Ravi Ghai: The Business Tycoon Behind Mumbai's Iconic Brands and Properties
Ravi Ghai, a prominent name in Mumbai’s business and hospitality landscape, is the head of the Graviss Group — a conglomerate with successful ventures in both the food and hospitality sectors. Known for his sharp business acumen, Ravi is behind iconic brands and properties such as the InterContinental hotel at Marine Drive and the popular ice cream brand, The Brooklyn Creamery.
Recently, his family name once again came into the spotlight when his granddaughter, Saaniya Chandok, got engaged to Arjun Tendulkar, son of India’s cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. The engagement was a private affair attended by close friends and family members from both sides.
Ravi Ghai is an alumnus of Cornell University’s prestigious School of Hotel Administration. In 1967, he returned to Mumbai and took over the business legacy from his father, Iqbal Krishan (IK) Ghai. Under his leadership, Graviss Group launched celebrated brands like Kwality Ice Cream and the Natraj Hotel (now known as the InterContinental Hotel).
He also brought the Baskin-Robbins franchise to the SAARC region, further diversifying his business portfolio. Currently, he serves as the Non-Executive Chairman of Graviss Hospitality Ltd and holds multiple directorships, including Kwality Read Estates Pvt Ltd and Perfect Livestock LLP. Over the decades, he has established himself as a formidable force in the hospitality and food industry.
Despite his professional success, Ravi Ghai’s personal life has seen turbulence. According to a report by the Free Press Journal, Ravi lodged a complaint at Mumbai’s Marine Drive Police Station accusing his son, Gaurav Ghai, of forgery, fraud, and taking control of the company without consent. Ravi alleged that this occurred while he was undergoing cancer treatment. He claimed that a supplementary Family Settlement Agreement was executed fraudulently using his forged signature.
Ravi further claimed that after returning from cancer treatment abroad, his son and daughter-in-law would often bring him business documents to sign. Due to his fragile health, he signed them without suspicion. He alleged that by January 2025, his monthly allowance of Rs 12.5 lakh stopped, and by April, he learned from his CFO that Gaurav had declared himself the chairman of the company, taking complete control.
While the allegations are serious, police have decided not to register an FIR, stating that the issue is a family dispute better suited for arbitration than criminal proceedings. The matter remains unresolved, adding another chapter to the complex legacy of one of Mumbai’s most influential business families.
The Ghai family commands significant wealth through its flagship Graviss Group, which owns The Brooklyn Creamery and operates Baskin Robbins’ India franchise. Graviss Food Solutions Private Limited, the group’s parent company, reported Rs 624 crore in revenue for FY23–24, reflecting 20% growth from the previous year. It has an authorised capital of Rs 2.23 crore and a paid-up capital of Rs 90,100. In addition, the family owns the InterContinental Hotel in Mumbai under the InterContinental Hotels Group umbrella, a global hospitality giant valued at $18.43 billion as of August 2025.
