What has been your most significant achievement in the year 2023?
I count the successful closing of a fund with a corpus of INR 15,000 cr (USD $2 Billion), as one of the most significant achievement of 2023. This is more than the cumu- lative fund raises done by HDFC Capital over the past 6 years. The new fund will bring a fresh perspective to affordable housing in India, through a combination of financing, technology, and sustainability.
Who do you look up to for inspiration?
I have been fortunate to have worked with several outstanding leaders, and Deepak Parekh (Ex Chairman, HDFC Ltd.) has been the most inspirational figure for me. I admire his rigour for work, humility and his ability to deal with any sit- uation in an unperturbed manner.
What are your current goals?
At HDFC Capital, our vision remains unchanged - to increase the supply and uptake of mid-income and affordable housing projects in India. Our aim is to increase the supply of right priced homes, by providing flexible, long-term capital to developers undertaking such projects. We continue to invest, mentor and guide start-ups who are solving for cost efficiencies and sustainability in the built environment. At a personal level, I would like to enhance my understanding of the role of technology in the modern construction industry and have more interaction with the academic community.
What is your future outlook for the industry?
I foresee a long wave and a rising demand for housing. Affordable Housing is a basic necessity and is as much an issue globally as it is in India. While, we have realised this problem and work is being done by Government and Private Sec- tor. The developed countries are still struggling to find solutions to solve this.
CHALLENGE YOURSELF AND TRY TO SPEND AT LEAST 25% OF YOUR TIME IN AREAS OUT OF THE COMFORT ZONE. NO PIECE OF HARD WORK EVER GO WASTE, SO, WORK HARD AND KEEP CHALLENGING YOURSELF ARE THE TWO MANTRAS I WOULD RECOMMEND.
