Mallya on a high!

CNN-IBN’s live streaming has been pretty good and I make it a point to watch it to get my daily dose of desi news. CNN-IBN had a program called Being Vijay Mallya on Sunday (12th Feb). The whole transcript of this interview is available online. Knowing Vijay Mallya, you would expect that there would be something unique. The interview was conducted when Mallya was flying between Jaipur and Mumbai on his personal jet. Mallya now joins the ranks of Presidents, PM’s and Cabinet Ministers who normally make it a point to give interviews on board an aircraft.

The questions were largely on expected lines (lavish parties, swimsuit calendars, succession plans etc). I felt that the interviewer uncessarily brought in the question about how Mallya’s daughters (aged 10 & 12) figure in the succession plans of UB Group.

Anuradha SenGupta : You just mentioned your daughter and that got me thinking about an earlier question. When we were talking about succession plans and things like that, we didn't mention your daughters at all. Does that mean that Indian businesses are chauvinistic and Indian media has also started becoming chauvinistic? Because I didn't even think of it.

Vijay Mallya: You see, you must understand things in a perspective. Siddharth is already 18, Rehana is 12, Tanya just turned 10. There is an eight-year gap between the youngest and the eldest.

Anuradha SenGupta : I understand the age, the fact that they are much younger, so the question does not arise right now. But why would you not think of the fact that may be one of your daughters may be the chairperson of the UB Group?

Vijay Mallya: No problem with that at all. They must be given the opportunity, first of all, to grow up and secondly, shown the aptitude, none of which is possible at age 10 or 12. Now, Siddhartha is 18, a lot older and has shown the aptitude. So, at the end of the day, why deny him the chance?