ABOUT THE TWO AMBANI HEIRS:

The tale of the two brothers’ Mukesh and Anil Ambani diverging fortunes began 16 years ago, when their ragsto-riches father Dhirubhai Ambani, whose life inspired a Bollywood film, died of a stroke without leaving a will.

The industrialist, who started out as a gas-station attendant in Yemen, had built a vast business empire, financing massive factories by selling so many shares to small investors that stockholder meetings had to be held in a football stadium.

A feud between his two sons following their father’s death dogged the group until their mother, Kokilaben, stepped in during 2005 and brokered a truce.

Mukesh got control of the flagship oil refining and petrochemicals, while Anil got the newer businesses such as power generation and financial services.

He also took over the telecoms unit, which under Mukesh had expanded aggressively by bundling phones with mobile connections at throwaway prices. Forbes