Kumar Mangalam Birla Talks About Close Family Ties With Ratan Tata On KBC 17

Kumar Mangalam Birla, chairperson of the Aditya Birla Group, appeared in the latest episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati 17, hosted by Amitabh Bachchan. During his interaction with Bachchan, Birla opened up about close family ties with the late industrialist and former chairperson of the Tata Group, Ratan Tata.

For Rs 2 lakh, Kumar Mangalam Birla was asked about the degree Ratan Tata had obtained from Cornell University. Having answered “Architecture”, Birla went on to shed light on Tata’s relationship with his family.

“Amit ji, our family has always shared a very close relationship with the Tata family. JRD Tata and my grandfather were close friends,” Birla told Big B.

Birla Had More Shares Than Tata

“There was a time when the Birla family held more

shares in some Tata companies than the Tatas themselves. That’s how strong the trust and bond between the two families was,” he added.

Birla also mentioned that Ratan Tata and his father, Aditya Vikram Birla, were great friends as well. He said Tata was with the Birla family at the time of Aditya Birla’s last rites. “Always remember you have a friend in me,” Tata had told Kumar.

“He was a great humanitarian. His passing, last year, we lost a true son of India,” Kumar said about Tata.

Amitabh Bachchan on Ratan Tata

The Sholay actor also heaped praises on Tata and Birla. “Often, when there is talk about the country or India, it is like, ‘Oh, you are from the country of Tata-Birla, ‘” Bachchan said.

Big B described Ratan Tata as an “incredible human being” who “led a very simple life”. “He never made anyone feel that he belonged to the Tata family,” said Amitabh.

The Kaun Banega Crorepati host also recalled the several government projects he worked on with Tata. Polio eradication, Hepatitis, and the Swach Bharat Abhiyaan were some of them. Big B said he often joked with Tata as well.

In this context, Birla revealed that Tata always felt nervous during speeches. Although he had “delivered so many speeches,” Tata admitted that “speeches have always made me nervous.”

Ratan Tata passed away on October 9, 2024.