Ravindra Pai

Unbeknownst to the hoi polloi, Century Real Estate owns the largest land bank in Bengaluru, mainly (several thousands of acres spread within and outside the city). Ravindra understands the enormity of the responsibility that falls on him, but he hasn’t forgotten the legacy. With much modesty, he says, “In a way, we’ve been pioneers in the real estate scene in Bengaluru at a time when the city back then had a reputation as a pensioner’s paradise. Little did anyone foresee that real estate would go on to be such a large business here. And my father and uncle were entrepreneurs who had only just moved in. First-generation entrepreneurs were low on capital, so their business model started primarily by trading in land.”

Ravindra is dyed in the wool. He has been successfully handling the task of building a future on the past. He has a lifestyle, but he does not break from tradition.

The company is also foraying into commercial development. It’s in the process of developing a 2 million sq-ft commercial development in Hebbal, which will build an annuity stream for the company. “This is something we will develop and retain. The commercial strategy will not involve buying land or joint development. Within our portfolio, there are lands located in a marquee location which lends itself for commercial. We have a plan to build close to about 7 million sq-ft over 5-7 years,” adds Ravindra.