Indian Express Power List 2015: No. 81-90

New on List

WHY

After electoral losses and Muzaffarnagar riots, he has tried to assert his authority as CM. His biggest advantage is that there is no visible opposition to him in the party.

POWER PUNCH

The SP defeated the BJP in the Assembly bypolls, held months after the rout of the Lok Sabha polls. Recently, it won Cantonment Board polls as well as MLC elections.

WHAT NEXT

To beat BJP in the 2017 polls, he has to win back youth support.

BY THE WAY

He does not wear a watch or any ring or necklace. What he is always found in is a pair of black leather shoes.

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Rank 82 | Sachin Bansal (33) | Co-founder & CEO, Flipkart | Binny Bansal (33) | Co-founder & COO, Flipkart

2014: Rank 77

WHY

The Bansals run the largest e-commerce company in India with more than $1 billion in sales.

POWER PUNCH

Flipkart became India’s most valued e-commerce firm last year after raising $1 billion in funding.

WHAT NEXT

Bringing more and more small, medium entrepreneurs on board and starting mobile-only platform.

BY THE WAY

IIT, Amazon would finally bring them together, but the Bansals were always destined to be partners. They went to the same school, St Anne’s, in Chandigarh.

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Rank 83 | Salman Khan (49) | Actor

2014: Rank 77

WHY

With Kick smashing records, he remains Bollywood’s most bankable star. Also hosts hit reality show Bigg Boss.

POWER PUNCH

He was the only Bollywood star without any political affiliation present at Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony in May last year. He was seated with his father Salim Khan, right behind Sonia Gandhi.

WHAT NEXT

He will be seen in Bajrangi Bhaijaan, a Hindu-Muslim love story. Sooraj Barjatya’s next will see him return to his ‘90s loverboy role of Prem.

BY THE WAY

He used to be a champion swimmer in school.

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Rank 84 | Mukul Rohatgi (59) | Attorney General

New list

WHY

He defends the government in court, and lends his expert opinion on policy matters that involve questions of law. He was chosen AG over many other claimants.

POWER PUNCH

Rohatgi’s arguments saved the NDA from embarrassment in the coal block allocation case. The allocations were held illegal under the UPA but the SC decided future course of action in the NDA government.

WHAT NEXT

He will defend NDA’s plan to scrap collegium system of appointing judges and replace it with the NJAC.
BY THE WAY

Rohatgi loves to travel and has a fascination for cars.

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Rank 85 | Mahesh Bhupathi (40)  | Tennis player, ITPL founder

New list

WHY

His project, International Tennis Premier League (ITPL), has spawned four franchises, including three international ones, with players such as Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova on board. Its first tournament, held in November, was a success.

POWER PUNCH

He signed Roger Federer for the Indian team, and silenced cynics after Rafael Nadal pulled out of the ITPL.

WHAT NEXT

He has to convince people that ITPL holds serious tournaments, not exhibition matches. He hopes to stay in contention for the Rio Olympics.

BY THE WAY

He likes collecting sports memorabilia.

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Rank 86 | Saina Nehwal (24) | Badminton champion

2014: Rank 40

WHY

She clawed her way up from No. 9 in world rankings at the start of 2014 to No. 4 by December. It has been a dramatic year — an early exit at the World Championships, parting ways with long-time coach Pullela Gopichand and winning the China Open.

POWER PUNCH

She demanded to know why she wasn’t considered for Padma Bhushan.

WHAT NEXT

She will hope for a podium finish at the All England Championships and the World Championships.

BY THE WAY

When away from home, she video-chats with her Shih Tzu dog called Chopsi.

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Rank 87 | Shiv Nadar (69) | HCL Chairman, founder

New on list

WHY

Having spent around Rs 3,000 crore on building and running educational
institutions over the last 20 years, he was named Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year by Forbes in January. His HCL  Technologies clocked a net profit of Rs 5,984 crore in 2014.

POWER PUNCH

Established in 2011, Shiv Nadar University has already made its mark in the field.

WHAT NEXT

He has committed to give Rs 3,000 crore for philanthropic work from his personal wealth till 2019.

BY THE WAY

He is a big movie buff.

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Rank 88 |  Rohit Shetty (41) | Filmmaker

2014: Rank 78

WHY

He is a hit machine who directed Singham Returns, one of the highest grossing films of 2014. He further raised his profile by venturing into production as well as returning as the host of reality show Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi.

POWER PUNCH

Critics roundly pan his movies, but he always smashes box office records.

WHAT NEXT

Shetty is casting for a film with Shah Rukh Khan and Varun Dhawan. He is co-producing a remake of Ram Lakhan with Karan Johar.

BY THE WAY

His team of writers travels with him on his shoots.

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Rank 89 | U K Sinha (62) | SEBI Chairman.

2014: Rank 48

WHY

Under him, SEBI has started taking action against companies running collective investment schemes. A 2014 amendment provides SEBI powers of search and seizure and even access to call data records.

POWER PUNCH

SEBI took on Sahara seeking refund of investor money amounting to over Rs 20,000 crore. In 2014, Subrata Roy was arrested.

WHAT NEXT

SEBI is looking to make e-IPO — that will slash the time taken for completion of IPO process — a reality in 2015.

BY THE WAY

As IAS officer, his first posting was as SDM in Jamshedpur.

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Rank 90 | Manish Sisodia (43) | Deputy Chief Minister, Delhi

2014:  Rank 43

WHY

As deputy CM and Arvind Kejriwal’s closest confidant, Sisodia wields immense clout in Delhi. Holding key portfolios like finance, urban development and education, he will play a big role in shaping public policy.

POWER PUNCH

Sisodia has addressed every single press conference the AAP government has held as Kejriwal has withdrawn from media space.

WHAT NEXT

He is expected to take over more administrative duties from Kejriwal and exercise more authority over the Delhi party unit.

BY THE WAY

Likes pizza, soft drinks. Preferred jeans, T-shirts, till he joined politics.