Introduction
Nikhil Nanda (born 18 March 1974) is the managing director of Escorts Limited, an engineering company that manufacture agricultural machinery, machine construction and material handling equipment, railway equipment and auto components. Escorts Limited was founded in 1948 by Nikhil's paternal grandfather, Har Prasad Nanda (known as H.P.Nanda).
Personal life
Nikhil's father Rajan Nanda was the elder son of Har Prasad Nanda, founder of the Escorts group. Nikhil's mother, Ritu Nanda, is the elder daughter of actor and film-maker Raj Kapoor. Nikhil is therefore a nephew of actors Randhir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor and Rajiv Kapoor; the actors Karishma Kapoor, Kareena Khan and Ranbir Kapoor are among his first cousins. Nikhil's wife, Shweta Nanda, is the only daughter of actors Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan; the actor Abhishek Bachchan is thus his brother-in-law.
Nikhil has one sister, Natasha. In the 1980s, the Nanda family launched a home-appliance business of which the main offering was a 'kitchenette' which was a combination of gas stove and oven. This home appliance was marketed under the brand name 'Nikkitasha Kitchenette' the name being a combination of the names of the Nanda children, Nikhil and Natasha. Unfortunately, the appliance failed to catch the imagination of the public and had to be withdrawn within a couple of years. While common in the USA, such an appliance remains unknown in India, mainly because Indian cooking has little use for an oven.
Awards
He was among the five Indians selected as the Global Leaders of Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum in Geneva, in 2001.