Ashish Malpani, a scion of the century-old Malpani Group, has opened up about a defining moment in his life when he chose love over legacy, a decision that ultimately led him to build one of the group’s most successful ventures. He revealed this deeply personal journey in an interview with Humans of Bombay founder Karishma Mehta, where he spoke candidly about sacrifice, resilience, and second chances.
Choosing love over legacy
Born into one of Maharashtra’s influential business families, Ashish Malpani was once faced with an ultimatum that would change his life forever. His family opposed his inter-caste love marriage and asked him to choose between marrying their preferred match and continuing in the family business, or marrying the woman he loved and walking away from it all.
“As a young man, I was asked to pick: the woman I loved or the century-old legacy my great-grandfather built,” Ashish said in the Humans of Bombay interview. His response was firm: “To hell with the business, I’ll marry the girl I love.”
In 2002, he stepped away from generational wealth, privilege, and his position as the youngest of five brothers in the Malpani Group.
Starting from scratch
Ashish described how overnight, his life transformed completely. “I went from being part of generational wealth to building life from scratch, no title, no team, just small capital and the hunger to stand on my own feet,” he shared.
His first independent venture was a biscuit business, which eventually led him to Pune in search of land to set up a manufacturing unit. That search unexpectedly introduced him to real estate, a field he had never planned to enter.
“I’ve learnt that passion isn’t always the starting point; sometimes it’s the outcome of showing up every day,” he said.
A return based on merit, not birthright
After three to four years of building a successful real estate business independently, Ashish reconnected with his brothers. Impressed by what he had built on his own, the family reunited.
“We realised our futures were brighter together than apart,” Ashish said. He rejoined the Malpani Group, not as an heir, but as a proven entrepreneur. Today, that very real estate venture is the group’s most profitable vertical.
His story stands as a rare example of choosing personal values over privilege, and finding success on one’s own terms.
