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Vijay Mallya (born 18 December 1955) is an Indian Business personality and an industralist having diversified business ranging from liquor to sports. He is associated with the UB Group, Bangalore Royal Challengers of Indian Premier League, the Force India Formula One, vI-League team East Bengal FC and other businesses. He is the Chairman and CEO of Kingfisher Airlines. His net worth is estimated to be about $1.0 billion.
Vijay Mallya is the son of Vittal Mallya, an industrialist. Mallya is originally from the town of Bantwal (near Mangalore) in Karnataka. He was educated at La Martiniere Boys' College, Kolkata and completed his degree at St. Xavier's College, Calcutta under Calcutta University. He was awarded a Doctorate in Business Administration by the University of Southern California (USC).
Mallya is married twice. His first wife was Samira, a former Air India hostess, and the couple have one son, Sidhartha Mallya. He later married Rekha, his neighbor in Bangalore, and two daughters have been born of this relationship, Leana and Tanya.
Mallya cheers for Mangalore.
Mallya established Mallya Hospital, Bangalore (which had a special charity ward) and Mallya Aditi International School, a prestigious private school in Bangalore with a special section providing subsidized education. He is responsible for bidding for the sword of Tipu Sultan of Mysore, and getting it back to India. Mallya sponsored many sporting events for the physically handicapped and the poor.
Mallya is famous for his flamboyant and flashy lifestyle. He loves sporting and has won may trophies in professional car racing circuits. During the 1970's and 80's he was often spotted at the Sholavaram track, Chennai. He is a keen yachtsman and an aviator. He also has won numerous trophies in horse racing including several prestigious domestic Derbies.
Mallya has a special vintage collection of historic rare automobiles in his museum which includes some rare cars including Jaguars, Ferraris, Alfa Romeos and Mercedes Benz.
Mallya became the Chairman of the United Beverages Group (UB Group) in 1983. The Group, since then, has grown into a multi-national business conglomerate of over 60 companies with an annual turnover which has increased by 439% to US$ 1.2 billion in 1998-99 despite the frequent devaluation of currencies in many developing countries, including India, where the group operates. The focal business area of the group includes Beverage Alcohol, Life Sciences, Engineering, Agriculture and Chemicals, Information Technology and Leisure.
In January 09, Mallya announced that UB Group has received approval from the Calcutta High Court for Shaw Wallace and Company's merger with its group.
In April 2010, it emerged as the world's second largest liquor maker after Diageo. The company reported sales of over 100 million cases in the last 12 months and aims to become the number one by next fiscal.
In 2005, Vijay Mallya established Kingfisher Airlines, a domestic and partially international airliner for which he is currently the Chairman and CEO.
Vijay Mallya's UB Group bought the Bangalore Royal Challengers for $111.6 million. In April 09, he thanked the IPL management and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for agreeing to contribute towards the extra expenses incurred in traveling to South Africa. In March 2010, addressing a press conference, he said that the IPL will pass smoothly and that adequate security is provided. He preferred England as IPL2 host.
In March 2010, Mallya and Shane Warne Warne unveil Anil Kumble's memoir of off-the-fieldcricket photography.
In April 2010, Mallya strongly supported IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi, saying that he is the creator and the brains behind a highly successful and lucrative IPL. Mallya said there is no need to sack Modi but also said Modi will have answers to all questions raised by BCCI.
In mid-April 2010, he said he "knows nothing" about his step daughter Laila Mahmood, who works for Modi, being the "mystery woman" who exited Modi's office in Mumbai just before the Income Tax officials visited it for a probe.
Mallya is the owner of Force India Formula One. He was at its Formula One car unveiling ceremony for 2008 season. On September 14, 2009, he said no Indian is good enough to drive on Formula One at the moment. By April 2010, Mallya said he is expecting regular top-10 finishes for Force India.
Mallya made a brief political stint when in 2000 he entered politics and superceded Subramaniam Swamy as the president of Janata Party which got split from the Janata Dal party. His party contested for around 20 seats during the Karnataka State Legislative election. He campaigned vigorously through the media, but his party failed to make any impact and did not win a single seat. This failure in the election has lead the media to ignore his political stint.
Mallya served as a Rajya Sabha member. In June 2010, BJP hinted of support to Mallya in the June 17 Rajya Sabha seat polls. Mallya won the poll and secured his Rajya Sabha seat with the help of supporting parties.
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Kingfisher will operate 120 daily flights, 20 dedicated planes, no lay-offs
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Mallya says efforts on to put Kingfisher flights back on track
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Kingfisher will find it difficult to continue "loss making" routes, says Vijay Mallya
Clarifying that Kingfisher Red wouldn't fly on loss-making airlines, Kingfisher Airlines' Chairman and promoter, Vijay Mallya on Tuesday said that the cancellation of flights in the past one week was a commercially prudent decision and the Airlines would put things in perspective and provide the facts about the private carrier.
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Manmohan Singh will explore ways of getting Kingfisher Airlines get out of crisis
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Mallya defends decision of not having an Indian driver in F1 team
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Sahara Force India's F1 team's car attracts fans
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'Bargain-buy' Vettori ideal IPL replacement for Kumble: Mallya
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Vijay Mallya 'hand-carries century old bottles of whisky to Glasgow'
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Salman Khan launches Kingfisher's Calendar 2011
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