and ambitious residential projects, Singh looks set to take the company to new heights.
Soon after graduating college, Vikas Oberoi joined his father, Ranvir Oberoi, at his real estate firm. He later went on to complete a programme at Harvard Business School. His big break came in the 2000s when Oberoi Realty acquired 60 acres of land in the northern suburb of Mumbai’s Goregaon from Hindustan Ciba-Geigy (the earlier avatar of global pharma major Novartis). With this large land parcel, Oberoi decided to build a city within a city called Oberoi Garden City. He would repeat the move when he acquired a large land parcel from Tata Steel in Borivali, Mumbai, to build Oberoi Sky City.
Oberoi Realty’s portfolio now speaks to the ultra-premium segment where value is defined by craft, privacy, and lifestyle services. Signature residences feature private elevators, sky terraces, and tailored concierge care. Projects such as the Three Sixty West in Mumbai’s Worli and Elysian in Goregaon (set within Oberoi Garden City) Mumbai, are coveted addresses today. Oberoi Realty was in the news in 2024 for its 75-acre residential project in Thane in Mumbai’s Metropolitan Region for recording a gross booking value of over C1,300 crore within the first few days of its launch. The company entered Delhi’s NCR in the same year, acquiring 14.8 acres in Gurugram for C597 crore to develop an ultra-luxury project.
As a businessman, Oberoi is known for being cautious, preferring to be strategic in his choices, and staying client-focussed. Location, cost, and design are the main factors that Oberoi prioritises. Then there’s the quest for quality—even when selecting vendors for tiles or fixtures, or appointing project managers for their various sites, Oberoi visits the candidate’s earlier projects, and only if he likes the quality of the work, does the person get hired. It’s probably the secret to his success—the idea that luxury begins in the bones of the homes that he helps build.
Vinti Lodha’s path into luxury real estate was unexpected. She grew up in New Delhi in a prominent legal family—her father, Dalveer Bhandari, was a judge in the Delhi High Court—and trained to be a lawyer. When her father was appointed Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, the family moved to Mumbai. After a brief stint with the consulting firm KPMG, she married Abhishek Lodha, scion of the prominent real estate company, and is now known for her design expertise.
As advisor at Lodha Luxury Living, her primary role is to create bespoke, high-end residential experiences. “Luxury today is defined by discernment,” observes Lodha, advisor, Lodha Luxury. “It is about rarity, whether that is a unique location with sweeping views, a collaboration with the world’s most renowned designers and architects, the quiet assurance of warm and deeply personal hospitality, or exclusively curated experiences and events. Increasingly, luxury is experiential, defined by the way a home is lived in, from generous wellness and lifestyle spaces to the comfort of a residence designed around the ease of daily life,” she adds.
“At Lodha, our focus is on a collection of considered developments where architecture, hospitality, and design come together to create homes that possess an enduring legacy,” she continues. “By prioritising a timeless aesthetic and an unwavering commitment to quality, we ensure our residences remain as relevant and refined in the future as they are today.” Lodha says the Indian luxury buyer today has a global outlook. A decade ago, buyers were mostly satisfied with a premium address.
“Today, it goes beyond that; they demand a comprehensive living ecosystem. They look for exceptional architecture and aesthetics, meticulous craftsmanship, and curated wellness and lifestyle experiences. They expect the same standards found in leading international hotels and brands. Ultimately, they view a home as a long-term wealth-building asset that beautifully combines lifestyle with lasting value.”